Kurt Vile & The Violators

Since his initial solo release, Constant Hitmaker, in 2008, Kurt Vile has spent the last decade on an upward ascent as one of rock's most captivating frontmen, guitarists, and songwriters. Growing up as one of ten children in Philadelphia, Vile taught himself how to play guitar on a banjo given to him by his bluegrass-loving father.

After years of creating and releasing lo-fi self-recordings, Vile signed to Matador Records in 2009, and has found a triumphant home within the label's storied roster. Backed by The Violators, Vile's subsequent releases (Childish Prodigy, Smoke Ring For My Halo, Wakin on a Pretty Daze, and b'lieve I'm goin down….) establish a formidable catalog made up of songs vivid and ecstatic, sun-dappled and reflective, strung-out and barnstorming, with gorgeous fingerpicking, heavy guitar workouts, and dreamy, expansive compositions that would have sounded great 30 years ago, sound great today, and will sound great 30 years from now.