Kurt Vile at Mill City Nights

While Huey Lewis & the News faded out over the PA system, Kurt Vile took the stage with a half-drunk bottle of Gilbey’s gin in hand. He plugged in his Fender guitar and fidgeted a bit, before leading his band into “Dust Bunnies” from the excellent new album B’lieve I’m Goin Down. From the front of the stage, his guitar amp overpowered everything, including his vocals which sounded muddy at best. Up next was a slowed down version of “Pretty Pimpin’” which has been getting heavy airplay of late on The Current. It sounded like the band was plowing through sludge, and from my perspective that struggle wasn’t intentional.

The band did find its footing eventually, and songs like the banjo-led “I’m an Outlaw” sounded great. The sound was also much better when Vile exchanged his electric guitar for an acoustic on tracks like “Stand Inside” which was played in the middle of the set. Another acoustic track, “He’s Alright”, fell rather flat however. It seemed as soon as a song misfired, Vile and his band quickly redeemed themselves. This was the case when they ended the set with “Freak Train” which was a big, loud, upbeat, buzzing highlight of the night.

Mill City Nights is just not a good music venue. It has an unnatural feel, and the sound on this night was off even when the band was on. This is probably due to the sound man as much as the venue design, but I can only hope that Kurt Vile will be at First Avenue the next time around. Kurt Vile at Mill City Nights ebbed and flowed, and at times was a bit of a mess. I’m glad I made it out however because Kurt Vile still is pretty pimpin and his songs are awesome. There’s nothing wrong with that.

Kurt Vile and the Violators

Kurt Vile and the Violators – Mill City Nights, Minneapolis, MN – 10.21.15 Setlist
Dust Bunnies
Pretty Pimpin’
Jesus Fever
I’m an Outlaw
Wheelhouse
Goldtone
He’s Alright
Stand Inside
Wakin on a Pretty Day
KV Crimes
Freak Train

Encore:
Wild Imagination
Runner Ups