Bandsplain - 24 Question Party People: Kurt Vile

Episode Date: January 9, 2024

On this week's second helping of '24 Question Party People', Kurt Vile stops by to discuss his not-so-rigorous (but very successful) haircare routine, as well as his beautiful new EP. In addition, Yasi and Kurt share their love of modern pop music, why it’s important to talk to folks instead of just texting, and meeting Anthony Kiedis at a shaved ice shop in Hawaii. Happy holidays from the gang at '24 Question Party People', we'll see you in the New Year! Host: Yasi SalekGuest: Kurt VileProducer: Jesse Miller-GordonAssociate Producer: Chris SuttonAdditional Production Supervision: Justin SaylesTheme Song: Hether Fortune Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Galaxy Lights, Coachella, Lightning Bolt Necklaces. 20203 was the year of Scandival. On March 3rd, one cheating scandal launched a reality TV investigation that generated hundreds of conspiracy theories, thousands of podcast episodes, and millions of dollars in revenue. I'm Jody Walker, host of an American Scandival. One retrospective story told in three salacious parts. Listen, December 26th, on the Ringer Reality Feudel. feed.

24 question party people and party people. Hello and welcome to 24 question party people. I am your host, Yossi Salik. This is a show where I invite an interesting person on for a little talk. I ask the same 23 questions every time, more or less, plus one wild card. The guest is allowed to skip one question. Sometimes the questions change a little. Have a little joy in your heart, babe.

Speaking of joy in your heart, Here's your Christmas gift, you guys. A bonus episode of 24-question party people to take the edge off the holidays. This is the last episode of the year. I did get asked this a few times on social media, so I will go ahead and relieve and delight you guys by saying it here also, which is that, yes, there will still be 24-question party people episodes while Bansplane is on hiatus. What can I say, babe?

I love the grind, no days off, girl bossing, etc. I don't have like a profound Ponderosa, like, or Ernest goes to camp monologue for you guys today. I apologize. I'm tired from my second job as dog trainer, but I'll tell you what, babe, I'm fucking into it. Yeah, bitch, I got a clicker. That's right. I'm listening to dog training podcasts. I'm watching the YouTube shout out my girls, Kiko pup and Zach George.

I'm doing using the hand motions. I'm like, go to your place all over this bitch. And I'm even impressing my own dog trainer here, like the cunty little A-plus student. I am and always have been, babe. I'll tell you one thing, though. Okay, fine. Can't help myself. This episode comes out on the day of the winter solstice, which, as you might know, is the longest night of the year.

But it is also the beginning, at least here in the northern hemisphere, of the gradual increase of sunlight hours. again, right? Like they were fucking waning this whole time leading up to the winter solstice, night getting longer and longer and longer and longer. And now the days will start to get longer and longer and longer and longer. I like this night better than New Year's Eve or New Year's Day or whatever for taking the time to reflect back on the year and doing whatever little, you know, a little listing or rituals you do. But instead of jumping like right to goals or whatever for for 2024. I'd just like to take a little moment, give myself a little pat on the back for my achievements and my joys, my successes this past year. Do you know what I mean? Like when I got

Keanu Reeves to talk about why he loves discharge, that was sick. Or when I revealed that the Sabado song, Skull, is actually about a crazy night at the chateau with Evan Dando, because I'm out here doing real motherfucking journalism, okay? If you guys even care. And not just work stuff, right? But like, hey, Aussie, you were a pretty good friend this year. And you know what? Maybe you went through some hard emotional shit, but you took it like a champ and you learned more about yourself.

And you fucking grew bitch. Great job. Here's a cookie. Or in my case, a keto brownie from heroin. They do cost $5.75 and they're worth every penny. And then, sure, I like to set intentions. I am, again, a girl boss after all. but I like to eat them manageable and also a little whimsical. Why not? For example, I'll give you one. The rest are private. Next year, I like to wear a lot more hair bows. Because why? Because I love them. And because I'm generally trying to access the divine feminine more. And also because these fucking think pieces will not tell me what to do with my cunty little hair accessories. Okay, babe?

Anyway, that's my all-bleng sign for you. I don't know how to pronounce that. And yeah, sure. Should some old acquaintances be forgot? Yeah, some of you bitches are very dumb. Anyway, I thought I'd treat my indie guitar rock-loving people to this bonus episode with Kurt the Vile. Truly one of the most delightful and authentically odd people I know. He is so fun to talk to. Just so cool and weird. And even after this episode, actually promised me that he would, in fact, learn my favorite David Matthews band song on guitar.

Because he's a real mensch, babe. Can't wait to hear it. So here is my talk with Kurt Vile. Hope you have a happy holiday and a happy new year. See you next year. 24. You guys, we have with us on the program today, absolute legend, icon.

Also, some of the most beautiful hair I've ever seen. This is an audio-only podcast, as you've heard me say, but I wish you guys could see Kurt Vyle's Luscious Law. are they're they're moisturized and just glistening. I need you at first to tell me what's the routine of the hair. Well, I can't go

full on, but okay, my album, Watch My Moves came out and what? Very, your publicist, this is so bad. Like a year or so ago. Your publicist is like, okay, cool, this bitch asks about the hair off. We're talking about the album and you redirected it so beautifully. It ties in because, like, my sister,

I have a sister, I have a lot of sisters, but my youngest one, she's got the most amazing hair in the world. And she got me on to a routine. Like, as you get older, I'm in my 40s, but as you get older, or maybe I'm projecting, but you,

people with curly hair, they think you have to put oil in it, you know, to get it like, but really your hair does that kind of stuff naturally. So what you really should do is, on my routine is you wash your hair once a week. I actually do it less.

And then when you don't wash, your hair. You don't wet it. You wear a shower cap or whatever, whatever you do, but just don't wet it. And then your hair naturally gets more moisturized. But I did put some moose in my hair for you. Oh, you did. You like, you dolled it up a little bit for this interview.

Yeah. Yeah, I'm living. I thought we were going to be seen too, but I would have done it anyway. Yeah, and you have a beautiful backdrop, like mine is so ugly. Kurt, you have like, what is it, like 12, 15 brothers and sisters? What's the family landscape? It's large, right? I'm one of 10.

Did you know that? I did. I listened to like about half of an interview you did. The issue was everyone knows I have a thing with Australian accents. So I just couldn't get that far into it because the interviewer was Australian. But I did a good job, I think, getting like 30, 40 minutes in. that I just couldn't take it anymore. You have a thing where you don't like the accent.

I don't like it, yeah. Love and respect to my Australian fans and listeners, but it's not my favorite. Is this how I get canceled by the country of Australia? What I love is that they call me Kurti there, but like the dudes. And then I played the opera house the first time and I was surrounded by like dude voices like,

yeah, kitty. Gone kitty. Like, I tune that G, kitty. Yeah, Kitty, come. Listen, you can't do that too much more. I'm going to leave. I'm sorry. Speaking of your new album that we didn't tie into your hair, but I really fucking love it.

It's like, it's giving a holiday album. And I was thinking, I want to tell you, I was thinking that before I got to the Santa song. Even before I got to the Santa song, because maybe because it's December and I was just feeling the vibes. Because it's a little wistful. it's a little melancholy but it also has this like undercurrent of like joy and buoyancy like sort of you know gossamered in there

and that to me feels very holidayish and then you slap me in the face with the Santa song and I was like that's right it is a fucking holiday album what do you think? I know it didn't come out in the holiday time but yeah well no actually this album this yeah this EP back to moon beach which is like album length EP or whatever

it came out very recently. So I knew I had this holiday song last year. I was on a Christmas comp. It started like it was sort of a compilation EP. I wasn't sure what it was going to be. But I knew that the Christmas song was probably going to make it on there, that my daughter sing on.

