Indie rocker brings hypnotic hits to iconic music venue

Transforming one of Australia’s most impressive and iconic live music venues into a cosy living room is no easy feat.

But Kurt Vile managed to do just that when he took to the stage at the Sydney Opera House on Friday night.

The beloved Philadelphia psych rocker breezed into the Concert Hall and immediately put the sold-out crowd at ease.

“Hey, thank you, good on you, pal,” he told adoring fans as if they were old friends.

Many would know Vile from his time with rockers War on Drugs and collaboration with Australian singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett.

Dressed in signature flannelette shirt and jeans with a wild mane framing his face, the laconic guitarist got to work blending his familiar dreamy chords and introspective lyrics.

Vile joked about the work he had to put into the upkeep of his seemingly effortless image.

“I did a little swimming with my family at (Bondi) Icebergs,” he told the audience.

“Well, I didn’t swim, I had to keep my hair together. Show biz.”

Lighting and lush stage design helped transform the space, with the hall at times bathed in warm red glows and at others awash with moody blues.

Leaning into the vibe of a living room jam, Vile and his long-serving backing band The Violators changed guitars every few songs.

Vile played several tracks from his latest record Watch My Moves including Flyin (like a fast train) and Cool Water.

Fans were also treated to popular older tracks like Bassackwards and Pretty Pimpin.

In a rare audience treat, Vile finished with a cover of Punk in the Beerlight by New York indie rockers the Silver Jews, which he has never recorded or uploaded to music streaming services.

The packed house confirmed his enduring popularity in Australia and fans filed out of the performance filled with the warm buzz of peeling away from a fireside chat.

Kurt Vile and The Violators will perform several regional shows before rounding out their Australian tour at the Castlemaine State Festival northwest of Melbourne.