Kurt Vile & The Violators St James Theatre January 12, 2016

 

With a handful of solo shows in the cards for the rest of the country, Kurt Vile treated his Auckland fans to a show featuring his band, The Violators. Not surprisingly Kurt was at his best when he locked in with his three bandmates and cranked up the volume.

As I entered the St James, I couldn’t help be feel the presence of the recently departed Mr Bowie. Kurt Vile’s music has little in common with Bowies, but this was the first show I’ve attended since that terrible news and it was good to be surrounded by fellow music fans. Street Chant’s Emily Edrosa was on stage with her band and she was sounding good.

Vile and his band finally hit the stage at about 10:15 and although he made no mention of Bowie, nor covered any of his songs, he was wearing a T-shirt that said, “What’s up Kooks”, which I took to be a reference to the Bowie song from Hunky Dory. Also, at the end of the show, the PA played Modern Love as the audience filed out.

Now, back to Kurt Vile…his band consists of Jesse Trborich, who plays keyboards, guitars, bass and sax, Rob Laasko, who switched from guitar to bass throughout the night and drummer Kyle Spence.

Vile let out a sharp yelp and a whoop and the band launched into a trio of songs from the latest album, B’lieve I’m Goin’ Down…Dust Bunnies, Pretty Pimpin’ and I’m An Outlaw…the last of these featured Vile playing his banjo over an electronic beat.

I noticed a distinct improvement in the sound mix from the Leon Bridges show that took place in the same venue a few days earlier. While Bridges’ vocals were difficult to discern, getting lost in echo, Kurt’s were clear and present, so kudos to the soundman.

This was followed by a jangly Jesus Fever from 2010’s Smoke Ring For My Halo. After the laconic Wheelhouse, the band departed and Vile played a short solo set with just his acoustic guitar. I found That’s Life, tho (almost hate to say) to being a bit rambling and unremarkable.

Vile then asked if there were any requests, decided he couldn’t hear the responses shouted from the crowd and proceeded with Stand Inside.

The band returned for Runner Ups and things begin to kick into place, the guitars wailing and a groove pulsing through the room.

The mood grew in intensity, culminating with a fiery Hunchback and Freak Train. The set wound down with Wild Imagination, the tune that closes out the new album.

Unlike when I saw Vile in New York this past October, Kurt returned for a lengthy encore, first with a solo performance of Dead Alive, then the band returned to amp things up with Downbound Train, which turned into an extended jam and provided one of the more thrilling musical moments of the evening.

The show finally ended, just after midnight with Baby’s Arms and then, Bowie’s music ushered us out into the night.

Marty Duda

Click on any image to view a photo gallery by Ivan Karszewski:

Kurt Vile & The Violators set list:

1. Dust Bunnies
2. Pretty Pimpin’
3. I’m An Outlaw
4. Jesus Fever
5. Wheelhouse
6. That’s Life, tho (almost hate to say)
7. Stand Inside
8. Runner Ups
9. Wakin’ On A Pretty Day
10. KV Crimes
11. Hunchback
12. Freak Train
13. Wild Imagination
14. Dead Alive
15. Heart Attack/Downbound Train
16. Peeping Tomboy
17. Baby’s Arms