It's like Bob Dylan made that song famous. And I was asked to be on a Christmas compilation. And I was like, I don't know. And then my manager was like, well, Christmas songs are timeless. And I was like, well, if I can do this Bob Dylan one, I'll try it. And I did it. And it made the record, yeah. So I think what you're feeling is that it's sort of an organic album.

Because I was walking around when I made it in the summer, in the woods, and I was like, man, this song, I wish it came out in the spring or when it gets sunny. But luckily over there, it is sunny. So maybe you get it like a sunny holiday vibe. I do. That's exactly what we have here. I think what it is is just organic and it's good for any time. Yes.

Your publicist, again, nodding, happy, record label, happy. Tom Petty's gone also. what a fucking banger. I mean, not in the traditional sense where I wasn't like shaking my ass in the kitchen listening to it, but it really hit in my heart space. Oh, thank you.

Yeah, it's that one, yeah, four of them come from a session before the world, you know, before the world quite hit the, yeah. Bit of a flop. A bit of a flop era before we got into our flop era of the world.

But that Tom Petty's Gone song in particular, that line about Tom Petty's, Petty the day he passed, which was a big, serious day. And when I record that song, it keeps going and going and calling out some people, legends

that are alive, some that are dead. But it took a while, it was this year that I added a bunch of more guitars and things and made it become the bangor it is today. It had potential. So I'm glad. It was the hardest one to finish,

to get me not embarrassed to call out, you know, Bob Dylan by name and such. You had to really work up to that. I had to earn it. I had to earn it. Curvile, you put out a lot of music. Have you noticed this about yourself? Yeah, well. You're very prolific.

I put out a lot of podcast hours also. We're kindred spirits. Mine is not quality the way. Mine's not timeless, beautiful pieces of art per se, although some might argue. They are. I think you're more relevant that people listen to podcasts more than they do music. I don't because I can talk for a living and I like, I can't stand to keep listening to people

talk in my off time. I think people listen to more podcasts than music. It's related to the flop era of the world. It's because people are violently lonely. And instead of being able to make human connection because it's become very difficult for people and it's not their fault. It's just like it's the way the world has curved, basically. They seek out connection through listening to someone's voice because it's very intimate

and it feels very like social in a way, even though it's not social. And I think sadly, I really do think that's why people listen to so many podcasts. That's actually beautiful and true. And I didn't think about it. That makes sense. But also, yeah, it does, it really does hurt my feelings the way, no, the way that people are like, text you and they're like, I'm here for you. because they listen to your album and they were like,

Kurt's not okay, let's check in on him. I just mean in general, like, that's the way people talk, which is fine, but sometimes you're in a flow and you're just texting, but when someone says they're there for you, but really they're never actually, like we're typing to each other. I don't know. I know, no, you're so right.

Texting is part of it. I think the shift of communication to become primarily text-based is like, eroded human connection so much in the ways that people don't even see. Yeah, because it's not that it's not communication. It's just a really cheap, minimal form of communication. There's no tone, there's no facial features. There's all this stuff that we have over thousands of millennia or whatever

learned to understand about each other. And it's just stripped away and put like a little, you know, smirk face emoji. I like that smirk face one. I use it a lot. you know what I'm talking about it was like I like fire, hearts fire's good yeah hearts are good I like the one where the two

like shadowy figures are hugging each other I like that one a lot oh that I love that one no because I was going to say sometimes when you get in a flow with somebody that you're excited to talk to and then sometimes that just feels just as intimate especially when they throw that shadowy hug right

you're like oh me too babe well Kurt Vile let's get started on the 24 questions. We have a lot to cover. Okay. And I want to make sure that I got to all them with you because I'm dying to know all your answers. Number one, Kurt Vile. What is your sign? My sign is a Capricorn, but... I knew that you were the kind of girly that knows you're rising in moon. I knew it. What are you rising in moon?

No, I was going to say the Vedic astrology, I'm a sensitive crab, which is a cancer because my that makes sense my wife Suzanne she really is into the Vedic calendar and such which and I so that's but like I I don't follow it hard but I like

to hear about Capricorn and cancer for that reason I listen I'm like oh that is me but if you like start pressing me with technicalities I'm already out I'm out okay I'm not as skilled as your wife but also and I would love to talk because I really want to know more about Vedic astrology because I am very interested.

But I'm pretty sure Capricorn and Cancer are the polarities. Like they're right opposite each other on the zodiac. So if you have that and one and that and the other kind of makes sense because you tend to have, even in like just regular traditional astrology, like whatever is the opposite of your sign, you hold it within you. Like it's a strong part of yourself. So it really makes sense actually. But do you find that you're like, I mean, we just mentioned it, you clearly are hardworking because you've put out like 42 albums in your life.

That's the Capricorn thing, right? Yeah. Like, like, real industrious, productive, generative. It's not a bad thing. Like, some people, like, frame it as like it's like a bad thing, but it's, you just, they tend to love their work, which is really cool. Yeah, my work is my light, like, especially when it's, when it's rolling, like, especially nowadays, I have like my own studio. when the bands together and we're up super late and then they leave and I look around.

I'm totally in the zone. I'm 100% comfortable. It's as if I'm on opiates or something, but I'm not. I'm just like completely... In the flow state. You know, or once I'm on the road, you know, like, yeah, you just get used to it. And then I'll like... But then I come home and I'm completely in my own world.

I mean, I got a family, so I'm lucky. But other than... If I didn't, and I don't know what, I guess I never would stop working, maybe. I'd just be always going. That's probably what I would do. I love that you and your daughters love pop music and that you guys love Charlie X, EX.

That's the best thing. So cute. The only way you couldn't know that is if you weren't paying attention that she's like, and there's like a top five or more pop stars right now, I have. And there's plenty of greats that I don't know their music, but Charlie is obviously she's like if you had to watch one

what's you going to do next is Charlie who are the other for definitely Lana Del Rey I love Caroline Pohl-Chek sure there's probably others I'm kind of forgetting but I really love I know he's not pop but I love

Wandertricks Point never he's like in that world I love what he's doing right now like his new album there's a song on there that's my favorite song of modern times. Wow. It's called Crumville. It's called Crumville.

It's like poppy and noisy. But yeah, I know he's not. Sometimes I'm paying attention to the music. Other times I'm not. I'm doing a little bit of both right now where I'm watching. There's so many artists, I can't wait to see what they're going to do next. And I'm just involved. You like, I'm not like other girls' core, which I would call those artists.

Oh, really? But in a great way. No, no, no, great way. I interviewed Charlie in, like, 2012, I think. Like, when she first put out that, like, gauthy, goth pop album, her first thing. Oh, yeah. 2012. 2012 or 2013?

I can't really remember. I think it was, I'm almost positive. I was 2012 because it was at South by. Great. She's such a, watching her, like, from there to hear it. And, like, what a fucking talented, incredible songwriter she is. And then also everything else. like the visuals, the fucking aesthetic, like her voice, like she has the whole package.

It's formidable. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. All right, Kurt Vile, number two. What did you eat today? It's about 1.20 p.m. in Philly, which is where I presume you are. Today, I had just, honestly, I had breakfast so far. I had oatmeal and coffee.

It's all about coffee. It's all about getting food as fast as possible so you can have coffee. because a lot of people, they drink coffee first, and that is literally like dumping, not like, it is, it's just dumping acid on your empty stomach. You're supposed to eat something first and then. I don't do that, curvil. Nobody does it. Nobody does it. But I put collagen in my coffee, which does have like 80 calories.

