ARTIST:
KURT VILE


ALBUM:
SMOKE RING FOR MY HALO


KEY TRACKS:
BABY'S ARMS
PUPPET TO THE MAN
SOCIETY IS MY FRIEND
RUNNER UPS
JESUS FEVER


"best friend's long gone, but I got runner ups"
Smoke Ring for My Halo has been a longtime vice of mine ever since hearing the opening track Baby's Arms.  It's a vice in that I've listened to it almost too much.  However, there is something about Kurt Vile's slurry vocals and intricate fretwork that have sucked me in and (more importantly) kept me coming back for more.  


A Pennsylvania native, and former member (and founder) of ambient rock back The War on Drugs, there is a certain nostalgia to Kurt Vile's arrangements.  He sometimes suggests the Americana of Tom Petty and then at other times to the entrancing folk of Bob Dylan at times.  I recently had the pleasure of seeing Kurt Vile and his backing band The Violators at Bonnaroo this year and all through the set I certainly sensed this duality.  Vile's music often vacillates between hard rock and gentle folk, as mentioned, and as different as they sound, it's no less enjoyable.  However, after a few listens to Smoke Ring I would have to say, wholeheartedly, that this is much more of an acoustic album than Vile's previous releases. 


Baby's Arms, the album's opener, is such a beautiful yet simple love song.  Like Vile himself, it's shy yet brutally honest:

"I get sick of just about everyone, so I hide in my baby's arms

Shrink myself just like a Tom Thumb, and I hide in my baby's hands"

Kurt seems a deeply private person both in his music and on stage.  Even in one of the interviews below he seems uncomfortable just even being filmed.  Seeing him live was also a reflection of this as he literally played hunched over his guitar, behind the massive curtain of his thick locks.  His music, especially in this track, is just as well veiled in the same mysterious ambiance.  It's this subtlety, his well hidden persona, that has so hooked me in as a listener and also why I've posted only live-version videos below.  You can never really know what's going on in these songs, or in the life of the artist which is so fascinating to me and so true for this partiular musician.  It always keeps you guessing, always keeps you entertained.  

Runner Ups and Peeping Tomboy are in a similar style to Baby's Arms and are just as entrancing and mysterious while other tracks like Puppet to the Man and Society is my Friend are a bit on the heavier side.  Again, this duality is present again, Americana versus folk, Petty versus Dylan.  But nonetheless it's interesting and refreshing.  Now that I've discovered the wonderful world of online radio, I've been digging deeper into Kurt Vile's discography and listening to the wonderful progression of this artist.  It seems that through the years Kurt Vile, has found a happy medium between his two distinct styles which is something only time, and well learned experience can produce.  


What's most memorable about Kurt Vile is that there is an intensity to his playing.  At Bonnaroo, the only time he'd look up from his guitar when playing, was up to the sound pit to make adjustments.  He's not in this to be a rock star, he's here to make the music he wants to.  His tenacity on stage to make such perfect and meticulously played music was the highlight of my festival experience.  To see someone that dedicated to their craft is nothing less than inspiring: Smoke Ring for My Halo is Kurt Vile's true testament to that.  

LISTEN:  BABY'S ARMS  |  RUNNER UPS |  SOCIETY IS MY FRIEND  | PUPPET TO THE MAN  |  JESUS FEVER

NEXT WEEK:  LAURA MARLING  |  A CREATURE I DON'T KNOW

BonnaRECAP!  |  Best Acts of 2012


For a third time my time at the farm has come to an end.  This year was especially nice for many reasons but I think most Bonnaroovians will agree that the temperate weather was definitely an important factor.  It was actually bearable this year!  It was also the one year that I didn't come home sporting splotches of heat rash and dirty nails.


In addition to the weather, the crowds seemed more tame this year.  Lines moved quickly and there was absolutely NO TRAFFIC!  Whatever the staff did this year, keep doing it because it's working!


This year's lineup also boasted some of the most impressive and diverse lineups in years.  It was such a pleasure to watch these magnificent musicians in person.  Every act I caught was memorable in its own way but it was these 5 that topped the festival for me:

5. KURT VILE & THE VIOLATORS

Kurt Vile was one of the last acts on at the festival, and one of my most anticipated.  I've been playing Smoke Ring for My Halo on heavy rotation for months so to hear it live was thrilling.  What surprised , and delighted me was how much Vile deviated from this release and pounded out some heavier and headier electric jams.  But every now and then, that acoustic guitar was brought out to him and  those familiar plucky hymns came out and completely smoldered during the final hours of the festival.

HIGHLIGHTS:    BABY'S ARMS  |  PEEPING TOMBOY  |    JESUS FEVER

4. THE BEACH BOYS

Oh my goodness these guys blew me away!  I came in the main stage area on Sunday a bit cynical after hearing about their shaky Grammy's performance.  I was so very wrong!  Their voices have not changed one bit!  And after laying hit after hit onto the crowd, it was hard not to throw your hands up into the air and do those iconic 60's dance moves.  I may have been covered in dust, but for one hour and thirty minutes, I was at the beach.    

HIGHLIGHTS:  WOULDN'T IT BE NICE  |  GOD ONLY KNOWS  |  FUN, FUN, FUN

3.  RADIOHEAD

I've said it before and I'll write it here too:  I've never quite understood the enigma of Radiohead.  I've always understood that their music has a distinct presence and respect them for it.  However, seeing them live was such an incredible experience.  Their music truly cocoons you in sound  and their light show....their light show.    I don't have adequate words to describe it, much like Radiohead, it must be seen to be believed.  Still skeptical?  Watch the set here.  

