Thor Christensen

AUSTIN — The SXSW South by Southwest flavor of the month, Vampire Weekend, has one thing going for it that previous flavors didn't. It's not British.

In years past, the hype-happy English press inflated Britain's Arctic Monkeys and Lily Allen to such huge proportions that by the time they crossed the pond, they were ready to deflate.

One day, they were rock's next big thing. Two days later, they were has-beens.

New York's Vampire Weekend arrived at SXSW with its share of hype, too, but not nearly what the Monkeys and Ms. Allen had. Those lower expectations could prove important for a baby band that's still trying to find its groove.

Making its SXSW debut Thursday at a packed NPR party on Sixth Street, the Columbia University quartet came off like Paul Simon's Graceland mashed up with the Kinks' greatest hits. That Afro-pop/indie-rock fusion was thrilling for a while as singer-guitarist Ezra Koenig whipped out one catchy hook after the next.

But the longer Vampire Weekend played, the easier it was to see the band for what it is — four guys in their early 20s jonesing for a 1980s they're too young to remember.

They sounded like the English Beat. They sounded like Men at Work. But what they didn't sound like was Vampire Weekend.

At this early stage in their career, even they probably don't know what that sounds like.