Does that count? What does that do? It's for your skin and hair. It's very good for you. I mean, you don't need it for your hair. your hair is like I said thriving but here I'm gonna volley back at you I am concerned that you are not getting enough protein as what you've described as your breakfast was simply a carbohydrate and a coffee where's the protein babe I used to always have eggs in the morning but now I because

I need the coffee so bad I usually make breakfast like a brunch for lunch so then I'm not like I need the cup so then I have like eggs and beans and beans. and whatever. So they're coming. What have we switched your oatmeal to cottage cheese? Well, one, I don't do the cheese because it doesn't agree with me per se. Right. But have you tried raw dairy?

Wow, it's been a couple of episodes since I've gotten on my raw dairy soapbox. And I feel like it's a perfect time, especially because you're in Philadelphia, which is in proximity to the Amish. And the Amish do have farms. where they make and sell raw dairy. So I think you could probably procure it. I'm not actually sure about the laws in Pennsylvania, and it might be illegal.

I would check into that. But if it's not, I was just like you, babe, once. I couldn't tolerate dairy. It was a nightmare. It was a dark time in my life for years. And then I discovered raw dairy goes down like a dream. Wow.

I'll have to try it. Yeah. Give it a go, babe. Give it a go. All right. Number three, Kurt Vile. have you listened to music today? And if so, what was it?

No, I didn't get a chance. But usually in the morning, I read, because I'm doing interviews today, I didn't get to sit down and read. I usually sit down and read with my coffee and listen to jazz music, which is instrumental while I'm reading, you know? Absolute fucking film, like a film character. Jazz music. Right?

Like jazz. I might as well be like, I play the jazz flute, you know. Yeah, it's, oh my God. It's killing me. What is the fucking Wes Anderson? That's like an absolute Wes Anderson film character moment. Like he gets up, he has his oatmeal and coffee, puts on the jazz. I know you're putting that shit on vinyl, right?

You're not slapping on the sonos. Yeah, I mean, I have plenty of vinyls I could play, plenty of jazz records I could play. But at the moment, I have this like CD box set of West Coast jazz, which is actually totally smooth. I just, it doesn't even necessarily matter, you know, it does in a way but I like that I can just read at the same time with something going on

that's also probably because my head is humming you know from like a loud squeal from playing live musical all the time that's not the only reason though I love that you chose for your interviews the absolute most squeaky loudest chair

that you probably own in your home I'm sorry I won't move this is what I sit in all the time I couldn't yeah if that's coming through I could switch chairs No, it's fine. It's fine. It was just making me laugh. Well, this is the chair. This is literally the chair. I sit in all the time. This is your special chair. I would have not want to take that away from you. What are we reading? So you're not reading the paper. Oh, you're going to show me. You're reading a book.

I'm reading this. Lou Reed the King of New York. It just came out. It just came out. Yeah. I've been wanting to read that. He's a great writer. I read. I just read another book by him. That was really good. Oh, really? I got sent it. I'm not sure why, but it was perfect timing because I mean, I grew up obsessed with Lou Reed and my teens, but more than once on the road with my band in the last few years, and again, we just listened to him nonstop backstage and love it, but also laugh how insane he can be.

You know, like the album The Bells is just a maniacal album. It's fried. But then street hassle is just my favorite song of all time. So anyway, this got sent to me. Because you're an influencer kind of. Yeah, because I'm an influencer in the wild. I named my dog partially after Lou Reed. I just adopted a dog.

What's the dog's name? Her name is Lou Reed Barlow-Sahlek. Lou Reed Barlow, like Lou Barlow? That's right. From Dinot Jr.? In Cebedo? Centredo, correct, yeah. I'm a big fan.

Yeah. Ever heard of him, bitch. I actually just played on stage with them. Dinosaur Jr. is doing the anniversary. I saw some footage. I was violently jealous that I wasn't there. How is that? You guys are like good pals, right?

We are great pals and family in the music world. It's not like we talk on the phone all the time. I can't picture Jay Maskis like talking on the phone a lot. I text with Jay more than Lou. And like, what emojis is Jay Maskus using most frequently? You know the answer to that. Do I? Is it which one?

I have no idea. I couldn't even guess. Which emoji would Jay use? If, if any. Thumbs up. Zero. No, no. Okay.

So I was like, I was why can't even think of one? Like he's not going to use any. Zero emojis. Okay. Voice memos? Jay? No. Yeah.

I like voice. I sent them a few times lately when you don't feel like talking, but then it's like, I feel like you really got another person. I don't. Well, I didn't. I love voice members. Me and my friend Bethany to send them all day, we call them podcasts, like personal podcasts. That's sweet.

I like it. Hold on. Sending your little podcasts. And sometimes I'll be like five minutes on. Of course. I'll be like, sorry, strap in, babe. Have a seat. Make a tea because I have some shit to tell you.

Okay. I'm dead over you texting, which. James Askes, this is just, but him not using any emojis. I don't even know how we got there. Oh, what book you were reading? Barlow. Okay, number four. Yeah, Lou Barlow.

What a king. He was on this program. He told me some great, some amazing 90s stories that really, really delighted me, to be honest. Really delighted to me. And then they were about Evandando, and then I had Evan Dando on, and then he confirmed the story. So that was really, I was really doing journalism.

Yeah. I love 11 heads are one of my faves right now. Same. So good. He sat with his acoustic guitar and played songs the whole time. And he played almost an entire Joni Mitchell song that I'm pretty sure we had to cut down because of legal reasons. But he played like almost all of Little Green. It was I've like passed away. I was like, this is the best day of my life. In a private concert of a bandana playing a Joni Mitchell song. Okay. Kurt Vile. Number four, what is the first song that made a meaningful impact on you as a child? It's kind of funny because I remember get it, get, get, feeling crazy hearing this song, this record. And I always thought it was John Denver, but it was actually more obscure. It's called, sorry, my chair is squeaking. No. It's okay.

I made you self-conscious. Rusty and Doug Kershaw, Louisiana Man is the record. And Rusty Kershaw later played with Neil Young on the album On the Beach, which is everybody's favorite. And I don't know, that's it. That's it. What did it make you feel in your child heart? Well, it's got, it's like Cajun country rock, but more rockabilly, and it makes a young man sort of crazy, you know? Like, it's like how when John Fahy has that book called How Bluegrass Music Destroyed My Life, it's sort of like that, but even, it's just like something about those hillbillies with a rock and roll edge and you're just a young man, you know, you just feel like a crazy person and you don't know why, you're just like.

I'm like first of all just obsessed with you being like you know like that John Fahey book like do I do I Yossi Salick look like a person that knows that John Fahey book well I don't know how bluegrass well I guess I thought maybe you might you the list of the royal you yeah well because I'm a I don't know you interview Lou Barlow and uh Evan dando plays private concerts for you one of those people would probably mention at some point. I read Star Tissue. I read that recently. Yeah, by Anthony Kutis multiple times,

but never the John Fahey book. You read it too? What did you think? Isn't it the greatest rock memoir of all time? Would you not agree? One of them. It's definitely like, if you wanted all that stuff in a book,

like that you could possibly imagine It's all in there. Yeah. It delivered. But I saw him with my family, like in Hawaii, after I left your favorite place, Australia. And I was just talking about them, sort of. And then he showed up and he has that mustache now. Nobody looks like him.

And I knew he had just turned 60 and he looked amazing. And he was like charmingly, but still basically flirting with my wife and kids. And then charming. And your daughter. I don't mean like that, you know what I mean? But being charming. And he was like, mom, and mom has the best hair on the island. And I was like, but like I, I was definitely star-shock.

