Blitzen Trapper: "Ever Loved Once"

New track from longtime favorites Blitzen Trapper! Last week they announced their seventh studio album, appropriately titled VII, out Oct. 1. This is their first release for Vagrant Records. They're supporting with a full tour this fall.

TONIGHT: Dawes and Blitzen Trapper

Dawes: "Time Spent in Los Angeles"

Blitzen Trapper: "Love the Way You Walk Away"

Dawes and Blitzen Trapper hit New York tonight at Webster Hall, for a stacked bill.  

It’s been a groundbreaking year for Dawes on the back of their latest effort – Nothing is Wrong (ATO). With several US-spanning national tours, including the current tour with Blitzen Trapper, and over 30k records scanned, Dawes have established themselves as power-players on the current musical landscape. They have a special connection with fans (casual and diehard) in that people WANT them to succeed. Despite never speaking with them personally, Dawes have a trusted and valued team working with them, and the band’s earnestness and passion come across in every song and live show. Shockingly, tonight will be our first live experience with a band we’ve been longtime fans of. We’re certainly looking forward to it. The remainder of Dawes tour dates are after the jump.

The above is not to take anything away from the amazing Blitzen Trapper who share the bill tonight. Their deeply satisfying new record American Goldwing is out now.

Blitzen Trapper Announce New Album

[mp3] Blitzen Trapper: "Black River Killer"

Press Release:

Sub Pop Records is proud to announce the new album from Blitzen Trapper entitled American Goldwing. Set for a September 13th release, American Goldwing is full of the introspective and striking storytelling that countless critics have fallen in love with. Beginning July 19th in Salt Lake City, Blitzen Trapper will head out on a North American headlining tour and introduce their new material to fans. Tour dates below and many more to be announced shortly.

With subjects ranging from fighting to falling in love, drug running with the good old boys and the final high school dance,American Goldwing is a freewheeling collection that balances the roughness of rock ‘n’ roll with fateful heartfelt loss. “It’s me trying to evoke a true American nostalgia” explains lead singer and songwriter Eric Earley.

'Destroyer of the Void' Cover Art

[mp3] Blitzen Trapper: "Heaven and Earth"

We recently wrote about how psyched we were for the new Blitzen Trapper record Destroyer of the Void (June 8, Sub Pop). Today we get the cover art, and it looks pretty much as westerny and amazing as we could've hoped. It's got CATTLE on it. Damn right.

New Blitzen Trapper: "Heaven and Earth"

[mp3] Blitzen Trapper: "Heaven and Earth"

Blitzen Trapper's Furr was one of the best albums of '08, and yesterday we got a taste of their new album Destroyer of the Void which comes out June 8th on Sub Pop. Blitzen Trapper is largely the brainchild of lead singer Eric Earley, but has always occupied two songwriting worlds; with one half channeling a psyched-out rock version of Americana, and the other a softer more backwoods style of folk. Sometimes, this dichotomy succeeds, while at others leads to inconsistent output. From the first listen, it seems Blitzen Trapper will continue further down the (much better) road towards 70s flavored folk-rock perfection, with with M. Ward / Bright Eyes producer Mike Coykendal at the helm and even featuring one of our favorite vocalists Alela Diane. Tracklist and tour dates after the jump.

Destroyer of the Void:

01 Destroyer of the Void
02 Laughing Lover
03 Below the Hurricane
04 The Man Who Would Speak True
05 Love and Hate
06 Heaven and Earth
07 Dragon's Song
08 The Tree [ft. Alela Diane]
09 Evening Star
10 Lover Leave Me Drowning
11 The Tailor
12 Sadie

Blitzen Trapper:

03-28 Portland, OR - McMenamins Kennedy School
05-15 Minehead, England - ATP Festival
05-17 London, England - Borderline
05-18 Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli
05-19 Antwerp, Belgium - Trix
05-20 Groningen, Netherlands - Vera
06-02 Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory Concert House
06-03 Missoula, MT - The Palace
06-04 Bozeman, MT - The Filling Station
06-06 Fargo, ND - The Aquarium
06-07 Omaha, NE - Slowdown
06-09 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
06-10 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Music Festival
06-13 Charlotte, NC - Casbah at Tremont Music Hall
06-14 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
06-15 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero Theatre
06-16 New York, NY - Webster Hall
06-18 Lancaster, PA - TBA
06-19 Pittsburgh, PA - Diesel Club
06-20 Cincinnati, OH - TBA
06-21 St. Louis, MO - Off Broadway
06-22 Kansas City, MO - Record Bar
06-24 Aspen, CO - TBA
06-27 Albuquerque, NM - TBA
06-28 Phoenix, AZ - TBA
06-29 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre
07-01-02 Quincy, CA - High Sierra Music Festival
08-01 Montreal, Quebec - Osheaga Festival

Blitzen Trapper - "Black River Killer" MP3

[MP3] Blitzen Trapper - "Black River Killer"

Coming August 25: the highly anticipated EP from Blitzen Trapper omniously titled, Black River Killer. Our good friends at Sub Pop will of course be releasing the record and just sent over the title track. Please enjoy above! This is short, but come on folks, we know you know all about it already. Happy Monday?

