Smoke Ring for My Halo, Kurt Vile’s latest effort for Matador Records and our Album of the Month, is a solid record compact with torn jeans charm, sonic distorts, and layered grinds (check out our review here). It’s a mountain range of innovation and inexhaustible display of complexity. But what else do you expect from the local golden boy and his merry men (backers, The Violators)? After all, Vile’s bag o’ tricks (a.k.a personal effects & pedals) was stolen last Saturday night at SXSW, but it didn’t stop him and his crew from turning out a stripped stellar performance at the Austin fest. You can watch him tear down any pretense tonight downstairs at World Café Live, where he’ll provide opening support for the legendary J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. fame. It’s a match made in distortion heaven. World Café Live (Downstairs), 3025 Walnut St., 8pm, $19 – $29, All Ages – Annamarya Scaccia