Kurt Vile Brings Ethan Buckler Onstage in Louisville
Vile invited the Slint and King Kong member to perform King Kong's "Old Man On The Bridge" during his Headliners show.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Alternative
Kurt Vile brought Ethan Buckler onstage at Headliners in Louisville on Friday, November 6, to perform King Kong's "Old Man On The Bridge." A video of the performance was shared by Drew Mihans.
Why it matters
The appearance highlights the connection between Vile and Buckler, who contributed to Vile's latest album, Philadelphia's been good to me. It also marks a moment in the song's reception after Jimmy Fallon once mocked it.
Buckler appeared on Vile's latest album and contributed backing vocals to the lead single "Chance To Bleed." The Louisville performance was documented in a video shared by Drew Mihans, and the stub does not report attendance or ticketing figures.
The players
Kurt Vile
Kurt Vile is a Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter known for his guitar-driven indie rock and his work with the Violators.
Ethan Buckler
Ethan Buckler is a musician best known as a member of the influential post-rock band Slint and the group King Kong.
Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon is an American comedian and television host of The Tonight Show, known for his musical segments.
The details
At the Headliners show, Vile invited Buckler onstage to perform King Kong's "Old Man On The Bridge." The song had previously been the subject of a "Do Not Play" segment on The Tonight Show, before Jimmy Fallon and Questlove later came to like it.
Timeline
A few years ago: Jimmy Fallon devoted a "Do Not Play" segment to mocking "Old Man On The Bridge."
Monday, November 2: Kurt Vile and the Violators performed "99 BPM" on The Tonight Show.
Friday, November 6: Vile brought Buckler onstage for "Old Man On The Bridge" at Headliners in Louisville.
Legacy Connection
Buckler's membership in Slint ties this Louisville show to the city's post-rock history. The appearance adds a live chapter to the careers of musicians who came out of that scene.
Fans in the area could see Vile's live shows featuring surprise guests, though the stub does not announce upcoming dates. Listeners can hear Buckler's contributions on Philadelphia's been good to me, which is available now.
The takeaway
Guest appearances like this one show how live performances can revive older songs and connect musicians across different eras. Listeners interested in the material can start with the album and the performance video to hear the connection for themselves.
Further reading
Explore more Alternative music coverage to see how artists like Vile connect with the genre's history.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Stereogum.