See dates with Andrew Bird, Fleet Foxes, Wye Oak, and Wilco after the jump!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Tavastia Club, Helsinki Finland

Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Oya Natt Festival, Oslo Norway
w/Andrew Bird

Thursday, August 13, 2009
Way Out West Festival, Göteborg Sweden

Saturday, August 15, 2009
Haldern Festival, Rees-Haldern Germany

Sunday, August 16, 2009
Ekko, Utrecht Netherlands

Monday, August 17, 2009
Paradiso, Amsterdam Netherlands

Tuesday, August 18, 2009
L'Escalier, Liege Belgium

Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Bar Mondial, Antwerpen Belgium

Thursday, August 20, 2009
Paard van Troje, The Hague Netherlands

Sunday, August 23, 2009
Highfield Festival, Erfurt Germany
Coke Tent

Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Troxy, London United Kingdom
w/ Wilco

Thursday, August 27, 2009
Vicar Street, Dublin Ireland
w/ Wilco

Friday, August 28, 2009
Vicar Street, Dublin Ireland
w/ Wilco

Monday, August 31, 2009
Auntie Annies (Ireland), BELFAST Ireland

Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Cyprus Avenue, Cork Ireland

Thursday, September 3, 2009
Roisin Dubh, Galway Ireland

Sunday, September 6, 2009
Electric Picnic, Stradbally Ireland

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
02 Academy Glasgow, Glasgow xx
w/ Fleet Foxes

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Academy 2 (Newcastle), Newcastle United Kingdom
w/ Fleet Foxes

Friday, September 11, 2009
Apollo Manchester, Manchester United Kingdom
w/ Fleet Foxes

Saturday, September 12, 2009
End of the Road Festival, North Dorset United Kingdom

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff, Wales UK

Monday, September 14, 2009
Barfly, London United Kingdom

Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Den Atelier, Luxembourg Luxembourg
w/ Fleet Foxes

Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Grand Rex, Paris France
w/ Fleet Foxes

Friday, September 25, 2009
McDonald Theatre, Eugene OR

Monday, September 28, 2009
El Rey Theater (LA), Los Angeles CA
w/Wye Oak
All Ages show

Friday, October 2, 2009
Austin City Limits, Austin TX
@ 8:30PM

BlogReel

Blizten Trapper -"Black River Killer"

Still Flyin' - The Hott Chord is Struck"

Awesome New Republic - "Digital World"

Blitzen Trapper - "Black River Killer"

Still Flyin'- "The Hott Chord is Struck"


Awesome New Republic - "Digital World"

Blitzen Trapper: New EP and Tour Dates

Our Furr-y, Blizten Trapper are ready to follow up their successful 2008 with a, hopefully successful 2009; to kick it off, a new EP, Black River Killer EP, which drops via Sub Pop on Aug.24. In true industry fashion, the band will then pack-up and ship- ut on a conglomeration of US tour dates. The EP will only be available at shows, so get off your ass and support the waning music industry. Keep us employed. Track list and tour dates after the f-ing jump.
Black River Killer:

01 Black River Killer
02 Silver Moon
03 Going Down
04 Shoulder Full of You
05 Preacher's Sister's Boy
06 Black Rock
07 Big Black Bird

Blitzen Trapper:

