Live Review: Kurt Vile, Mick Turner

Usually, there are few finer Sydney experiences than the annual Twilight concert series at the zoo: a balmy sunset over the harbour, a 'hello' to the tree kangaroos and pelicans as you stroll to a place on the grass…

But odds are, every now and again, there'll be a night like this: soaking rain, little cover, and a really smug-sounding automated answer on their social media about how 'an outdoor event can be affected by the weather'. Should have been cancelled or postponed? Probably.

Thus, Dirty Three's Mick Turner's guitar meanderings became background muzak for building your storm shelter and cursing those entitled fucks who didn’t read their ticket conditions about not bringing picnic chairs to block the view of those behind. And Turner really needed to engage an increasingly saturated audience with his occasionally loop-and-sample driven instrumentals with more than, "Oh, I fucked that one up, let’s see how this one goes…".

Conversely, the odd offhand charisma of an incredibly shaggy-haired guy in a checkered shirt with a guitar did often cut through the squalls. Kurt Vile is a mess of contradictions. His voice sometimes almost a whine, which turns into a keening longing, with an occasional excited “Woot!” that the resident howler monkeys may have identified as one of their own.

Although Dust Bunnies were rare on the ground this night, it and All In A Daze Work had their slightly askance, even surreal, conversations with you. He peered out from under all that hair, a bit surprised and sympathetic that the faithful were milling about in the tempest. “Umm, thanks for coming out in the rain and stuff…” he offered shyly. Yes, old mate, that’s all we needed to hear. Applause and splashing.

He runs a range of technology — loops that weave in and out then stop, then play off against a carefully plucked banjo as Stand Inside becomes the centrepiece song. It all rises and falls, Vile proving curiously distracting entertainment to the point that you almost forget until the ferry ride home you’re probably suffering from rising damp. Almost.