[ATTENDED: July 23, 2025] Kurt Vile & The Violators
I had seen Kurt Vile in 2018, but since then, my wife has become a huge fan. We saw him and the Violators at Union Transfer in 2022.
I know we enjoyed the UT show, but somehow, this opening set was a lot better. We both felt that way. Not that we had bad feelings about the UT show, but this just felt bigger, like he was just having a ton of fun.
But it is weird to have him opening since he is a pretty big deal (especially in Philly). I don’t know if he could sell out the Fillmore on his own, but maybe… Anyway, he strolled out said he was Kurt from Philly and these were his boys around him.
He started with a song from his new(ish) EP, the only song that we hadn’t heard him play before.
Like last time, he switched guitars pretty much every song and the Violators switched instruments from time to time.
This was the second night of the two night stand. He played most of the same songs bothe nights, but he switched out yesterday’s “Hey Like a Child” for “Bassackwards.” I love Bassackwards so that was a win, he also switched out yesterday’s Loading Zones for tonight’s “KV Crimes.” Loading Zones is one of my favorite songs of his, and I would have loved to hear it again, but KV Crimes is a fun, older song.
He also played a few songs both nights, like Mount Airy Hill and Girl Called Alex.
I really enjoyed hearing Like Exploding Stones and then he ended the set with a really fun Pretty Pimpin and the delightful Walking on a Pretty Day.
I’m not sure what made this set feel more fun. There was plenty of jamming and Kurt showed off his impressive guitar chops–he is so at ease with a guitar. He played for about 50 minutes–a perfect set–and then said he’d be at the merch table later.
When we left, my wife bravely got her picture taken with him–he’s a really nice guy.
| 2025 opening for Pixies | 2022 | 2018 | 2017 with Courtney Barnett |
| Back to Moon Beach ⇔ | Palace of OKV in Reverse ∞ | Wheelhouse ⇓ | Over Everything £ |
| Bassackwards Ø | Loading Zones Ø | Jesus Fever ♦ | Let It Go £ |
| Mount Airy Hill (Way Gone) ∞ | Punks in the Beerlight (Silver Jews cover) | I’m an Outlaw ⇓ | Fear is Like a Forest (Jen Cloher song) |
| Girl Called Alex ∇ | Bassackwards Ø | KV Crimes ∇ | Continental Breakfast £ |
| Like Exploding Stones ∞ | Hey Like a Child ∞ | Goldtone ∇ | Out of the Woodwork (Courtney song) |
| KV Crimes ∇ | Check Baby Ø | Girl Called Alex ∇ | On Script £ |
| Pretty Pimpin ⇓ | Runner Ups ♦ [solo guitar] | All in a Daze Work ⇓ | On Tour (Kurt song) ♦ |
| Waking on a Pretty Day ∇ | Goin on a Plane Today ∞ [solo keyboard] | Waking on a Pretty Day ∇ | Depreston (Courtney song) |
| Flyin (Like a Fast Train) ∞ | Dust Bunnies ⇓ | Life Like This (Kurt song) ⇓ | |
| Say the Word ∞ | Pretty Pimpin ⇓ | Blue Cheese £ | |
| Wakin on a Pretty Day ∇ | Inside Looking Out © | Dead Fox (Courtney song) | |
| Mount Airy Hill (Way Gone) ∞ | Freak Train © | Untogether (Belly song) | |
| Pretty Pimpin ⇓ | Wild Imagination ⇓ | encore | |
| Hunchback © | Encore | Elvis Presley Blues (Gillian Welsh cover) | |
| Skinny Mini Ø | Baby’s Arms ♦ | Pretty Pimpin’ (Kurt song) ⇓ | |
| Encore | Puppet to the Man ♦ | Happy Birthday to You (Courtney’s 30th ) | |
| Like Exploding Stones ∞ | 2018 | Avant Gardener (Courtney song) | |
| Cool Water ∞ | 2018 | ||
⇔ Back to Moon Beach EP (2023)
∞ Watch My Moves (2022)
Ø Bottle It In (2018)
£ Lotta Sea Lice (with courtney barnett (2017)
⇓ b’lieve i’m goin down… (2015)
∇ Wakin on a Pretty Daze (2013)
♦ Smoke Ring for My Halo (2011)
© Childish Prodigy (2009)
God is Saying This to You (2009)
Constant Hitmaker (2008)
I Just Read About That... 
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