Photos: Kurt Vile w/ Woods – Scala, London 08/09/11

Last night saw Kurt Vile play to a sold out and captivated Scala in London’s Kings Cross. A huge step up – venue wise – since his last London show at Corsica Studios, Vile showcased his effortless knack of cracking off an endless supply of fluid yet wrought guitar passages that intertwine with an almost stream-of-conscious lyrical flow. Stripping most songs clean of any recognisable melody, he chooses instead to ramble nonchalantly at variable tempos like a demented Dylan with stage fright. In a word – a completely captivating experience. An unassuming figure on stage, almost verging on goofy – Vile is fast assuring the cult-like status that’s been creeping up behind him these past few years.

Support came from Woods who opened with a 45 minute set of sweet psych, brushed with mellow pop undertones and flashes of shoegaze noise. A heady brew indeed, and one that saw a normally fickle London audience totally engaged from the off.

All photographs courtesy of Sébastien Dehesdin.