Kurt Vile and The Violators at the Ritz in Manchester review

Image: Kurt Vile 

Usually to disband from The War On Drugs as Kurt Vile did, it would be a continual reference point throughout anyone's solo career.

With Kurt and The Violators though, things are different, instead all the talk is around his fire fly of a new album b'lieve i'm going down... which draws a sell out crowd to Manchester's 02 Ritz. (listen to single 'Pretty Pimpin below) 

From the open floor to the revellers leant over the second tier, the vast venue space is packed full of heads youthful looking and old with a fitting lighting display glowing the colours of the French flag in light of the Paris attacks. 

Away from the stage, Kurt comes across as a reserved and introverted kind of guy which raises intrigue as to how he'd conduct himself on stage. 

With his long locks drooped over his ever-frequenting 'Whats Up Kooks' t shirt, Kurt appears as rock and roll as they come, though without the oral decapitating of budgies added to his game. 

Oh and that's "Kooks" as a colloquialism for some sort of skater guy, and not the Brighton indie-outfit. Imagine that? Who is your biggest influence Kurt? "The Kooks." Neil Young or Bob Dylan would presumably allay to that thought.

For the most part of the night, he leaves out the small talk and weaves through his set list by interchanging his magnificent weaponry of guitars and a banjo. 

A whooping whistle to acknowledge the resounding applause from the crowd becomes a staple of his set. Eventually it resonates with the crowd, probably summoning a flock of birds overhead, migrating from the bitter coldness of Manchester.

It's seemingly a top heavy set list, breezy banjo led 'I'm An Outlaw' opens pragmatically; 'Dust Bunnies' extends the convivial tone with its foot tapping tendencies, before Kurt unexpectedly wades into his retrospective centre-piece 'Pretty Pimpin'.  

What's seemingly a lightning start, would often hinder the remaining void. But through growing confidence and some sparkling patches of improvisation and a stunning extended outro on So Outta Reach track 'He's Alright' (listen above) - which just to put it out there appears on Kenny Powers' comedy joint Eastbound and Down - the set undeniably denied that logic.  

Occasionally turning to earlier settlements in his library, Kurt brought a lone absorbing performance of 'Wakin On A Pretty Day' which managed rapturous applause, as well as an encore which brought the star gazing 'Runner Ups' and a return to his latest LP with 'Wild Imagination'. 

Kurt Vile's connecting of the dots between folk and rock through great musicianship is no easy feat, to keep on producing music as openly accessibly and commercially friendly is a great testament to where he is operating at the moment.

While reserved, he's an amiable guy who lets the music do the talking, and when it's that good, a whooping whistle is all you need to charm a Manchester crowd hooked on the riveting rock-ready twang of Kurt Vile and The Violators.     

Read: Everything Everything at Manchester Apollo review