Nineteen years ago, Vic Chesnutt first unleashed his brand of gritty southern rock from his rural Georgia home. Now with a band featuring Fugazi's Guy Picciotto and members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Silver Mt. Zion, Chesnutt stops by Los Angeles to offer his gravelly voice and confessional songs up to audiences tonight at the Echoplex.

Touring in support of his new album, At the Cut (written with the members of his stellar touring band and recorded by Arcade Fire's Howard Bilerman), Chesnutt passionately explores heartbreak, identity, and perseverance in his stylistically diverse songs that range from solo guitar-pieces to distorted, wall-of-noise explorations. The singer songwriter knows much about tenacity; he is confined to a wheelchair since a car accident when he was 18. His songs have been covered by everyone from Sparklehorse to Madonna, and he was subject of the 1992 PBS documentary, Speed Racer.

In his bittersweet songs and in his raspy voice, Chesnutt opens his life story for us to read, learn, and follow along.

(Download three MP3's from his new album after the jump)

Vic Chesnutt – Chain [MP3]

Vic Chesnutt – Philip Guston [MP3]

Vic Chesnutt – Flirted With You All My Life [MP3]

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.