Oh, good. That was probably the last time. Because I didn't expect to be, but I saw him there. You're jumping ahead, babe. I know. You're jumping ahead. I know, but earlier, I was like, when I saw that one, I was like, I don't know. But anyway, I, not long after that, I saw the chili peppers play.

We played a similar festival. And I was right next to Flee's amp. And it was just. and so we could see the whole crowd. It was a big festival. And Anthony Keatis had a cast on his leg. He was still dancing and he had that amazing mustache. Not long after that, I finished his book, you know?

What a beautiful, what a beautiful, conversions of events. Do you know why he looks so good at 60 Kurt Valle? Because he eats a lot of protein. I do. So I'm going to need you to get on that train. Are you saying I don't look healthy? Not why. I don't look like that.

I mean, that's a specific way to, look, and that's a personal choice. Are you a Frasanti head? It feels like as someone who plays guitar-based music, you would have a respect for the craft of John Frischanti. I love Frushanti, but see, when I was a kid, I really loved, yeah, not long after that, I was stoned and I was listening to Could Have Lied, Full Blass, and Headbones more recently.

That's my favorite about Ashley Pepper's song. Yeah, it's the best song. Everybody with good taste, yeah. But I hadn't heard it since my teens and I just forget how much those core progressions influenced me subliminally, you know. But I kind of got back into the chili peppers, partly like the electricity of that show and things.

I don't know, but I've been listening again lately. You said you're in your 40s, Kurt Vile. How old are you exactly? 43. Oh, so you're not that. You're basically my age. So you grew up with the chili peppers. kind of being dominant

culture in a way like MTV vibes. Yeah. So, and I definitely like them, but you do take for like a split second, you take them for granted, just like anything else. Just like I take Lou Reed for granted

and then I get back into them, you know. Totally. But that was a fucking incredible show. I saw a recent. They're so good live. Were your parents like hip and into music, like putting you on to cool music? Um, my dad more would be playing old time music and bluegrass music.

And then the basics like Johnny Cash and Hank Williams and basic rock and roll. Right. Friedens Clearwater or something. I got into that stuff through my dad, but no, they weren't like, oh, this new chili peppers is good. Well, you know, I mean, it's like your kids because they have a millennial dad. Or I guess you're technically, I think you're technically at the very beginning of drip. end of Gen X. They are going to grow up, like, listening to Charlie XX stuff.

And then I interview people on here whose, like, parents are just full Gen X. And they're like, yeah, I grew up because my mom played me the breeders. And I'm like, it's interesting. Couldn't be. Yeah. No, that is weird when kids, like, they, kids become my friends now who are in their 20s or so. And, like, because they're in bands.

And then they're like, yeah, my mom was playing. You know, they're like talking about my mom was playing. my parents were playing like basically the song we heard when we were kids and teenagers because their parents are the same age as me you know

for more of less they're close that is the math oh duh I'm just getting older that is the math unfortunately 24 okay Kurt Vile number 5

what is the first album you bought with your own bunny or shoplifted with your own two hands Okay. I'm going to say, since we're talking about 90s music, I do remember specifically when our small town got a record store. And I got the cassette. It was very cheap and it was a short album. But it's a that Smashing Pumpkins lull EP. Oh, yeah. Yeah. It's like, it's just got the song rhinoceros. One of the best. One of the best smashing pumpkins. From Gish. And then three other great songs that aren't on anything. And if I heard that now, I would. definitely get the chills. But I, again, the Smashing Pumpkins were a band that I loved, you know, I guess when Siamese Dream came out,

that's when I was into them and I went backwards. But I think I got lull first. Even though it wasn't new then, but I got it then. And it was by June on it, I think, right? By June, such a good song. But that stuff reminds me of making mixtapes and things. But I, again, I don't listen. I hear Smashing Pumpkins now,

and I like it. It takes me back. But I definitely dropped them, you know, when I got into indie rock, et cetera, at some point I stopped listen to them. But I still, that's such a cool tape. How did you get into indie rock, et cetera? Well, I just because it honestly, because it was breaking on the radio at the right time. Like what are, what bands are we talking? Like pavement was on the radio.

First there was dice. I remember because this is the 30, it's like 30 years ago because where you been. It was. It was 30 years ago. Where are you been? The dinosaur, do you and your album is. like the 30th anniversary where I was just playing these shows with them. And the song, Start Chopin was on the radio, which I didn't love that song. I like it now.

What radio? What radio in rural Pennsylvania was playing Star Chobb. What's just outside of Philly person of always? I don't know. I made that up that it was rural. I made it up that it was rural. Okay. Lanzdown, Pennsylvania.

Suburban suburban Pennsylvania. Just outside of West Philly. Okay. Just outside of Philadelphia. The main station is called WD-R-E. It's like they said it was modern rock, but they started to get cooler songs on there and what, like, pavement caught your hair. But, you know, when I heard that, I was really, I was like, I like, I like, I'm kind of funny. But then I got the tape, Crooked Rain.

And I was like, oh, well, this is. Oh, that was your first. It creeped up on you. That was your first pavement. I have a, this is a theory I always say on band playing. So if you're familiar, I'm sorry, but I really do think that your first album of any band tends to end up being your favorite. Not always, but almost always. Yeah.

No, because it's just triggers nostalgia. I mean, you feel, you see your whole, depending on your memory, and I have a crazy photographic, audiographic memory, whatever. Do you? I can remember everything that was going on when I heard something where I got something or when I hung out. If somebody was memorable, I remember a lot of things about that time we hung out. You should write a memoir based on those parameters.

That would be so good. Yeah, one day. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to do that. and then I get bored fast, you know. But I will write something, but I'm pretty ADD at the same time. So the things I remember are so, like, random and miscellaneous or whatever. Who cares? Most people listening probably care because they're Kurt Vowal fans.

That's what I would assume. Yeah, well, yeah. I mean, I don't want to, like, I don't want to put words into anyone's mouth. I think they're also a fan of you. I think they're big fans of you. Sure. We both have fans. I think you have a few more, but, you know, I'll take what I can get.

I heard this is one of the biggest podcasts in the world. That's probably your publicist just told you that to get you on here because it's not true. No, no, it's one of the most popular music podcasts. I was just kidding about the rest. Okay, all right, all right. Okay, that's enough telling me how great I am. Did you ever have that no alternative compilation? Yeah, of course.

I think that's how I found pavement. Yeah, we used to cover that song, that R.E.M. But Kiss song. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So you kind of switched. You kind of like moved away from Billy Cords towards Stephen Mel. For a minute. Yeah. Feuding bams. You, you chose sides. You really like, you defected to the other side. Literally, because Malchmus calls them out in that song, Rangelife, which is my favorite song of all time. Is it? Because it has like a country twang and an indie. It's like everything that you love.

It's like nostalgic and melodic and a little, you have melancholy combined with summertime. I have two pavement tattoos. Really? I'm with you. Yeah. They're both from summer, babe. Oh, that's awesome. Where?

One's on my wrist and one's on my on my ribs. It says every time I sit around, I find out, found I'm shocked. Wow. Damn. That's amazing. I love that. It's not that amazing. Yeah, I love Summer Babes.

I might be my favorite pavement song. You know, I sang Zurich is stained on the recent reunion. Of course I know that, Kurt Vile. I watched the video so many times. I like that. I didn't get to be at that show. I saw two shows, three shows, but you're not performing in any of them, unfortunately for me.

