Kurt Vile Covers Lou Reed, Impersonates Bob Dylan on “The Best Show”: Listen

Longtime “The Best Show” fan Kurt Vile was a guest on last night’s episode, and so was folk-rocker Steve Gunn. Vile performed an old song with new lyrics called “Blue Cheese,” and later, covered Lou Reed’s “Sword of Damocles” (at 3:10:00). Gunn’s performance of “Wildwood” devolved into him singing the chorus of John Mayer’s “Your Body Is a Wonderland.” At one point, Vile started doing an absurd impression of Bob Dylan (circa Blood on the Tracks and Desire). Elsewhere in the episode, Tom Scharpling eggs on Vile to say something “Pitchfork-worthy” and asks him to name artists who suck. (According to Vile, every artist “stinks,” including Interpol, Grizzly Bear, Radiohead, Flying Lotus, Led Zeppelin, Bleachers, and Pearl Jam. The Clean get a pass, though.) It’s another classic “Best Show.” Listen here.

Last year, Vile called into an episode and did his Neil Young impression (which he did during this new episode, too) and a month later appeared on the show to perform in person. Scharpling also directed Vile’s 2013 “KV Crimes” video.

Recently, Vile reissued a pair of EPs from 2010 and 2011, Square Shells and So Outta Reach. Vile also recently revealed that he was recording with Courtney Barnett. His last full-length album, the excellent b’lieve i’m goin down, came out in 2015. Gunn released his album, Eyes on the Line, last year.

Watch Kurt Vile at Pitchfork Music Festival 2015:

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