07-09 Sacramento, CA - Harlow's *
07-10 Visalia, CA - Cellar Door *
07-11 Santa Barbara, CA - Velvet Jones *
07-12 Hollywood, CA - Hollywood Bowl ^
07-13 Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up *
07-15 Aspen, CO - Belly Up Aspen
07-16 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater *
07-18 Iowa City, IA - Picador *
07-19 Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival
07-20 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater *
07-21 Fargo, ND - Aquarium (Dempsey’s Upstairs) *
07-23 Bozeman, MT - Filling Station
07-24 Boise, ID - Neurolux @
07-25 Kennewick, WA - Red Room #
07-30 Vancouver, British Columbia - Richard's on Richards
08-01 Mt. Scott, OR - Pickathon 2009
08-02 Mt. Scott, OR - Pickathon 2009
08-11 Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia Club
08-12 Oslo, Norway - Oya Natt Festival $
08-13 Gothenburg, Sweden - Way Out West Festival
08-15 Rees-Haldern, Germany - Haldern Festival
08-16 Utrecht, Netherlands - Ekko
08-17 Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
08-18 Liege, Belgium - L'Escalier
08-19 Antwerpen, Belgium - Bar Mondial
08-20 The Hague, Netherlands - Paard van Troje
08-23 Erfurt, Germany - Highfield Festival
08-25 London, England - Troxy ~
08-27 Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street ~
08-28 Dublin, Ireland - Vicar Street ~
08-31 Belfast, Northern Ireland - Auntie Annie's
09-02 Corkn Ireland - Cyprus Avenue
09-03 Galway, Ireland - Roisin Dubh
09-06 Stradbally, Ireland - Electric Picnic
09-08 Glasgow, Scotland - O2 Academy +
09-09 Newcastle, England - Academy 2 +
09-11 Manchester, England - Apollo Manchester +
09-12 North Dorset, England - End of the Road Festival
09-13 Cardiff, Wales - Clwb Ifor Bach
09-14 London, England - Barfly
09-15 Luxembourg, Luxembourg - Den Atelier +
09-16 Paris, France - Grand Rex +
10-02 Austin, TX - Austin City Limits

* with Loch Lomond
^ with Jenny Lewis, Ray LaMontagne
@ with the Portland Cello Project
# with the Quiet Ones
$ with Andrew Bird
~ with Wilco
+ with Fleet Foxes

Alela Diane DUMBO Session, MHOW Show

via P4K.tv

UPDATE: You can download the entire show (including Alela) from the previous night @ Bowery via NYC Taper!

Saturday night found a stacked line-up at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, featuring Blitzen Trapper, Plants and Animals, and Alela Diane. We were most excited to see how Alela's lovely West-coast folk translated to the big stage, and weren't surprised at the more than successful results. Backed by her Dad (see video) and a full band of bass, drums and back-up singer, the set was a mix of ancient-sounding folk tunes, and a little too much modern-hippie crunchiness. The latter makes no appearance on Diane's fantastic new LP To Be Still, and was not enough to sink the overall feel of the set driven most by Diane's impeccable voice and mature songwriting. The show left us convinced that Diane is indeed the real deal (which we kinda already knew) and also with a healthy crush on fantastic back-up singer Alina Hardin. Sorry, had to say it. For our thoughts on Plants and Animals and the headliner Blitzen Trapper see after the jump.


Plants and Animals started off on shaky ground, debuting some new material and drawing on songs from their largely excellent LP, Park Avenue. There was something off-putting about lead singer Warren Spicer's stage presence (huge mustache?) but the musicianship of the mostly bass-less power trio was strong and precise. The second half of the set picked up considerably finding a soaring high during their best song "Mercy". The set ended on a low-note as P&A tended to lean on unnecessary jams and Spinal Tap-esqe prog stylings. To our dismay, they failed to close the evening with "Big Bottom."

Capping off a night of dichotomy, Blitzen Trapper varied between their country-rock image and their country-folk image. Lead singer Eric Earley made it clear Blitzen Trapper was the vehicle for his songs. Whether it was his larger than life on-stage ego, or his solo set mid-show, Earley was clearly the center piece of the evening. Yet, it just so happens that his songs and voice were damn good. The mid-show acoustic section proved the highlight, featuring the crowd pleaser "Furr" and the excellent murder ballad "Black River Killer" plus pseudo-traditional "Cocaine." The electric full-band tunes felt a few clicks shy of tempo - but were well executed and certainly fulfilling. Overall, we'd give Saturday night a "B." We would certainly see Alela Diane again, once was enough for Plants and Animals, and depending on circumstances, would make it out to another Blitzen Trapper show.

Blitzen Trapper Drop Winter Tour Dates

photo by Jade Harris

From Wild Mountain Nation, to the highly acclaimed, 2008 release Furr, Blitzen Trapper are centering their Chi and flirting with the likes of outright success. Oregon in the winter ain't no place for a band not in the midst of going "Bon Iver" and reclusing-it-up for song writing purposes. They are taking it to the road, setting out on a winter tour. Starting with a free show at Portland's Crystal Ballroom, this tour finds Blitzen playing with the likes of emerging artist Alela Diane, Canadian experimental-pop'ers Plants and Animals and fellow Oregon natives, Blue Giant.

Check for local tour listings near you after the jump...