That's because I did it in Philly. Yeah, I didn't. I've never been to Philly. for a split second I thought you you were like on the East Coast you were in Jersey or something yeah I was in Jersey

oh because I went to Wawa I love Wawa Yeah well that's I grew up in Wawa country Yeah but I've never been to Wawa In Philly I've only been to Wawa in Jersey and Delaware

And isn't that weird I mean Is it No it's not weird It's funny Wawa no Wau's usually dirty But I still

They have the best most comforting like hoagies in the world. The sandwiches are so good. I really, I absolutely delight in them. I'll make it to Philly sometime. It's actually a true tragedy that I've never been there. I'm going to have to make a reason to go there.

Perhaps a live show. I feel like the Philadelphia community would come out to a live show. Perhaps you could be the, you could be the guest. You could finally do your, your bands play an episode. We'll do it. live. Oh, that'd be cool. All right. I'll have my people contact your people. Okay. Next question. Kurt Vile. Number six, did anyone in your childhood ever tell you you're never going to make it, like as an artist or something like that, like they do in the movies? And if so,

who was it? And what did you say back? I'll tell you. I think that I've been playing music long enough that some people in my circle gave off that vibe. But I remember, I remember in particular. And then I also remember the moment, like, you know, it was announced that I signed a Maddor and certain people that I hardly knew, you know, just writing me out, talking to me out of the blue sort of, you know, and you're like, uh-huh.

But isn't that your favorite thing? Not, again, modicum of podcast fame. Truly nothing. But I'd be seeing some people that I know unfollowed my ass on Instagram. All of a sudden, a little refollow. And I'm like, oh, really? Yeah, see that's...

Interesting. That's... Interesting. That's new. Can you tell when somebody unfollowes you or you just notice? I happen to notice. Like, I... Probably way after the fact.

Like, I don't... What if, like, I was one of those psychos that had, like, the app? You know, there's an app that you can install. Like, first of all, why would you want to do that to yourself? Like, why would you want to know that? I think probably how I found out, if I'm being really honest, is like, at some point I probably clicked onto their page. to look at something, and then you can see.

There's like a very clear, like, follows you, doesn't follow you. And I was like, oh. And I just mentally noted it, of course, as you do, as a human being in the flop era of the world. And then someone just makes a little podcast and maybe some people like it and all of a sudden right back in the follows, it's like, okay, well, noted, bitch.

just like you got signed to Matador and all these people that were like, Curval sucks, we're like, hey, babe, what's up? Yeah, unfortunately, I could tell right away. I always had a pretty quick bullshit detector. That's fortunately.

That's good. Makes me seem like I'm a dick to some. But I do remember one of my bosses at my last job at the Philadelphia Brewing Company, not the main boss. And it was kind of a nice thing, because I was definitely going through a slump, And I was like, not caring, you know, because I was frustrated, really.

But I was like, I kept, he told me to do something or I was like, whatever, I don't care. He's like, I know you don't care. The day you care, Kurt, is the day you get a record deal. And I was like, that really stuck with me. And I was like, but I was a little too fried at the time to be like, to be inspired. by that, it definitely bummed me out for a second. But I don't think he meant it like, I think he wanted me to

get my shit together. Right. He was trying to motivate you and not be mean. Did you have like a little dream in your heart of signing to Matador because of your love of pavement and stuff? Oh, I mean, growing up

in the 90s, they were the ultimate. I mean, I love Drag City too. It was like Matador and Drag City. Other labels too, other but But I mean, it's amazing all this stuff on Matador still. But we're coming out and all those bands in their prime. Well, you know, I love that pavement. You know, they're live now.

They're just better than ever in a lot of ways. But like, whatever. I loved watching all that stuff come out on Matador. So it was a dream to sign to Matador. Yep. That's very cool. That's like if I one day became an MTV Vijay. Yeah, that'd be amazing.

you wanted to do that? Like if MTV was what it's was. Yes, totally. Oh my God, I would love that. I think, you know, I loved music so much, but I couldn't, I'm not good at, I know I can't play music. It's just never been a thing. And so it didn't even cross my mind that I could like be a musician.

So the jobs that came to my mind were like adjacent to music. Like journalist and MTV VJ, which MTVVJ was much cooler. Yeah. And then it stopped being a job. I could see you being one. I could see you feel like one now. I do.

Don't I accept it's audio only and I'm too hot. I should be seen is what I'm saying. True. Thank you, Kurt Valle. I wasn't fishing, but I appreciate that you agreed with me. Okay, Kurt Vile, number seven. When was the last time you lied? That's showbiz.

That's showbiz. I mean, whenever, whenever, whenever. When I said I was super excited to be on this podcast. That's it. Everybody's asked to lie. You know, my favorite TV show right now is Better Call, Saul. You ever see it? No, here's the thing.

You need to watch Breaking Bad first. Is that correct? Yeah, I guess so. Yeah. I don't like anxiety television. I like Xanax television, like Grey's Anatomy, Monk. I don't know if you ever see Monk, fantastic shows. Yeah. House. These are shows, programs that I like to watch. I don't need to be stressed out by the television and the murders and the meth.

Yeah, modern TV is stressful. Yeah, it took me a long time to finish Breaking Bad. For those reasons, I'd hit. It's almost like I get, just like those characters, they get more and more corrupted as they go. And I had to ease in that way, too. Like, I see them like a kid die and I turn it off. And like, I'm never watching this again. and go to the next level. And I'm like, oh, it's fine. I already saw that. I know it's not real. But whatever. It's just when you were talking about lying. Yeah.

Made me think of a slip and Jimmy. That's a character on Spetter Call Saul. Yeah, that's all. But certain shows creep through. I can't watch anxiety TV really either. But certain classics just creep in eventually. As Dr. House likes to say, everybody lies. So your answer is pretty good.

Okay. Number eight, Carvow. What character in a book or film do you relate to the most and why? It's hard. I know. That is one of the hardest questions, especially if some people don't look at the questions in advance. So, like, they really are fucked when they come to that one. No, I did look in advance.

I know. I did. Certain ones, I was like, I don't know. Okay. I mean. You're just like shrugged your shoulders. I was like, no. Most relate to, man.

Oh, that's so... In a book? Or a film. Or a film. Yeah. Okay. You seem like a person that reads books and watches films, so... Right now, I just love...

I love Slippin' Jimmy so much. I mean... What are his characteristics that resonate with you? Well, okay. I love Bob Odenkirk. Do you love Bob? Yeah, I love Mr. Show. Yeah, he has...

I have a nostalgia relationship with Bob Oden Kirk that is very profound. That's why I think, and you know what, you don't have to see Breaking Bad. Okay, good, because I won't. It doesn't get like a heart attack, tacky, heart attack until later in the seasons. Which one, Saul or breaking back? Better call Saul. Saul Goodman, like you just fall in love with all the characters or become members of your family.

They get you in the heart. And I also like the way Slippin' Jimmy just rolls off the tongue. or not even the tongue, but it just, it's fun to say. Do you wish you had a cool nickname like that? People call me KV, I like,

you know, so I'm kind of lucky. It's kind of like, it's kind of endearing. Well, that's in Australia, but they call me KV. A lot of people call me that and it's,

you know, it's like kind of endearing. I want you to know, Kurt Vial, that for a long time, and this is my bad, I thought that this was a stage name, a fake name,

that you, that you, because of Kurt Weil. Yeah, a lot of people do. Okay, so I'm not the only one. You're not the only one.

It's your real name. God, God, given. Well, parent given. Okay, good to know. Number nine, Kurt Vile. What was your biggest sliding doors moment? Sliding Doors is a Gwyneth Paltrow film. I'm not sure if you've seen it.

