By Serena Solomon
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS — Vampire Weekend may soon get some neighborhood love in Morningside Heights bars.
The band's label, XL, told DNAinfo that they will send copies of "Contra," Vampire Weekend's No. 1 album in the U.S., to bars in the area after a DNAinfo survey found that hardly any of them had heard of the chart topping band even though the members went to Columbia University.
When visited by DNAinfo earlier this week, bars in the shadow of the university, including the Pour House, Dive 106, and Haakon's Hall, all drew a blank at the mention of Vampire Weekend.
Only the Lion's Head on 109th Street and Amsterdam Avenue had heard of the local chart-toppers
"They get a lot of play on the jukebox," said bartender Brian Felicetta, 28. "It's probably the only reason I have heard of them."
The band formed and buzz about them started to grow while all four members — frontman Ezra Koenig, guitarist Rostam Batmanglij, bassist Chris Baio and drummer Chris Tomson — were Columbia students a few years ago. Their self-titled debut album was released in 2008.
Felicetta said he did sense pride from Columbia patrons whenever a Vampire Weekend song plays. Upon inspection of the jukebox, however, none of the band's songs were on its most-played list. Those spots where taken mostly by hip-hop artists.
