Courtney Barnett is an incredible songwriter, as is Kurt Vile. When the two musicians decided to unite and make a meta album about recording together, fans knew the result would be a good time. Touring the states with their side project, I was thrilled to cover their Boston, MA stop at the Orpheum for Vanyaland. They covered each other’s songs and played through their new collaborations. The charm and a relaxed mood felt more like watching friends experimenting in a basement than a massive space.
I’ll be honest, Barnett’s girlfriend and Milk Records founder, Jen Cloher stole the show. She opened the set playing her full band’s songs solo—just her and an acoustic guitar booming through the stately venue. She introduced songs with back story, sharing intimate, personal narratives. It was very moving and a powerful set.
SMURRY PHOTO 