IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON PENN RELAYS

Philadelphian musician and producer Kurt Vile is very much a self-made artist. Beginning his musical career creating lo-fi recordings in his house, Vile subsequently founded the indie rock band The War on Drugs with partner Adam Granduciel. The duo released two albums: Wagonwheel Blues in 2008 and Slave Ambient in 2011. However, Vile is most known for his solo work. In a span of two years, Vile made three studio albums. His fourth album, Smoke Ring for My Halo, increased his exposure significantly in 2011 with its #154 rank on the U.S. Chart and wide critical acclaim.

Vile's fifth and most recent album, Wakin On A Pretty Daze, was released April 9. The album includes the hit title track, "Wakin On A Pretty Day."

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Recent Release: Wakin On A Pretty Daze
Release Date: April 9, 2013
Label: Matador Records
Band Origin: Philadelphia, PA

Penn Relays return to Franklin Field at University of Pennsylvania this week (April 25-27, 2013). There will be no metered parking and extremely limited parking in University City. Increased security measures will also be in place. Anyone coming to the XPN Free At Noon on Friday, April 26 should take SEPTA public transportation.

A co-production of WXPN and NPR.org/music.
Made possible by support from XPN Members, and Comcast.

Hear a concert live Friday at 12noon ET from WXPN and NPR Music
Broadcast live Fridays from the stage at World Cafe Live

Free at Noon Parking Alert

Kurt Vile has a new album out next month, Smoke Ring For My Halo. He plays World Cafe Live March 23 with J. Mascis.

Born on the outskirst of Philadelphia to a family of ten siblings, Kurt Vile exudes a positively warming grasp of classic rock and modern form and is often marked by a jumble of influences from Leonard Cohen and My Bloody Valentine to Animal Collective. Gathering inspiration from classic-rock stations and friends, Vile gets "inspiration from people around me and just all kinds of music." Most attest to the freshness of his work, his ability to transform an old sound with just the right touch of modern and experimental, but it is also his admirable worth ethic that has garnered noteworthy praise.

Vile began songwriting and recording when his father bought him a banjo at 14 and soon after began releasing home-recorded albums. Tapping into what soon became a passion, he switched to guitar and began playing as many shows as possible. But the doors never quite opened until the former forklift truck driver left the job and started to seriously gig. His growing popularity was many years in the coming, but his sound soon caught the ears of big labels who were scrambling to sign him. As the label war ensued, Vile hopped around a bit, releasing several albums along the way. "Constant Hitmaker" launched Vile into the sphere of wide recognition with the hit "Freeway," and his subsequent albums eventually pushed his career into the arms of Matador records.

Following "Childish Prodigy" (2009), Vile is now joined by his band the Violators on the upcoming album "Smoke Ring For My Halo." And if you are a Kurt Vile fan as we are, then you won't want to miss this Free At Noon!