Hailing from Philadelphia, psych-pop rocker Kurt Vile got his start in music at the age of 14 when his father gifted him a banjo. Through his teenage years and into adulthood, Vile continued to play and record at home, but nothing really seemed to take off, and he became depressed by his blue-collar life working as a forklift driver.
Things started to turn around in 2003 when he became one half of indie rock outfit the War on Drugs, and after leaving the group and working on a few solo releases, one finally struck mainstream appeal: B'lieve I'm Goin Down... Its lead track, 'Pretty Pimpin', reached number one on the Billboard Adult Alternative Songs chart, propelling Vile into indie rock stardom.
Fans can see Vile perform a one-off show at Northcote Theatre on April 6. Tickets start at $77 and can be purchased here.