HIGHLIGHTS:  WEIRD FISHES  |  PARANOID ANDROID  |  BODYSNATCHERS  |  NUDE

2.  FEIST

What an absolute delight to see Leslie Feist play in person!  She has had so many things going in her favor this year and even scored the sunset slot on the Which Stage.  Feist was bubbly and so much fun to watch.  She also incorporated tons of audience participation and genuinely seemed to be enjoying herself.  But perhaps the greatest part of her performance, and a true testament to her as an artist, were the two FANTASTIC reinterpretations of her hits Mushaboom and Limit to Your Love.  Completely unexpected and wholeheartedly enjoyed. 

HIGHLIGHTS:  THE BAD IN EACH OTHER | MY MOON MY MAN | LIMIT TO YOUR LOVE | SEA LION    

1.  SANTIGOLD

If there's anyone who goes hard in the music world, Santigold knows how to bring her A-game.  She's the total package: crazy costumes, ridiculous dance moves, and one of the years best albums to back it up.  Santigold's Saturday set was everything I wanted.  She indulged the crowd with old favorites like L.E.S. Artists, Shove It, and  (a personal favorite of mine) Anne, but still cranked out mega hits like  GO! , Disparate Youth, and Freak Like Me.    But for me, and all those with me, the hands down winning track of the day was Creator.   The moment Creator's dub step-like base rumbled in, Santigold invited anyone willing to dance to get up on stage with her.  And so I did.  I don't think any of my experiences at Bonnaroo top getting on the main stage with one of my favorite artists during one of my favorite tracks.  I mean, need I say more?  Whatever the case, Santigold knows how to throw it down.  I can only hope I brought it just as hard.

HIGHLIGHTS:  LOOK AT THESE HOES  |  CREATOR  |  ANNE  |  GO!  |  SHOVE IT  |  DISPARATE YOUTH

Non musical highlights include (but are not limited to):  

1.  Ghetto Raita at the Indian Cuisine Tent (FYI it's Ranch Dressing)

2.  The Love's Vegan Food Truck.

3.  Seeing cocaine in That Tent. ( I guess the 80's are back?)

4.  Meeting Unicorn Jesus.

5.  Hula hooping my guts out to Radiohead & Mimosa.

6.  Ridiculous amounts of instructions at the Major Lazer.

7.  Teletubbies!

8.  Meeting Kurt Vile's brother.

9.  Full length fur coat at Flying Lotus

10.  Blowing bubbles at the Beach Boys show!  Who could ask for anything more perfect?

So that's all for now, Bonnaroo!  Until next year!!
*ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF BONNAROO MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL*

What the Folk?  |  My Bonnaroo 2012 Picks

It's that time of year again!  The most wonderful time of the year.  Bonnaroo!  Each year I've visited the farm, I've come with one particular genre in mind.  2010 was for all the new alternative acts, 2011 for the electronic acts, and this year it's overwhelmingly the folk scene.  Besides the obvious heavy hitters like Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foster the People, Feist, etc. I think there are some smaller acts that deserve some recognition.  So if you're lucky enough to get down to the farm this summer here are a few of my favorites I'd recommend seeing:

KURT VILE
Ever since I heard the first few plucky licks of "Baby's Arms" I was completely hooked on Kurt Vile.  There's nothing particularly fancy about his music, it's just good old Americana.  However, there's something mysterious about Vile's slurry vocals with the combination of his fretwork.  It's hypnotic, such that I'm positive that just his presence on stage will command the attention he deserves.

LAURA MARLING
Marling's bitter breakups with fellow musicians have left many with a bitter taste in their mouths for her.  But after just one listen of Marling's epic track "Sophia" I quickly dropped that foolish judgement.  At only 22 years old, Marling has produced some of the most profound and mature songs I've ever heard. Her mature lyrics alongside simple harmonies are exquisite and serve as a promise of young talent in the world of folk music.  

TUNE-YARDS
After last week's review, I can't think of a reason not to see quirky Merrill Garbus in action.  Her music is pretty eccentric in my headphones so I'm pretty curious to see what kinds of antics Garbus is capable of.  This is a woman who isn't afraid to get ugly, push the limits, and put it all out there.  I'm unsure of exactly what will be going down in This Tent when Garbus takes the stage, but I'll be there to see the results.




BON IVER
It's been quite a year for Bonnie Bear!  Not only did Justin Vernon win some well deserved Grammys, but he also claimed the coveted sunset slot on Bonnaroo's main stage.  He's earned it and deserves the all the attention he'll most certainly get on Sunday's set.  It would be worth the whole afternoon to hear "Holocene" live as the sun is setting.  I mean, do I really need to say more?  



ST. VINCENT
I'm still coming off my high of seeing Annie Clark live.  Let me tell you that she did not disappoint.  Clark has a real, tangible presence on stage and knows how to work the crowd.  She croons subtly while her guitar shrieks to life with ungodly riffs and licks.  Annie Clark's got talent, and isn't afraid to share it with the audience. 






Of course with four days of music this is just a tiny snapshot of all the artists that will be heading down to Manchester this year.  It will be exciting to see the acts I plan on seeing, but even moreso to see the ones I stumble upon.  

NEXT WEEK:  KURT VILE  |  SMOKE RING FOR MY HALO