by Matt Kelchner
Almost four years ago to this day an up and coming local guy, Kurt Vile, and his band the Violators opened for a reunited Pavement at the Mann Center. Fast forward to the present day and Vile again is returning to the very same stage, this time opening for the legendary Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Regardless how far he has come, Vile is still focused on putting on one hell of a show anytime he is playing in front of a hometown crowd.
In between the years Kurt Vile has kept himself busy by releasing a few highly acclaimed albums, touring around the world and having an entire mural dedicated to himself. “We’ve been around the block, put out a bunch of records and been around the world,” he tells me as we talk about how times have changed.
Looking back four years ago, Vile explains, “That was awesome to open for Pavement, who was a childhood favorite band, who was reuniting. And it was also playing in my home town.” But he admits, “most people in the band still had day jobs. I didn’t, but everyone else was just getting on the stage by the skin of their teeth.” Despite all of this, Vile and his band still performed a rather impressive set.
(photo by Shawn Brackbill)
When I ask him what he thought his biggest accomplished has been so far, he modestly and simply responds, “there’s no one biggest thing, ya know?” He continues by talking not about himself, but about the entire band, “I just think in general we’re all in a good place.”
“Flash forward after a lot of changes and a lot of touring, there’s definitely that equal unit [feeling],” Vile tells me as we start talking about tonight’s show with Nick Cave. It will mark the third time Vile has seen Nick Cave live, and each performance had him more blown away. All of this, mixed with a little bit of what Vile describes as “rustiness” between him and his band after taking a break from their busy touring schedule this year, he says (again modestly) “hopefully we’re just going to play the best set we can play.”
Gates at the Mann Center open at 6PM tonight for those looking to get the best possible seats on the lawn. Kicking things off is New Jersey native Nicole Atkins. Be sure to arrive early because she is one act you do not want to miss. Kurt Vile and the Violators follow and the night will wrap up with Nick Cave.
The concert gods have blessed us with a packed weekend with both WXPN’s XPoNential Festival and This Is Hardcore taking place, along with all of the other touring acts coming to town. But if you had to ask one certain writer where to go tonight, the Mann Center would be his pick!
