Everything about Kurt Vile & the Violators seems to be tinged with an air of irony, from their band name and album names (Constant Hitmaker, Childish Prodigy) to their throw-back '70s guitar sound with double entendre lyrics about "blackberries" and ironic musings like "society is my friend it makes me lie down in a cold bloodbath" and "being a puppet to the man."

Extremely grateful, sweet, and nice, Kurt Vile & His Violators commanded Webster Hall with their own brand of pervasive, trance-inducing, guitar-oriented sound which borders on being more of an aura; pulling you in whether you like it or not.

AND Kurt Vile knows how to treat his fans, offering a free vinyl EP at the door and playing fan favorites from way back in the Vile catalog including "Hunchback," "Runner-ups," "Freak Train" and "Freeway." If you've heard the records you pretty much know what they sound like live, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. They've replicated the guitar sound to perfection while not missing a single beat or stroke when playing along with an electronic drum track. And of course it is much louder and live.

Vile pleased the crowd with an encore of "Baby’s Arms" off his latest, Smoke Ring for My Halo, playing it alone on stage with some impressive lighting. It's the same way he started out the night, with another acoustic song, "Peeping Tomboy," proving he can silence a packed hall with just his lyrical prowess and a custom-tuned acoustic guitar. When he brings on the Violators, it gets loud and full, with saxophone blasts on "Freak Train" and Crazy Horse-like extended and distorted three-part guitar soloing. One of the rare beasts that is the guitar-based band in today's electronic dominated music market, Kurt Vile and the Violators are a damn pleasure to behold. Pictures below.

Review and photos by Nick Rogers of Future Bagel