Philly rock band Kurt Vile & The Violators dropped a cover of the Velvet Underground’s “Run Run Run” earlier this month, much to the delight of fans of both groups. The song was released as a part of the ‘I’ll Be Your Mirror: A Tribute to the Velvet Underground & Nico’ compilation album. Produced by the late Hal Willner, it features more covers by artists like Matt Berninger, Sharon Van Etten, and St. Vincent. “Run Run Run” by Kurt Vile is Stephanie’s DJ Pick of the Week!
Vile’s version of the song is a great tribute to the original. It honors the same chugging guitar foundation but with newer, bigger sounds. It goes on for a whopping seven minutes, but don’t worry, there’s a radio edit that cuts it down to four. (For better or for worse? Sometimes a long jam is what everybody needs.)
“Run Run Run” is a testament to Vile’s love of the Underground. “Lou Reed/the Velvet Underground were probably my earliest classic rock influence,” Vile told Rolling Stone. “When you hear music like that, so organic and raw, but you know, so confident, all those things combined, [it’s] so cool. So unapologetic. It just has an effect on you that you can’t even necessarily detect at the moment.”
The music video for the song is creative and bursting with lyric-related imagery. As one commenter put it, it looks like “ an Andy Warhol screen print.” Check it out below!
The “I’ll Be Your Mirror” tribute album comes out on September 24th. Until then, tune into 100.1 FM or lightning100.com to hear “Run Run Run” by Kurt Vile featured as Stephanie’s DJ Pick of the Week. Be sure to let us know your thoughts! Tweet at us with #L100DJPick and share your take on the track.
