PHOTOS: Kurt Vile & the Violators @ Variety Playhouse – Atlanta – 12/3/18

Touring behind his first new solo album in 3 years, the brilliant Bottled In (October 12th via Matador Records), Kurt Vile rolled through Atlanta on Monday, December 3rd to the sold out Variety Playhouse.

Opening the show was the always lovely and moving Jessica Pratt. The Los Angeles-based folk artist is currently touring with Vile in anticipation of her third album, Quiet Signs, due out February 8th, 2019 via Mexican Summer. Like Kurt Vile, Jessica Pratt mesmerizes her audiences; lulling the Atlanta crowd into a complete silence, in awe of her quiet and inspiring presence as the songbird sang and plucked her guitar. Jessica Pratt’s songs evoke an imagery of magical environments, and the two singles she played from her new album, “Poly Blue” and “This Time Around”, showed just how enchanting and otherworldly Jessica Pratt is. After the tour with Kurt Vile wraps up, Jessica Pratt will hit Europe in March for a headlining tour with more dates to come.

Fresh off the release of his most successful album (charts-wise at least), Atlanta was packed in and excited to see Kurt Vile live. After the success of “Pretty Pimpin”, off of 2015’s believe i’m goin down…, and the 2017 duet album with Courtney Barnett, Lotta Sea Lice, Vile’s star is at an all time high. Over Vile’s 10 + year career, he’s become to be known as a sort of guitar god, perhaps the real hero of guitar rock this decade. The 16 song career spanning set at Variety Playhouse showed off just how stellar Kurt is behind an instrument, giving all sides of his music as he switched guitars practically every song (shout out to that guitar tech for keeping everything moving). But it’s not just the music that had the audience mesmerized by the performance on stage. Pairing his witty songwriting over the droning Heartland rock, Kurt Vile is one of the best songwriters of this generation and hearing the new songs live, such as “Loading Zones”, “Bassackwards”, “Yeah Bones”, and “Skinny Mini”, proved that this new album will last the test of time. Pair the new songs with older tracks such as “Jesus Fever”, “Wakin on a Pretty Day”, and “Baby’s Arms” and it’s easy to see why Kurt Vile and his band the Violators are so beloved. Kurt Vile is like a fine wine, only getting better with age. In fact, his music pairs well with a fine Pinot Noir. Or a 16oz PBR. Either way you rock, Kurt Vile & the Violators will roll you.

Check out photos from the show by Mike Gerry below:

Jessica Pratt

Kurt Vile & the Violators