There’s something to be said for catching a band right after it releases its best album to date – when the set list reads like a future greatest hits compilation. It’s even better to see a band on their home turf, even if it means standing out in the cold for 20 minutes waiting to get up to the ticket counter. Just as their album Furr was making various best of 2008 music lists, Blitzen Trapper returned home to Portland’s Wonder Ballroom, and to a full house after a long North American tour. As a result the local crowd was very enthusiastic and appreciative. One guy behind me had friends in Blitzen Trapper, the guy next to him had seen them live over seven times – and they were two of the quiet ones.
Opening for Blitzen Trapper were two other Portland bands, Parson Red Heads and Starfucker. Starfucker was a surprise. Their album hadn’t made much of an impression on me the few times I listened to it. However, they were great live. It made me go home and immediately listen to their CD again to see what I had missed. And I realized I hadn’t missed anything. The album just wasn’t as good, mainly because it was missing the energy and powerful thump of their live show. On stage there were three dudes, two of whom mostly played the drums. At times they played in unison, emphasizing the beat and turning the otherwise light and sleepy blips and bleeps into dance music. So when’s the hard rocking live album coming out?
Blitzen Trapper kicked their set off fast and loud with “Sleepytime in the Western World” and ran through the first few songs with guitars blazing. The crowd ate it up, cheering the first few notes of each song as if it was a hit on the radio. The set pulled heavily from Furr and included plenty of my favorites off that album. Live, just as on that album, you could clearly hear the influences of the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and the more general touchstones of alt. country and southern rock.
The first half of their set was packed with songs driven by three wailing guitars and group harmonies. Although I don’t imagine there were many non-fans out there that night, I am sure by the time they burst into “Fire & Fast Flames”, their second song, they would have been converted. “Black River Killer”, another highlight, got cheers at the end of each stanza – the crowd apparently loving the drama of an epic story of horses, thieving and murder. Gradually they slowed it down to a trot, mixing in just enough electrified chords to keep it rockin’.
There wasn’t much room for between song banter with the crowd filling the space with spirited hoots and whistles. When the band did speak it was mostly to acknowledge that they were glad to be home and they loved Portland. The crowd let them know Blitzen Trapper were loved too.
Blitzen Trapper: website | myspace | @ sub pop 20 | Furr review
Starfucker: myspace | Starfucker review | @ the m room
Photo: Jade Harris
