Rich Davies went to The Level, the basement of the NTU Students Union Building, for the visit of US singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kurt Vile and his band, The Violators...
A hot summers night, and another trip into the city centre for a show, this time to The Level, a night in the cool basement at the NTU Students Union Building for the visit of US singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kurt Vile and his band, The Violators.
First up, we had King Hannah on stage. A band I’d not heard of before, based in Liverpool. And what a treat we got. A tight performance the indie-rocker, have a style with tracks starting slowly or gently, and building to an ominous climax, with a very post-punk vibe. Some of it reminds me of the brilliant AA Williams.
King Hannah were great, a band I’ve been listening to all; day at work today (while working). The set closed with two great numbers in State Trooper about riding on the New Jersey turnpike on a wet night with no licence or plates, hoping to not get pulled, and for me the highlight of the set, as we ended on It’s Me and You Kid from their debut album I’m Not Sorry, I Was Just Being Me released in 2022. With fuzzy riffs undercutting the drawn out vocals, the track builds and builds to a crescendo finish.
A great set and a band I want to see live again.
A quick turn round and we’re ready for the headliners. The crowds grown and its almost bursting, and that nice cool basement has become a sweltering furnace as Kurt Vile and the Violators walk out onto the stage.
With his iconic mass of curly hair we crack on with the opening track Palace of OKV In Reverse from his latest album Watch My Moves released in 2022 a beautiful sprawling number with Lou Reed/VU like vocals draped over the music.
Kurt’s drawn style of psych-rock is instantly recognisable, and you can here sounds, and influence from so many in the sonicscapes he creates, from Neil Young, to Dylan, Tom Petty and the forerunners of indie rock, such as Dinosaur Jr.
Loading Zones from 2018’s Bottle It In was up next with a country edge to it, again beautiful and tuneful
It’s laidback, relaxed and yet at times, his music can have an edge, a rawness to them. Kurt is not the flamboyant type, there’s no diving into the crowd or wild leaps, but the quality of the music and lyric writing is what’s important here. Sometimes the quiet ones are the dark horses so to speak and that’s certainly the case here. The quality of the product is exceptional.
For me the track of the night was definitely a stunning rendition of Wakin on a Pretty Day from 2013’s album of the same name. Stunning, the melody drifts round you inter-woven with the delicate lyrics.
The main set ends with The Hunchback from way back in 2010 a delightful psychedelic guitar trip.
As the set draws to a close, the last track is a cover of the Silver Jews classic track Punks in the Beerlight. An up tempo guitar driven track that had the crowd moving as one. A powerful and adrenalin fuelled…. enjoyable end to the night.
A fantastic night and a brilliant performance from Kurt Vile. Made all the more wonderful for discovering King Hannah as well.
Kurt Vile performed at The Level on 22 June 2023.
We have a favour to ask
LeftLion is Nottingham’s meeting point for information about what’s going on in our city, from the established organisations to the grassroots. We want to keep what we do free to all to access, but increasingly we are relying on revenue from our readers to continue. Can you spare a few quid each month to support us?