01-25 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom !
02-18 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Centre *
02-19 Chicago, IL - Empty Bottle *
02-20 Detroit, MI - Magic Stick *
02-21 Toronto, Ontario - Horseshoe Tavern *
02-22 Montreal, Quebec - La Sala Rosa *
02-24 Rochester, NY - Bug Jar *
02-25 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street *
02-26 Boston, MA - Paradise *
02-27 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom *#
02-28 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg *#
03-01 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church *
03-02 Washington, DC - Black Cat *
03-04 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club *
03-05 Asheville, NC - Orange Peel *
03-06 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge *
03-07 Birmingham, AL - Bottletree *
03-08 Memphis, TN - High-Tone *
03-09 Norman, OK - The Opolis *
03-10 Lawrence, KA - Jackpot Saloon *
03-12 Denver, CO - Hi-Dive *
03-13 Salt Lake City, UT - Kilby Court *

! with Blue Giant
* with Alela Diane
# with Plants & Animals

A Delectable CD Release Week

Jenny Lewis - "Acid Tounge" - mp3
TV On the Radio - "Family Tree" - mp3
Blitzen Trapper "Furr" - mp3
Below is a list of this week's tasty releases courtesy of Largehearted Boy:

"TV on the Radio releases one of the year's most anticipated albums tomorrow, Dear Science.

Other albums I can strongly recommend include the second solo album by Rilo Kiley singer Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue; the All Girl Summer Fun Band's third album, Looking Into It, Blitzen Trapper's Furr; Brightblack Morning Light's Motion to Rejoin; Friendly Fires' self-titled debut full-length; Golden Smog's greatest hits compilation, Stay Golden, Smog: The Best of Golden Smog; Kat Ex & Jon Langford'sKatJonBand; and Mogwai's The Hawk is Howling (and that's just a small sample in a great music release week).

Four remastered Replacements albums are out this week with bonus tracks: All Shook Down, Don't Tell a Soul, Pleased to Meet Me, and Tim.
Also reissued this week are three Danielson Familie vinyl releases: Fetch the Compass Kids, Tell Another Joke at the Ol' Chopping Block, and Tri-Danielson!!! (Alpha Omega) "

After the jump.

*Blitzen Trapper - Furr*

Rating: 86%

______________

Release Date: Sept. 23, 2008
From: Portland, OR
Label: Sub Pop Records
Who: Eric Earley - Guitar/vocal
Erik Menteer- Guitar/keys
Brian Koch - Drums/vocals
Michael Van Pelt - Bass
Drew Laughery- Keys
Marty Marquis - Keys/vocals


Blitzen Trapper - "Furr" - mp3
There is something Nashvillian going on here. Although recorded in the same old telegraph building in downtown Portland as previous Blitzen Trapper records, Furr seems further removed from the Northwest… Perhaps the Tennessee feel stems from the weathered, seemingly vaudeville-era piano (equipped with missing keys,) on which Eric Earley chose to write the majority of the album. Furr’s capoed-acoustic guitars, layered vocals, and naturally jangled piano lines touch southern roots, even more so than its predecessor Wild Mountain Nation might have.

Album opener, "Sleepytime in the Western World," provides the listener with a glimpse of what's to come: there are going to be richer harmonies, super catchy choruses, Al Kooper-style organ parts, shredding guitar solos and mellowed-out acoustic guitar accompaniments.

Track two, "Gold for Bread," is similar in song construction to that of "Sleepytime," but falls short, seeming to serve only as a buffer for the title track to follow.

"Furr" is highly repeatable and long lasting in its simplicity. The aforementioned capoed guitar and dual vocals provide a full, yet eerily lonesome soundscape, ripe for instrumental proliferation. Drums join the low hum of a harmonica laid atop ominous jungle sounds as the song creeps to a climax, but recedes before ever reaching one. The tune speaks of the self-maturation process with religious overtones, incorporating lines such as, "on the day that I turned 23/I was curled up underneath a dogwood tree/when suddenly a girl with skin the color of a pearl/wandered aimlessly, but she didn't seem to see/she was listenin' for the angels just like me."

Masterful in its creation, "Furr" exhibits the delicate side of an album that truly ebbs and flows, flirting with Americana-folk, indie-rock, and pop labels.

More on Furr after the jump...

The album's only fault may be its lack of cohesion from song-to-song -- although some may see this as a positive. There is no doubt that the tunes on Furr are eclectic and well thought out.

Album highlights, "God & Suicide" and "Saturday Nite" are the most pop laden songs, combining driven-drum beats, subtle electronic sounds, vamped guitars and that all important "hook" chorus. Elements of The Kinks, Dr. Dog, and Beck are evident on these tunes.

Blitzen prove they can also produce piano balladry and the vocals to match: “Not Your Lover" and "Echo/Always On/EZ Con" are both examples of such.

Furr sounds like a band's fourth album should -- with their niche already established, this West Coast sextet settled in -- they found their comfort zone. Here, Blitzen Trapper's songwriting formula is only more refined, where each song serves as a new chapter ultimately leaving listeners wondering, 'what comes next?'