Kurt Vile, Cate LeBon

About a decade ago, Kurt Vile left his post as guitarist in The War on Drugs and set out to pursue a solo career. The recordings were minimal, lo-fi, and far from sterile, but Vile's sardonic lyrics, idiosyncratic guitar playing, and unfussy singing came through clear from the very beginning. After three fantastic, underrated full-lengths, Vile's 2013 record Wakin' On A Pretty Daze opened him up to a wider audience and found him on year-end lists with no shortage of breathless writeups. Every album since has challenged and underlined the laid-back, classic rock persona (people think he's stoned, but he "never, as they say, touches the stuff," as he says in "Goldtone"). Vile's been playing Pittsburgh for years, but his show at Hartwood Acres is a part of Allegheny County Concert Series. Opening things up is the great Cate Le Bon. Do not miss this.