No ExpectationsKurt Vile

Kurt Vile

Kurt Vile is a critically acclaimed indie-rock singer-songwriter based in Philadelphia. Drawing on influences ranging from Beck and Pavement to Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and Creedence Clearwater Revival, Vile has created a dreamy, ethereal sound very much rooted in classic rock. Originally a member of the band The War on Drugs, which he founded with frequent collaborator Adam Granduciel, Vile has released six solo albums. The most recent, 2015’s B'lieve I’m Goin Down…, reached #40 on the Billboard 200—his highest placement yet.

In concert, Vile is often backed by The Violators, a trio composed of guitar, bass, and drums. In addition to being a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, Vile plays the trumpet and banjo—both of which he took up before receiving his first six-string. Sometimes perceived as slacker, on account of his long hair and laid-back sounds, Vile is actually a hard-working family man who spent years tinkering with home recordings while working dead-end blue-collar jobs. He’s also a perfectionist. He once told The Guardian, “I won’t put it out if there’s even one little bit of the song that’s not right.”

In 2017, he released Lotta Sea Lice, a collaboration with Courtney Barnett.