Kurt Vile & The Violators – Webster Hall (Concert Review)

With his new, and arguably best, album, B’lieve I’m Goin’ Down, fresh out of the oven, Kurt Vile is touring the US with his band, The Violators. The 13^th Floor’sMarty Duda caught the second of their two-night sold-out stand at New York City’s Webster Hall.

Webster Hall is a somewhat historic New York venue, having hosted everyone from Guns ‘n Roses to Public Image Ltd back in the 1980s. Its very similar in layout to Auckland’s Powerstation, possibly a bit larger…although the Powerstation’s sight-lines are much better.

This was the second of two sold-out shows for Kurt Vile and the evening opened with singer-songwriter Luke Roberts. Vile is a big fans, and he sat in to add backing vocals during Unspotted Clothes. Roberts’ music is slow and quiet…like Neil Young on valium…and is probably best experienced either on record of in a smaller, more intimate venue. Here at the Webster he was OK, but didn’t really connect.

More lively was the 5-piece band Waxahatchee. This is the project of Alabaman Katie Crutchfield and they did a nice job of mixing power pop, country-rock and punk, throwing in a cover of Lucinda Williams’ I Lost It along the way.

Kurt Vile and The Violators made their way onto the stage at 10:30. These days the band consists of Jesse Trbovich and Rob Laasko, both of whom take on guitar, bass and keyboard duties, with Kyle Spence laying down the beat.

Kurt and the band charged out of the gate with two of the strongest songs from the new album, Dust Bunniesand Pretty Pimpin’, with Vile showing off his guitar-playing prowess early on. When the band gets into a groove and Kurt has his way with the fretboard, beautiful things happen.

The set list focussed on the new album, featuring eight tracks including the debut performance of I’m An Outlaw, complete with Kurt’s fine banjo pickin’.

The show lost a bit of energy toward the end as Kurt wheeled out a couple of quieter, acoustic songs, the dreamy He’s Alright from 2009’s Child Prodigyand Stand Inside from the new album.

Nevertheless Kurt announced, “I’m feeling good about this set tonight”, after playing Stand Inside, then, “Feeling good about you guys”.

The energy level rose during KV Crimes and then Vile let us know, “A couple more and then we’re outie!”

We got a rockin’ version of Wakin’ On A Pretty Day and then it was all aboard theFreak Train.

The evening ended with album closer Wild Imagination and acoustic affair with a touch of Velvet Underground in its DNA.

On the whole, a fine night with Kurt Vile showing that his songwriting and guitar playing just keep getting better and better.

Marty Duda

Marty Duda

Kurt Vile set list:

1. Dust Bunnies

2. Pretty Pimpin’

3. Jesus Fever

4. Wheelhouse

5. That’s Life, tho (almost hate to say)

6. I’m An Outlaw

7. Goldtone

8. He’s Alright

9. Stand Inside

10. KV Crimes

11. Wakin’ On A Pretty Day

12. Freak Train

13. Wild Imagination