Music & Nightlife
PHOTOGRAPH: MARINA CHAVEZ
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Jokers Vile’d
Former forklift driver turned indie darling Kurt Vile is the kind of guy you’d like to have a beer with. Fusing folk balladry with six-string prowess, the Philadelphian singer- songwriter confronts the rigors of adulthood with earnest, endearing wit. On his new record, b’lieve i’m goin down…, out September 25, Vile expands on this formula, offering up tracks peppered with deep musings and clever quips.
The new album was recorded in Georgia, Los Angeles and Joshua Tree. Why all the traveling?
Philly folk rock troubadour Kurt Vile opens up about his new record, filled with serious (and funny) songs. By Zach Long
I like to be a chameleon and tap into all kinds of different perspectives. It wasn’t just random—my drummer has a home studio in Athens and I went to Joshua Tree to play with Stella Mozgawa [of Warpaint] and Dave Scher [of Beachwood Sparks]. I think if you just travel in general, it allows you to step outside of yourself and whatever you’re familiar with.
You play banjo on this record. What attracted you to that instrument?
The banjo was actually my first stringed instrument—my dad got me one when I was 14. Part of the appeal is nostalgia and part of it is the drone string and the ethereal, drifting sound you get from finger- picking. When I first started making this album, I wanted to make a blues record, but along the way, the songs took on a life of their own.
There are some very dark, personal moments in your songs, tempered by plenty of humor. How do you strike that balance? Humor is important. Nothing against bands that are always a downer, but the reality is—it just becomes theater. I’m joking all the time with my friends, even when we’re talking about serious things. Life is so beautiful, but there are all these scary things you can’t deny. If your serotonin is low or
you’re just being realistic, you can see all the fucked up stuff going on in the world. You can sing about it and be sad about it, but at the same time, you’re cracking jokes.
Do you ever worry that people take your lyrics too seriously? It’s convenient that in this world, everyone has a say—there are so many haters, which is fine. I remember when Smoke Ring for My Halo came out, people were telling me I was in the doldrums. But that’s where inspiration comes from, when you’re feeling down and you write about your best friend being gone. Ultimately, I am serious even when I’m joking—and I’m always serious about what I’m doing.
Kurt Vile and the Violators + Waxahatchee play Thalia Hall Oct 22, 23.
September–November 2015
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