Sup Mayn: Kurt Vile and The Violators Was Good to Austin
Kurt Vile & The Violators stopped in Austin on Tuesday on their KV's Been Good To Me Tour, supporting the 2026 album Philadelphia's been good to me.
The show took place at ACL Live, originally built as a soundstage for PBS’ Austin City Limits, it is a large multi-level horseshoe-shaped venue with both general admission and seated options. It still makes for an intimate venue and tonight it was a GA floor with a seated balcony and mezzanine.
The stage decoration was simple: a single vintage flashing arrow sign with the words “VIDEO NIGHT BEER BUST - SUP MAYN - KV’S BEEN GOOD TO ME,” a reference to the album cover for Philadelphia's been good to me. The simple and familiar stage backdrop enhanced the already intimate mood at ACL Moody.
You could be transported to a dive bar anywhere in the USA, with a cold beer and a bunch of friends. The album itself is a stripped-down and compelling story about recognizing and loving the familiar people, places, and things in your everyday orbit.
KURT VILE AND THE VIOLATORS
Kurt Vile is that vibe: He’s the casual, wild-haired, flannel-wearing friend that we all have. They opened with the instrumental “Red Room Dub” from the new album and played a selection of new and old songs.
The crowd was locked in, with some swaying and slow head bobbing, until they played “Chance to Bleed,” which switched to a sing-along to “With that old time, lo-fi, DIY, rock ‘n’ roll NIGHTS,” punctuated by fist pumps. “Pretty Pimpin,” the most well-known and most relatable song of the set, was another that energized the crowd.
It wasn’t until the next day, when scrolling Instagram, that I saw how many different people I knew were at the show. The spirit of a big-city escape with friends in a dive bar was definitely present that evening; KV was good to us.
BEING DEAD
The trio Being Dead has a large following in the Austin music scene, but we don’t get to see them play live often. They always draw a crowd at festivals, most recently headlining the eclectic 2025 Wizard Rodeo, and performing to a packed stage at Levitation 2025.
A friend of mine calls them “The Best Band,” and many in town agree. Their sound is fun and fast — a nostalgic 60’s garage surf with bits of folk, punk, and weird. They also have great stage banter, with all 3 members playing off each other's off-the-wall comments.
After seeing many shows with openers unknown to the audience, It’s always a treat to see the fans of the openers in the crowds - it elevates the excitement and experience for everyone in the audience.
Kurt Vile & The Violators continue the KV's Been Good To Me Tour on the US East Coast in July, then head to the UK and mainland Europe for a festival run in August and September. They will return to the Midwest and South in November.
Being Dead will continue to support Kurt for 5 more shows, then support will be provided by The Sadies, Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band, Alex Amen, Twisted Teens, TAGABOW, and Optic Sink.
