Blitzen Trapper is consistently impressive, but the ability to impress is pretty much the only consistent thing about the local favorite—the Portland quintet’s sound and subject matter are anything but uniform.
Blitzen Trapper churns out everything from jangling Southern-rock tracks about dusty outlaws to intergalactic space jams about break-dancing wizards. Monotony, suffice to say, is a non-issue.
Now, the band is slated to release a spanking-new full-length, American Goldwing (Sub Pop), on Sept. 13 with the same pleasantly mishmash sound. The band’s sixth full-length, American Goldwing puts the group’s nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic front and center, and it seeps through the seams of Blitzen Trapper’s gritty yet poetic lyrics.
The album’s title track is a harmonica-heavy toe-tapper that would sound equally appropriate on a jukebox in Portland as it would in a honky-tonk bar in Tennessee. Frontman Eric Earley’s clench-jawed vocals are hard to distinguish from Tom Petty’s iconic croon, lending the band’s sound a sense of comfort and nostalgia.
And like any fan-friendly band, Blitzen Trapper comes with fun accessories. In anticipation of a fall tour with L.A. rockers Dawes, the bands have released a free, six-song tour sampler available for download. Blitzen Trapper has also offered up its newest single, “Love the Way You Walk Away,” for free download to tickle your eardrums and get them itchin’ for American Goldwing’s full release on the tail of MusicfestNW.
In March, the band even went multimedia, teaming with actor Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute of The Office) to release a short film titled Blitzen Trapper Massacre. In the film, Wilson attempts to join the band, which kindly declines his offer. After a demonic conversation with himself in the bathroom mirror, Wilson methodically massacres the entire band. Like all other Blitzen Trapper material, the batshit-quirky dramedy is seven minutes of gonzo bliss.
MusicfestNW’s showcase is the band’s last local show before embarking on its five-week fall tour. Given the consistency Blitzen Trapper has provided fans in recent years, sending the hometown band off with raucous reception is highly appropriate.
Bon voyage, Blitzen Trapper—and come back soon.
Blitzen Trapper plays MusicfestNW on the Comcast Stage at the Crystal Ballroom on Friday, Sept. 9, with Weinland and Sharon Van Etten. Doors open at 8 pm. Entry with MFNW wristband or $18 advance ticket from TicketsWest.
Blitzen Trapper and the science of the unexpected
Blitzen Trapper churns out everything from jangling Southern-rock tracks about dusty outlaws to intergalactic space jams about break-dancing wizards. Monotony, suffice to say, is a non-issue.
Now, the band is slated to release a spanking-new full-length, American Goldwing (Sub Pop), on Sept. 13 with the same pleasantly mishmash sound. The band’s sixth full-length, American Goldwing puts the group’s nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic front and center, and it seeps through the seams of Blitzen Trapper’s gritty yet poetic lyrics.
The album’s title track is a harmonica-heavy toe-tapper that would sound equally appropriate on a jukebox in Portland as it would in a honky-tonk bar in Tennessee. Frontman Eric Earley’s clench-jawed vocals are hard to distinguish from Tom Petty’s iconic croon, lending the band’s sound a sense of comfort and nostalgia.
And like any fan-friendly band, Blitzen Trapper comes with fun accessories. In anticipation of a fall tour with L.A. rockers Dawes, the bands have released a free, six-song tour sampler available for download. Blitzen Trapper has also offered up its newest single, “Love the Way You Walk Away,” for free download to tickle your eardrums and get them itchin’ for American Goldwing’s full release on the tail of MusicfestNW.
In March, the band even went multimedia, teaming with actor Rainn Wilson (Dwight Schrute of The Office) to release a short film titled Blitzen Trapper Massacre. In the film, Wilson attempts to join the band, which kindly declines his offer. After a demonic conversation with himself in the bathroom mirror, Wilson methodically massacres the entire band. Like all other Blitzen Trapper material, the batshit-quirky dramedy is seven minutes of gonzo bliss.
MusicfestNW’s showcase is the band’s last local show before embarking on its five-week fall tour. Given the consistency Blitzen Trapper has provided fans in recent years, sending the hometown band off with raucous reception is highly appropriate.
Bon voyage, Blitzen Trapper—and come back soon.
Blitzen Trapper plays MusicfestNW on the Comcast Stage at the Crystal Ballroom on Friday, Sept. 9, with Weinland and Sharon Van Etten. Doors open at 8 pm. Entry with MFNW wristband or $18 advance ticket from TicketsWest.