It's very good. She'll watch it with your daughters. It's a great romantic comedy. What happens is she, her reality splits when she either gets on a train or doesn't get on a train. So my question is, if you had made, what choice did you make at one point? in your life that was so profound that you wouldn't be here today if you hadn't made that choice. The only thing I can think of, and I do it a lot, I think I collaborate with other people. You know, I played in the War on Drugs, for instance, and I knew as soon as they got like a

record deal that I couldn't play in that band anymore. And Adam, you know, he's like a brother to me. I don't see him so much lately, but it doesn't matter if I saw them, we're like brothers to be like yesterday. But we were like so tight, best friends. and then I could, you know, it changed, it changed right as soon as he got an actual record deal and I was still kind of struggling and I had to like leave the band. And then, and like he was in my band too, but he stayed with me in my band too for a while

until he couldn't. And so that, I mean, that could also be a sliding door except it was him choosing to stay with me when I needed him. That's the beauty, you know what I mean? So you're kind of saying that like if you hadn't been forced by your, by the signing to leave war on drugs, you might not have pursued so wholeheartedly your solo career. Well, I was always doing that anyway.

Well, that's the frustration. And it happens a lot. No matter, I feel like whoever I collaborate with, Courtney Barnett, she's like my sister, warlike, like to this day, because the internet,

it's frustrating. People say Kurt Vile, who started in the war on drugs and then left, but you did it. So start his solo career. But I was always, I had a lot of my own. albums not released on a real label before Adam even met me.

Yeah. You told the Australian man that you were making little records when you were like 16 years old, like on tape. Or like Courtney, you know, she covers by song Peeping Tomboy on our record and then I see that kids then think that's her song. I see one comment. You know, I remember I played peeping tomboy on like a whatever was on a YouTube. And then somebody was like, oh, that's a slow song. Somebody wrote it's like, that's not even whose song. I'm like, excuse me, that's actually one of my best early songs.

First of all, Kurt Vow, why are we reading the YouTube comments? Let's back it up. I know. Why are we even reading the YouTube comments? I'm just just an example. It's just an example. I see, because we're like stuck with the internet, I don't even mean the comments. That's just random.

But like, I think when you collaborate with somebody, you do it because you want to. And then you can't do it all the time. They become, they're like a member of your family. It's beautiful. but I feel like other people they get really involved in their own. I want to work with different people because I'm inspired by them,

whether it's in my music or a side thing. So I always have sliding doors, but I have to keep going to my own thing. You are a slippery gym, Kurtow, I'll tell you that much. I don't know the character, but you're a slippery man. Okay, number... Slipping Jimmy. Slipping Jimmy.

You're a slippery man. Number 10, Kurt Vile, what characteristic are you most drawn to in other people? I think ultimately they've got to be funny, like a little crazy, little goofy, like, not always. You know, there's like sometimes it's, but there's sometimes there's an unsaid magnetism, huh? I don't know. But I think at the end of the day, I connect with goofy, obsessive type of people. like that's a bit of a like like attracts like situation yeah probably yeah where did you take your wife on your first date i don't know uh you don't remember i'm gonna tell her we were pretty we were young man

we were young we were young we probably just like oh so it wasn't like a proper let's say we went to probably you know wah-wa i think we went to the wah-waw okay so it wasn't like a fine dining establishment that you picked her up and... No. No. Honestly, I would fucking love a first date at a Wawa. Like, even now,

that would be a really dream type first date. Like, that's really my vibe. Yeah, like, just letting you get some food. Like, a couple hoagies and have, like, a long walk. Like, what a perfect... What a perfect moment.

Like, a fountain diet Coke took a company, my hoagie. Gorge. Okay. Number 11. But Kurt Vile, well, you already answered this one, so I guess we could skip it, which is who is the last person you met that you were star-struck by, which was Anthony Kedas'

his mustache. Yeah. Yeah. Definitely. Okay. Because he, like, we were at like a, a sye bowl play, and they were like, there was an announcement. They were like, Anthony, Anthony, your shave ice is getting cold. I'm dead.

I'm dead. I'm melting. And then I saw him sit down at another table. And then he moved and sat down next. and I was looking over. I was like, and then I was like, you know, and then finally he didn't speak right away. And he's like, sorry.

Hope you don't mind. I sat with you next to you. You're just way cooler than those people over there. He was just alone at the Asai. No, he had a couple of people. At first he was, but then his people, a couple of people he was with joined him.

But at first it was him and they're like, Anthony, your shave ice is melting. But he said you looked cool. Hell yeah. Well, I think he said all of us. your whole family He said mom has the coolest hair on the island

What does her hair look like? Did she have like a mohawk or something? No, she looks kind of like a cool Keith Richards Oh like a mulletty thing That's so sick So he's got a great hairdresser Love that, okay

I really do have to come to Philly All right Kurt Vile Number 12 When was the last time you slid into someone's DMs Yeah, you mean on Instagram? Yeah I mean that's the way people

talk all the time. No, but like, I mean, like, what is that? I hear people say that. It's like you message someone who you don't know, who doesn't follow you, just to like be like, I don't know, whatever.

Like, I love your band. Can I have some free fonta? Oh. I don't know. You know, athletic greens sponsor me. Perhaps I would be doing that. Here's a good one. Okay.

And I did get answered. I didn't think I would. But yeah, I saw Beck play and it was like Wise Blood. I was there to see Beck and Wise Blood. I know the guitar player, Jason Fult, they're in the band, and I was excited to see Natalie play open for Beck. I grew up, I saw Beck for the Odley tour at the Chocadero, a very small place.

It was incredible. Me and my brothers grew up on Beck. Two of my brothers were there. I was a little stoned. I went backstage. I said hi to Jason, and Beck was like right here. And he just walked. I let him walk by because I just felt like in my teens, like literally.

So I guess, again, stars, you know, like whatever. Because I grew up listening to Beck. What I also sort of like about Beck in a way is that I can tell he's like me. I could be wrong, but awkward where you don't make eye contact with somebody you don't know. And you don't necessarily want to be approached right away. So I just let him go. But then I was like really depressed in a way. Not really depressed, but like I was thinking about my eye like literally.

I do that kind of awkward thing sometimes where I let somebody go because I think they don't want to talk. And then I just wrote them and I said, yo, I was at your show, it was awesome. I'm bummed I didn't say hi. And I hadn't seen him in forever. And the band was killer. He did a slide guitar solo that was really awesome before a loser.

Nobody's playing that like bluesy bobble-necked slide. But he wrote me back. He was like, oh, that's so cool. I'm a fan. You say hi next time, basically. Great. Okay, amazing. So now you have the green light.

Whatever. No, I just need. I'm comfortable. You're like, no. No, no, I feel, yeah. Because I, like, it was like, wow, I just, it was funny that he even, I didn't think he would write back. But he, because, yeah, he doesn't follow me. But he's a fan.

He's a fan. He likes your music. At least, at least a little bit, at least in a showbiz way. But, yeah, I don't even, I never checked. I never checked my non. Oh, yeah, yeah. Followed messages. But I do that now.

Right. Because all your fans and stuff are doing, you just like, you're a curator. and they just do all your promo for you. It's really fun. I'm like, oh, this is cool. You just post, they do all the work. They send nice messages and they're nice to read. Yeah, it's nice to involve your fans.

I like to, like even the art of my new album. It was like, it was fan. You know, I saw it through Instagram, people posting photos. And I was like, oh, that's cool. So cool. I love that. Okay. Well, that's a great one.

DM slide to Beck. 24. Number 13, curvil. What is the horniest song ever, in your opinion? The one I can think of lately that I heard on the radio and had lots of bleeps, but it's Prince, Erotic City. You know that one? Yes, I sure do. Erotic City, you and me.

