Kurt Vile & The Violators @ Rockefeller

The laid back american rocker performed for a jam-packed Rockefeller last sunday.

Photo: Sadan Ekdemir

In the ten years that have passed since the release of his debut album «Constant Hitmaker» , Kurt Vile has rocketed to indie rock stardom. This attention is by no means unwarranted; his minimalistic and beautiful music has a quaint quality which makes him stand out from the crowd.  The same adjectives can be applied to summarize last sunday at Rockefeller when Kurt Vile and his band, the Violators, visited Oslo.

Effortless and unique

The support act, Meg Baird & Mary Lattimore, ensures that the evening come off to a calm start. The duo’s folkish tunes has an almost seraphic quality, which is in no way unrelated to the fact that Baird has a really soothing voice and that Lattimore’s instrument of choice is a harp.  When Vile and his violating comrades take the stage, the lullaby-factor is lowered considerably. The setlist contains many rocking tunes that are delivered with high levels of both skills and modesty. 

Despite the fact that this is a sold out concert in one of the city’s larger venues, the concert has an intimate feeling to it. This can in many ways be credited to the frontman himself. His effortless and unique vocals combined with vibrant guitar skills and effects brings so much joy to the show, and it is obvious that Kurt Vile, currently in his 38th year, isn’t going nowhere anytime soon.

Kurt Vile @ Rockefeller 14.10.18: 8 / 10