Belle Brigade -Blitzen Trapper - Dawes
The show started off with Belle Brigade. Admittedly I hadn't done much prep on this band as I have had a weird hang-up on openers recently, which I need to quickly overcome as I have missed sets by Lissie and Bobby. The band played an impressive and inspiring show. During the show, I quickly looked up that they are ordinarily a Sister-Brother duo, in this case +4. Belle Brigade concluded with their groundswell hit "Losers".
'Losers' by Belle Brigade
Blitzen Trapper the fivesome from Portland came out next. They've hit the road supporting their latest album American Goldwing, which released September 13th.
To me, the album was a complete game changer. I had come on late to the Blitzen Trapper party after picking up 'Black River Killer' as a download somewhere along the way, a few years back. Long story short, the Black River Killer EP and Destroyer of the Void just don't quite rock out the way American Goldwing does. I had originally fallen in love with the stories of the 'Black River Killer' and 'The Man Who Would Speak True' but the hardest they rocked out for me was 'Big Black Bird'. Even 'Love the Way You Walk Away' the first single from American Goldwing is just a chill ballad.
Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer by subpop
Blitzen Trapper - Love The Way You Walk Away by subpop
In the last twenty days since I obtained American Goldwing I found out how much they could rock. Some tracks, such as 'Fletcher' and 'Might Find it Cheap' kinda have a Southern Rock vibe. But as you get into the album you find the rocking roots on 'Your Crying Eyes' and 'Street Fighting Sun'
.
Unbeknownst to me Furr also rocks out. Outside of 'Black River Killer' I received my first taste of their 2008 release during this show. The album which received much critical acclaim stands to be greatly overshadowed by this latest release.
The band seems to have the same idea that this new material will stand out on its own as well. Of the 17 tracks played, 9 were from American Goldwing, only leaving two of the new tracks un-played. Likewise, American Goldwing lead singles, 'Astronaut' and 'Love the Way You Walk Away' were played in the first five songs. Furthermore, their previous hits of 'Furr' and 'Black River Killer' were in the middle of the set, leaving you to enjoy the new awesomeness to wrap up the show, rather than resting on their old merits.
My first reaction to the live performance was that it was a little loud, but it was worth it as they started rocking out right away. Some highlights included the excellent synth playing on 'Astronaut' by Marty Marquis and Erik Menteer perfect on the Moog on 'Black River Killer'. 'Eric Earley would often give a combo with harmonica; however the best set up was all axes and drums on 'Your Crying Eyes'. Likewise, 'Street Fighting Sun' was a screamer, including an electric guitar solo by Eric. On 'SFS' the most amazing aspect was how well the Marty's maracas were mic'd through the axes.
The crowd favorite had to have been 'Black River Killer', Eric Earley's "favorite murder ballad". Which one of the other fellas reminded it might be, since Eric wrote it.
A crowd member exclaimed the "solo was sick" on 'Wild Mountain Nation'. After clarifying that it wasn't the band that made that fan sick, they admitted they previously had a goal to "make hippies sick', presumably via some loud guitars.
My favorite was the solo 'Stranger In A Strange Land'. Eric Earley played just guitar and harmonica giving the fellas a break. The performance was as beautiful as the lyrics it contains, "But my love is like the galaxy seems - slow but it sure does shine - And when I'm gone you'll know me by - The friends I leave behind".
Blitzen Trapper TLA - Philadelphia Set List - incl. corresponding original album
1. 'Might Find It Cheap' American Goldwing
2. 'Sleepytime In the Western World' Furr
3. 'Astronaut' American Goldwing
4. 'Wild Mountain Nation' Wild Mountain Nation
5. 'Love The Way You Walk Away' American Goldwing
6. 'God & Suicde' Furr
7. 'Girl In A Coat' American Goldwing
8. 'Furr' Furr
9. 'Fire & Fast Bullets' Furr
10. 'Your Crying Eyes' American Goldwing
11. 'Miss Spiritual Tramp' Wild Mountain Nation
12. 'Blind River Killer' Furr
13. 'Stranger In A Strange Land' American Goldwing
14. 'My Home Town' American Goldwing
15. 'Street Fighting Sun' American Goldwing
16. 'Fletcher' American Goldwing
17. 'Big Black Bird Black River Killer E.P.
If you're like me, and don't have an early Blitzen Trapper exposure check out 'Furr' from Furr
'Furr' by Blitzen Trapper
Or if you need a taste of their new material, The October 9th edition of my Weekly Review included the Subpop provided album preview on Soundcloud.com.
I didn't get to stick around for Dawes, so my apologies for missing their set!
