Blitzen Trapper, Horse Feathers & These United States @ Turf Club

Blitzen Trapper

I was surprised by a lot of things during Saturday night’s sold-out Blitzen Trapper show at the Turf Club in St. Paul, not the least of which was the fact that the show was sold-out in the first place. I guess the large audience was partly based on the fact that The Current plays the title track to BT’s new record Furr, constantly, but more likely the turn out was a testament to the fact that Furr is a fantastic record, solid from start to finish, and those tunes were on full display during the bands rousing set.

Blitzen Trapper

Another surprising aspect of the show was how loud it was. The new record is a bit more acoustic and mellow than its raucous predecessor Wild Mountain Nation, and I expected the show to reflect that subtle transition. But the Portland sextet raised one hell of a racket right from the get-go, with their sound blaring and crisp as they tore through most of their new record nearly in order (or, perhaps it seemed loud when compared to the hushed set of openers Horse Feathers, who were good, but their quiet, string heavy music was unfortunately over-matched by the loud Saturday night crowd at the Turf-a more intimate venue would suit their sound a bit more.) Clearly, touring with Stephen Malkmus recently has aided in Blitzen Trapper’s live performance, with the new songs much more guitar heavy and clamorous than on record, and the band tighter and more assured than in past performances. Blitzen Trapper were a band hitting on all cylinders on Saturday night, with a large and adoring audience thrilled by everything the band played.

Horse Feathers

Sure, “Furr” got the loudest applause during the set (it’s a hell of a song, and deserves the omnipresent radio play it has been receiving as of late), but I was surprised at the live potency of other new songs like “Gold For Bread,” “God + Suicide,” and “Fire + Fast Bullets,” which was a boisterous highlight of the set for me. This self-assurance and confidence in their material really aided in fleshing out the full sound of the band’s older tracks, as well, as songs like “Wild Mountain Nation,” which roused the set from its brief and only lull, and “Devil’s A-Go-Go,” finally receiving the stirring and spirited live treatments that were absent in past performances of BT that I’ve seen. Blitzen Trapper have simply become a better band, both live and in the studio, and they’ve managed to catch up to all the accolades that were bestowed on them before they even had a chance to become a cogent group. And that was perhaps the most surprising thing of all on Saturday night, how much Blitzen Trapper have progressed since their initial chaotic concerts in Minneapolis, and how good a live band they’ve become.

Blitzen Trapper

The strong hour long set ended with the crowd clearly wanting more, so three of the members sheepishly came back out to do a passionate cover of Dolly Parton’s “The Last Thing On My Mind,” complete with three part harmonies reminiscent of fellow Northwestern band Fleet Foxes. It was a great cover, and during the ovation the rest of the band came out for a lively version of “Miss Spiritual Tramp,” that while not exactly being the electric guitar laden nod to Malkmus’ former band Pavement as it is on record, it was still a fun and feisty song that closed the set well, and left all in attendance happy and satisfied. Blitzen Trapper have finally realized the tremendous promise and talent that is inherent in their brilliant records, and while I hope they don’t ever become content with that, they should be proud that their live show has become as formidable and solid as their records are loose and inventive.

Horse Feathers

I also need to make a special mention of show openers These United States, from Lexington, KY, who set the table for the night quite nicely. They were a great fit with the sound of the headliners, with the drummer even joining BT for their last song. Their bluegrass tinged songs of Americana and crimes (and crimes against America) went over well with the crowd, and they provided me with the biggest laugh of the night, when the singer asked the crowd to stick around for the next two bands, on the off chance that there were people there only to see them. Then asking them “What the fuck is wrong with you.” Indeed, the sold out crowd was definitely there to see Blitzen Trapper, but if These United States come back to The Cities, I wholeheartedly recommend you check them out. Chances are there will be people there only to see them next time.

Horse Feathers

[Review by Erik Thompson, photos by Jon Behm.]

Also: Blitzen Trapper & Alela Diane @ First Avenue