Prince is the 50% of people say a Prince song, which is absolutely correct and perfect, because I think that's like the real honor he deserves. as the horniest musician of all time. I mean, Kitas is neck and neck, like Red Hot Chili Peppers

are the horniest band of all time, but the horniest solo musician of all time is absolutely Prince. I feel like you could say that about Prince and then Erotic City. And then if you know of any other truly horny songs, you might get like red in the face,

like calling it out because they're just so, so like, horny that it makes you like embarrassed. or something. A little uncomfortable. It's not suitable for work. Kurt Vow, number 14, what is the biggest money you've ever turned down?

Oh, man. I know. Everyone's favorite question. I like... Money. Showbiz. I like money. I like trying to get as much as possible, but I'm also, like, afraid, so I'll never look at really how much is in there. You just turn it something down because it's, like, got slime on it.

Right. I don't know how much money I've turned down. I don't pay attention. Okay, that's a good principle. I mean, I feel like you're by nature of your age in a good situation because we talk about this on the show a lot. It kind of stopped being like, you know, people used to turn down things for like any corporate entity

because it was selling out. You know what I mean? Not even if the company was bad or politically wrongly affiliated. It was just like not allowed or okay. And so, but luckily, that stopped. So you can do that as long as it feels morally right for you. Because in another way, it's like you don't sell albums or not as many as you would before the internet. So you got to even it out.

Like Neil Young, who I worship, he can take his stuff off of Spotify and never do an advertisement. But he's Neil Young. He's like Scrooge McDuck swimming in money. Yeah, it's a little different. It's a little different for him. Put your fucking, put your song in a minivan commercial, babe. Who cares? Okay.

Number 15, what's the best live show you've ever seen, Kurt Vow? Well, I'll tell you what. In one way, like in a classic rock kind of way, I saw two of my favorites just in the past couple of months. Both 90s bands. One was Dysore Jr., loud and proud as ever. at the Music Hall of Williamsburg. Is that the one you played with?

Well, I played at the end. I played at the end. So your favorite live show that you've seen recently was one that you were also. I sat in and we will. At Music Hall of Williamsburg, but also the Pixies, the Pixies are killing it right now as well. And I didn't expect,

it's another band I liked and I sort of took for granted when we played a festival together. And then they played and it was unbelievable. We played at Redondo Beach together. And then I saw them again. Oh, near where I'm from. Oh, awesome. They were awesome there, and I needed it.

It was like a heavy day, and they were awesome at Redondo Beach. And then I came back for more, and I saw them at Asbury Park with Cat Power opened and then Modest Mous Mouse. And then the Pixies, that lineup, did you happen to see it? No, I missed it. I'm so bummed. Was it the Hollywood Law? I wanted to go, but I was at a Bachelorette weekend, unfortunately. Oh, okay.

Well, the Pixies are so on right now. It's all original members except for Kim Deal, but pause is just electric up there. She's awesome. She is awesome. I've been putting off seeing them because the last time I saw them was the original lineup when they did the do little tour. I don't know if you remember this. They did like a do little anniversary tour and it was amazing. And I just don't want to replace the memory with a new one that wouldn't be as good.

But if you're saying it's as good, then I will do it. saying it's a whole new thing and they're all they're just at their chops. I love I love the pixies and Frank Black is and icon. Paws is a whole new thing so it's worth it with pause except she holds it down too

she does all the all the Kim's the stuff that you would want to hear she does that too but she adds her own flair and they all sound and look great they're in it. I'm gonna do it I'm gonna go see them number 16

curvil when in your life were you the most fucked up, wasted hammer, trashed. Man, my whole early career, but I'm pretty healthy now. But I remember an early party I went to where I, it was like a Memorial Day party or something. It was outdoor and I blacked out right in the beginning. And I had some conversations that I don't remember people were just saying the things I said. And then I was asleep like with my face in the grass. And then I woke up when everybody had.

left the party. It was dark, well dark. And there was just a couple of people sitting around and I looked at them. I was like, you guys are boring. And they're like, they always tell me that. They're like, yeah, it's like, dude, you slept through the whole party. Yeah. Actually, you're, you're boring, babe. Daytime parties were my absolute enemy when I used to party to. It's just like not, it's not natural to be drinking that much when the sun is up. It's not natural. It's not God's plan. You get excited to be there and then you have, like, somebody mixes you a hard drink and Maybe you didn't eat a lot. Maybe you mixed it with other things.

Who knows? Next thing you know, you're sleeping in a closet bed. Next thing you know, you're gone. All right. Number 17, Kurt Vile and 18.

These are tandem questions. What do you love about being famous and what do you hate about being famous? And I will add the caveat that I always add, do not say you're not famous. Okay. What I like about it is obviously just being able to play a concert and look at like,

now, because that's what I do, it's like I make contact with the audience where before I used to hide and be shy, if I look and I can see if, you know, like who your true fans are, and you feed off of each other, and ultimately at a perfect moment, you know,

you have electricity and like a full, like a moment, I'm shy when I don't know people. So if I'm like walking down the street or standing around, you can tell when somebody wants to talk to you. Sort of like the photo was expected when they come up to you and they're also clutching the phone.

Or like, or maybe like if I'm like literally in line at a supermarket or a Dunkin' Donuts and then somebody makes a spectator to love you and they're like, excuse me, are you Kurt vibe? Right. And you're like, yeah. And then but getting recognized in public is not your favorite. I'm always shy at for, I'm a little better at it.

But even the other day I was, but I was seeing a concert. I should have and somebody looked back and said, excuse me, are you current? And I kind of like. Yeah. And then I saw them the rest of the show. I was like, I should have talked to them.

They actually seem cool. But sometimes I just don't like how it makes you not a person. But part of it is you doing it to yourself. You could be like, hey. You could just be normal. It just depends if I could be normal. But other times, other times people aren't normal. People aren't normal.

Also, it depends how you're feeling that day. You're a human being that has different moods. Like sometimes you don't want to talk to a stranger. And that's fine. It's not mean. It's not cruel. it's not malicious. It's just like you're like normal person

who sometimes is not up for it and sometimes you are. I mean, I'm not saying you're a normal person. You're absolutely not a normal person, curvil and thank God for that. But you know what I mean. It is funny. Sometimes like you literally have to like pretend your death.

Like I remember I was playing in Athens. My drummer is from Athens, Georgia. We were playing the 40 watt. It's awesome. There's also to play like a proper rock club again. And I went around the corner and some people said they're hi you know i said hi but then this one person just seemed way excited and i could hear them following me they saw me and they were basically chasing me yeah and then

finally they came up to me and they're like excuse me excuse me like and then i literally just like they're next to my face and i'm like hello oh you totally someone call sorry i pretend i don't even important phone call got to go yeah that's okay and i think pretend i don't even hear them at all I just ignore them. Like they're next to me, but I just pretend I don't see them or hero. Self preservation, self preservation.

At shows you just got to know that it's possible. I live my life like this now too. I'm like, am I going to go to the Jawbreaker show? Yes. Am I going to be recognized 10 to 12 times by men who love Jawbreaker and listen to Bandsplain?

Correct. That's just the fucking price. So what do you do? Do you ignore them? No, I just saying hi and, and you know, kind of move it along. I'm good at moving things along quickly.

That's a skill that I've... I don't mind. I'm happy to say hi. It's so nice if they listen to the show. Okay. Number 19 is the wild card cart vial. If you had to today, we're going to go to the tattoo parlor and you have to get song lyric or lyrics tattooed on you.

What's it going to be? Wow. Yeah. Curveball. Tough one. Damn. I'm sorry. It's so hard because I don't have any tattoos.

