Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile Keep It Low-Key at the Ryman

Kurt Vile and Courtney Barnett's sold-out show Thursday night at the Ryman went down just about like we thought it would. That is to say, there weren’t many surprises — no variations from the set list that they've stuck to all tour, no major production flourishes or figurative fireworks. Just a rock-solid three-piece backing band, the Sea Lice, with selections from last month's Barnett/Vile collaborative album Lotta Sea Lice, as well as a handful of solo cuts from each performer’s solo catalog, a couple of covers, and the duo's unimpeachable and extraordinarily understated slacker charisma.

The sold-out show was largely attended by what you might call a merch-buying crowd: hipsters of all ages, bros and working-professional types who are probably the biggest music fans in their office, die-hard rock ’n’ rollers, middle-aged couples, a handful of hipper-than-average grandparents and likely a particularly high percentage of NPR listeners. One of the most entertainingly antithetical elements of the evening was just how vocally stoked many of the attendees were, hooting and hollering and screaming at a pair of performers known for their exceptionally low-key and stoner-y stage presence. “We love you, Kurt!” they’d scream at Vile, or, “Happy birthday Courtney!” at Barnett, who turned 30 last week. “Hey,” one of the two artists would say back, or maybe, “This is fun.”

Barnett collaborator, significant other and fellow Aussie Jen Cloher kicked the show off with an opening solo set of heartfelt acoustic indie rock. It was the kind of smoldering singer-songwriter fare — interspersed with charming anecdotes, like one about her childhood addiction to playing Galaga at the arcade — that felt pretty at home in the hallowed confines of the Mother Church. Cloher also pointed out that, as the Courtney-and-Kurt tour — which she called a "dream collaboration” — nears its end, it’s gaining a bit of an "emo" vibe.

Barnett and Vile took the stage around 8:40 p.m. to the sounds of Iggy and the Stooges' "Open Up and Bleed," with half a dozen blinders on stands around the stage flashing. The two nodded and acknowledged the audience with a greeting characteristically devoid of fanfare before launching into album opener "Over Everything," with, just as Barnett recently told the Scene she’s prone to on this tour, her stepping back to let Kurt stretch out and shred a bit. As the set wore on, Vile would slip into the background on songs on which Barnett took the lead.

There was a bit of rocking out beneath strobing blue and red lights during sludgy slow-burner "Fear Is Like a Forest." There was vocal-trading and harmonizing on "Continental Breakfast," one of the better examples of Vile and Barnett's insouciant chemistry. There was the occasional inter-song on-mic "woop!" from Vile.

But the moments that went over best were when the two would play a selection from one of their respective catalogs — songs like Barnett's "Depreston" or Vile's "Life Like Mine" and “Pretty Pimpin” were met with cheers and applause, and indeed were imbued with more of the singers' individual charisma than any of the compositions from Lotta Sea Lice. That isn't to say the two don't work well together — quite the opposite. But something about watching the pair meet in the middle made us appreciate more what they each bring to the table on their own.

Even so, a highlight was main-set-closer "Untogether," a cover of Belly's beautiful little heartbroken ballad that plays surprisingly well as a duet. Also pretty stunning was their encore-opening rendition of "Elvis Presley Blues” by Nashville's own Gillian Welch, utterly appropriate and lovely for the Ryman. Who says a rock show needs fireworks or mosh pits — or surprises of any kind, really — to be perfectly pleasant and delightful?

See our slideshow for more photos.

In The Spin — the Scene's live review column — staffers and freelance contributors review concerts under a collective byline.