The show started off with Belle Brigade. Admittedly I hadn't done much prep on this band as I have had a weird hang-up on openers recently, which I need to quickly overcome as I have missed sets by Lissie and Bobby. The band played an impressive and inspiring show. During the show, I quickly looked up that they are ordinarily a Sister-Brother duo, in this case +4. Belle Brigade concluded with their groundswell hit "Losers".
'Losers' by Belle Brigade
Blitzen Trapper the fivesome from Portland came out next. They've hit the road supporting their latest album American Goldwing, which released September 13th.
To me, the album was a complete game changer. I had come on late to the Blitzen Trapper party after picking up 'Black River Killer' as a download somewhere along the way, a few years back. Long story short, the Black River Killer EP and Destroyer of the Void just don't quite rock out the way American Goldwing does. I had originally fallen in love with the stories of the 'Black River Killer' and 'The Man Who Would Speak True' but the hardest they rocked out for me was 'Big Black Bird'. Even 'Love the Way You Walk Away' the first single from American Goldwing is just a chill ballad.
Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer by subpop
Blitzen Trapper - Love The Way You Walk Away by subpop
In the last twenty days since I obtained American Goldwing I found out how much they could rock. Some tracks, such as 'Fletcher' and 'Might Find it Cheap' kinda have a Southern Rock vibe. But as you get into the album you find the rocking roots on 'Your Crying Eyes' and 'Street Fighting Sun'
.
Unbeknownst to me Furr also rocks out. Outside of 'Black River Killer' I received my first taste of their 2008 release during this show. The album which received much critical acclaim stands to be greatly overshadowed by this latest release.
The band seems to have the same idea that this new material will stand out on its own as well. Of the 17 tracks played, 9 were from American Goldwing, only leaving two of the new tracks un-played. Likewise, American Goldwing lead singles, 'Astronaut' and 'Love the Way You Walk Away' were played in the first five songs. Furthermore, their previous hits of 'Furr' and 'Black River Killer' were in the middle of the set, leaving you to enjoy the new awesomeness to wrap up the show, rather than resting on their old merits.
My first reaction to the live performance was that it was a little loud, but it was worth it as they started rocking out right away. Some highlights included the excellent synth playing on 'Astronaut' by Marty Marquis and Erik Menteer perfect on the Moog on 'Black River Killer'. 'Eric Earley would often give a combo with harmonica; however the best set up was all axes and drums on 'Your Crying Eyes'. Likewise, 'Street Fighting Sun' was a screamer, including an electric guitar solo by Eric. On 'SFS' the most amazing aspect was how well the Marty's maracas were mic'd through the axes. The crowd favorite had to have been 'Black River Killer', Eric Earley's "favorite murder ballad". Which one of the other fellas reminded it might be, since Eric wrote it.
A crowd member exclaimed the "solo was sick" on 'Wild Mountain Nation'. After clarifying that it wasn't the band that made that fan sick, they admitted they previously had a goal to "make hippies sick', presumably via some loud guitars.
My favorite was the solo 'Stranger In A Strange Land'. Eric Earley played just guitar and harmonica giving the fellas a break. The performance was as beautiful as the lyrics it contains, "But my love is like the galaxy seems - slow but it sure does shine - And when I'm gone you'll know me by - The friends I leave behind".
Blitzen Trapper TLA - Philadelphia Set List - incl. corresponding original album
1. 'Might Find It Cheap' American Goldwing
2. 'Sleepytime In the Western World' Furr3. 'Astronaut' American Goldwing
4. 'Wild Mountain Nation' Wild Mountain Nation
5. 'Love The Way You Walk Away' American Goldwing
6. 'God & Suicde' Furr
7. 'Girl In A Coat' American Goldwing
8. 'Furr' Furr
9. 'Fire & Fast Bullets' Furr
10. 'Your Crying Eyes' American Goldwing
11. 'Miss Spiritual Tramp' Wild Mountain Nation
12. 'Blind River Killer' Furr
13. 'Stranger In A Strange Land' American Goldwing
14. 'My Home Town' American Goldwing
15. 'Street Fighting Sun' American Goldwing
16. 'Fletcher' American Goldwing
17. 'Big Black Bird Black River Killer E.P.
If you're like me, and don't have an early Blitzen Trapper exposure check out 'Furr' from Furr
'Furr' by Blitzen Trapper
Or if you need a taste of their new material, The October 9th edition of my Weekly Review included the Subpop provided album preview on Soundcloud.com.
I didn't get to stick around for Dawes, so my apologies for missing their set!
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