I know you don't. That's why I asked it. It's a different, it would be a different question if you were covered because that's like, whatever, I don't give a shit. The macarena lyrics, whatever, but for you, it's a big deal. Damn it. Don't say the macarana lyrics. Oh, damn it. You're short-circuiting. She's having a full meltdown. I mean, it's not, it's a hypothetical. It's not actually going to happen. So, you know, don't feel too stressed, but. All right. Well, let's just say, I love the lyrics to this song a lot This isn't even that great Fuck

Fuck, man It's so unfair It's unfair Well, I feel like anything Any song lyric that I like Like once you set You put it on your body And I don't mean yours

Because I have I have several song lyrics I have a replacement song lyric Tattooed on my arm I still love them Oh man Sorry now I gave you an idea What's your favorite placement song

A changes, honestly changes all the time. It's really tough for me to pick one. I have so many. Unsatisfied. Unsatisfied is really good. I love. No, not your favorite. No, it's really good, but it's me.

Bastards of Young. Oh, there's so many good ones. The one with the drum machine, I could die within your reach. That one's a really good one. There's so many. I'm a huge replacement fans. Probably like pavement and replacements are my favorite bands of

I got a good one. Give it to me. Hit me. I'm not the same. Only because this is why. Okay. It's like silver juice. It's from the song,

Slow education. And I just love the chorus. It's really simple. He says, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, I'm lightning. Oh, oh, oh, I'm rain. Oh, oh, oh, oh, it's frightening. I'm not the same. I'm not the same.

Not the same. It's so simple, beautiful. But I also remember when I was hanging out with some friends, I was saying how I couldn't handle smoking weed because I just start to question myself or get lost or worse, you know, and then sure enough, I smoked some weed and then I was like, I'm not the same.

I'm not the same. And then he always reminds me of that, this friend. I'm not the same, which more means like I'm terrified, you know. That's perfect. It's a perfect answer, Kerval. Perfect answer. Okay, number 20. I was squeezing.

I know. You were having a rough time. I gave you your blood pressure. Number 20, Carval, when's the last time you cried? Men, but not this is me projecting. That means me. Only cry when they're alone.

Watching TV. Is this going to be better call Saul again? No, I'll watch anything. It doesn't have to be about what you're watching. It just triggers anything. It's a channel to let you express your emotions that's safe. Yeah. Yeah.

Okay. Good one. I pretty much also only cry at TV shows and movies because I maybe it's slightly emotionally repressed. It's a release. Yeah. It's like it's that perfect storm of they, they have people that sit around, you know, at a table to get that. To manipulate your emotions. Yeah.

And they do a great job. Then they play the fray, how to save a life. And I'm like, what I'm only human? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Number 21, Curvile, what is your greatest? You know what?

Now, this, this question oscillates between two questions. I'm giving you the other one. you like surprises. What is your relationship to the David Matthews band? Oh man. What's your relationship? I love Dave Matthews band so much. My third favorite band. Pavement replacements of Dave Matthews band. Yeah, I'm a huge, huge fan. Love them. Absolutely love. This is a big thing for me, me and David Matthews. Okay. You know what I think? Tell me about. David Matthews and his band. No. Do you know what a lot of people think of when they think of David Matthews? Don't bring up the bus. Incident.

Okay. I won't. So come on my podcast and bring up the tour bus incident, Chicago River Tour Bus Incident. For you, for you, for you, what's your favorite Dave Matthews song? Number 41. Are you going to do a cover for me? It's pretty long. Oh, okay.

So is that a deep cut? No. It's a, it's not a hit, but it's like a fan favorite. Like, it's like a people, a lot of people love that song. It's amazing. You're going to need some saxophone. My relationship with the Dave Matthews band is literally like it always being on, you know, when I was a teenager.

Crash into me. Makes me feel weird. Yeah, it's a horny song. Speaking of horny songs. Yeah, high cover skirt a little more and show your world to me. And those like two weird twins like in the video are they start slightly moving their shirt. Weirdest fucking thing.

If anyone hasn't seen that video, fire that shit up. You're going to be like, what is this? I love that about you. That you love the Dave Matthews band. That's... Okay, that's a good answer. You're, you're slippery, slippery, what's his name, slippery man?

Slippin Jimmy. Slippin Jimmy. Okay, number 22, Kurt Vile, what song would you like to hear just before you die? Wow. I used to say that I want a song played at my funeral. Yeah, most people ask that, but I did a twist. What do I want to hear right before I die?

Yeah, because that's about you, not about other people, you know? Okay. Okay, definitely Lou Reed Street Hassel. That's my favorite. That's my anthem. Okay. I like that. Come,

go out on a... That'd be a weird song to hear before you die, though, but... You know, you're a weird guy, babe. It fits perfect. God will be welcoming you in to the dulcet tones of street hassle. All right. We're almost done. Number 23, Kurt Vile.

What do you think about me? I think you're amazing. I heard good things. Previously. Because also, like, right now, the sun is on my face really weird. So I look like a lot. Seriously. Yeah.

Oh, is it? Yeah. Because I didn't want to scare you. I feel like the truth is that you heard some good things, but you might have been a little weary. And then I appeared on the best show, which you are also friend of the pod and fan of the pod best show by Tom Sharpling, our friend. And then you were like, okay, actually, let me give this woman some respect. No, I respected you immediately because your friends was Shira and she loves you. best. We love show. And then she did tell me when you were on the first 24 hour best show.

That's right. That you were on it. And I didn't even hear you then. I just, I could sound was off and I saw you talking. And I was like, oh yeah, totally. And I'm better experienced that way. Sound off. No, no. That's not what I meant. I knew. I knew. I knew, I knew. I knew from that. Well, thank you, Kurt Val. I quite enjoy you as well. Um, Last question, number 24, what do you want to plug? Oh, man. You're on a press tour. Yeah, I want to plug.

I definitely want to plug my latest EP, which is as long as a full-length album. And it's called Back to Moon Beach. And it's a beautiful, organic record. And it's also conveniently got a Christmas song, which is kind of, in a way, it doesn't even fit on the album, but it doesn't matter because it takes you out.

It gets poppy and weird, and my daughters aren't in it. I call out Bob Dylan in the song before, and then there's this Bob Dylan-related Christmas song. And then, yeah, I don't know. It's for music lovers. You know, it's not for like people sitting around trying to dissect it. You know, I'm going to be doing this for the rest of my life.

I know that, especially now, because I'm just cranky. breaking them out. Well, thank God, because you're very, very talented. It's on Verve Records. Yeah, pick it up. If you, if you like me have a 16-hour Christmas song play, holiday song playlist, you can add it to that, which I added it to mine. I'll share it with you if you're interested, Kurt Vow. I don't, I don't know how to, I don't know how to share a playlist. I'll put it in my newsletter. Okay, Kurt Vile, thank you for joining me on the podcast. It's been a delight and a pleasure to chat with you. Come back next year for a new episode, 24 Question Party People. Goodbye.

24-4-1. Thanks for listening to 24-question party people. And thanks to my guest, Kurt Weil. Kurt's latest release Back to Moon Beach is available to stream everywhere now. His tour dates are listed at Kurtwile.com. This episode was produced by Chris Sutton and Jesse Miller Gordon with help from Justin Sales. Our gorgeous theme song was composed by Heather Fortune. Special thanks to Ellen Gurley, Jacob Bainman, my girl Shira, Sean Fennacy, Rob Parvilla,

and motherfucking Jack Breacher. Come back every Tuesday for a new episode of 24-question Party People on Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. 24-question Party People.