Kurt Vile proved himself an immensely skilled songwriter some albums ago, but this year’s Smoke Ring for My Halo truly sets him apart from his peers. He adds off-kilter, drawling vocal cadence and abstract lyrical imagery to his already arresting structures, and the resultant 11 songs of happily and hazily meandering folk have garnered (warranted) critical acclaim from both sides of the Atlantic (Vile is from Philly). Also enjoying heavy praise are his live shows, where along with his adept backing band the Violators, he spins the enchanting catalog into enthralling performance. Not sure what the capacity is at Sunset, but tonight it will be maxed. (Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave NW, 784-4880, 9 pm, $12, 21+)
Grant Brissey covered everything from hard news and technology, to music, film, and visual arts during his time working for The Stranger. Grant's work has also appeared at Geekwire, and in Billboard,... More by Grant Brissey
That’s the most androgynous picture I’ve ever seen on Slog.
wow ~ he’s pretty!
@1 and 2, I hate to break it to you, but that’s a particularly flattering angle for him, taken, er, enough years ago that, well, not that he doesn’t remain a very interesting looking young man, but….
In any case, anyone who can watch this four-song Pitchfork set of him and the Violators on the roof and not be super happy for a chance to see him has to be deader inside than even me…
http://pitchfork.tv/tv/#/dont-look-down/…
Resultant.