Better Than Noodling: Blitzen Trapper

On a recent NPR podcast, former Sleater-Kinney guitarist and current fulltime music blogger Carrie Brownstein described this band as the Grateful Dead meets Pavement. Any good cynic would love to scoff and poke holes in that high praise, but I have to say that’s not too far off — just take a listen to the title track of their latest album Wild Mountain Nation and you’ll see what she’s talking about…

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Not bad, right? Not bad at all. They even have a song called “Wild Mtn. Jam,” which is a weird backwater, bluegrass inspired ditty. Who says we have to leave the world of garlic grilled cheese behind?

I know what you’re saying though, “How do they sound live?” I’m glad you asked — you can check out this in-studio performance for KEXP and find out for yourself. Come on, be proactive, it’s good for you.

Blitzen Trapper is also on the bill at this year’s Langerado music festival, so I guess other people see the connection too. BT just announced a full tour, too:

02-22 Seattle, WA – University of Washington #
02-28 San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill *
02-29 Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour *!
03-01 San Diego, CA – Casbah *
03-02 Phoenix, AZ – Modified *
03-04 Denton, TX – Hailey’s *
03-05 Houston, TX – Walter’s on Washington *
03-06 Hattiesburg, MS – Thirsty Hippo %
03-07 Tallahassee, FL – The Beta Bar *
03-08 Everglades National Park, FL – Langerado Festival
03-09 Jacksonville, FL – The Eclipse *
03-11 Birmingham, AL – BottleTree *
03-13 Austin, TX – Yard Dog Gallery (Schubas SXSW party)
03-14 Austin, TX – SXSW
03-15 Austin, TX – SXSW
03-16 Norman, OK – The Opolis *
03-17 Columbia, MO – Mojo’s *$
03-19 Nashville, TN – Exit In *
03-20 Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn *
03-21 Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern *
03-22 Asheville, NC – Grey Eagle *
03-23 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 *
03-25 Washington, DC – Black Cat *
03-26 Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s *
03-27 Cambridge, MA – Middle East *
03-29 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
03-30 Worcester, MA – Clark University *
04-01 Montreal, Quebec – La Salla Rossa *
04-02 Toronto, Ontario – El Mocambo *
04-03 Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place *
04-04 Cleveland, OH – The Grog Shop *
04-05 Detroit, MI – The Magic Stick *
04-06 Chicago, IL – Schubas *
04-08 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon *
04-09 Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry *
04-10 Grinnell, IA – Grinnell College *
04-11 Omaha, NE – The Slowdown *
04-12 Lawrence, KS – Jackpot *
04-14 Denver, CO – Hi-Dive *
04-15 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge *
04-17 Vancouver, British Columbia – Media Club *
04-18 Seattle, WA – Neumo’s *
04-19 Portland, OR – Holocene *

# with Menomena
* with Fleet Foxes
! with Grand Archives
% with Beach House, Papercuts
$ with Mahjongg