Portland's Blitzen Trapper has established themselves as a solid indie rock act over the past half of a decade. Powered by harmonizing vocals that are reminiscent of vintage Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, the band masterfully combines elements of folk, blues, country and jam rock together to create a unique sound.
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| Photo by Stephen Bloch |
I've been a fan of Blitzen Trapper since their 2007 release
Wild Mountain Nation, and have had the pleasure of seeing the group on several occasions live, both as a headline and support act. While 2008's
Furr remains the band's high water mark for me, their live show has continued to evolve and mature. With a very solid recent release in this year's
VII, Blitzen Trapper rolled into Turner Hall as a solid headliner, drawing close to 400 fans on a weeknight. While Trapper fans, many of whom looked like they belonged in the IFC Channel's
Portlandia themselves, dressed in plaid, the band surprised its audience, emerging in suit coats and ties. Front man Eric Earley emerged with jeans, a button down shirt (sans tie) and a suit coat, looking more like a businessman than the guy who penned "Wild Mountain Nation" and "Country Caravan." This was similar to the image transformation I noticed when I last saw Okkervil River and they emerged dressed in similar attire. While clothes certainly don't make the man, the image that the band sent was that this is an established act who deserves to headline shows with a diverse and deep catalog of material. Blitzen Trapper has never sounded finer and I hope the band continues to cultivate their success.
Madison indie rockers Phox opened the show to an enthusiastic crowd. This was my first time seeing Phox and they certainly lived up to the hype they've been receiving on the Internet and the festival scene. Their sound blends elements of 80's synth rock together with strong female vocals, similar to Policia. I would be curious to check out a gig where Phox headlined to get a fuller picture of their sound and what they're all about.
Grade:
Phox: B
Blitzen Trapper: A-
Portland's Blitzen Trapper has established themselves as a solid indie rock act over the past half of a decade. Powered by harmonizing vocals that are reminiscent of vintage Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, the band masterfully combines elements of folk, blues, country and jam rock together to create a unique sound. 
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