Blitzen Trapper

Blitzen Trapper
Blitzen Trapper performing at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon
Blitzen Trapper performing at the Crystal Ballroom in Portland, Oregon
Background information
OriginPortland, Oregon, United States
GenresAlternative country, indie folk
Years active2000–present
Labels
MembersEric Earley
Brian Adrian Koch
Michael Elson
Nathan Vanderpool
Past membersDrew Laughery
Erik Menteer
Michael Van Pelt
Marty Marquis
Websiteblitzentrapper.net

Blitzen Trapper is a Portland, Oregon-based experimental country/folk/rock band associated with Sub Pop Records,[1] Vagrant Records,[2] Lojinx,[3] and Yep Roc.[4] Formed in 2000, the band currently operates as a quartet, with Eric Earley (guitar/harmonica/vocals/keyboard), Brian Adrian Koch (drums/vocals/harmonica), Michael Elson (bass/keyboard), and Nathan Vanderpool (guitar/vocals); at some shows, Michael Blake fills in for Vanderpool.[5] Blitzen Trapper self-released its first three albums. "Wild Mountain Nation" was No. 98 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.[6]

Blitzen Trapper released its third album, Wild Mountain Nation, in 2007 to much acclaim from critics such as Pitchfork Media, The Nerve, and Spin Magazine. The group signed to Sub Pop Records in the summer of 2007.

After the release of Furr in 2008, the group received a two-page feature in Rolling Stone. The album was ranked No. 13 on Rolling Stone's Best Albums of 2008[7] while the title track was ranked No. 4 on the magazine's Best Singles of 2008.[8] The albums Destroyer of the Void and American Goldwing followed, to similarly high acclaim.

On October 1, 2013, the band released VII, their first on Vagrant Records in the U.S.; the album also appeared on British indie label Lojinx in Europe on September 30.[3] In mid-December 2014, the band self-published their first live album, Live In Portland, followed by the Record Store Day exclusive, a live cover album of Neil Young's Harvest record titled Live Harvest. Their eighth studio album, All Across This Land,[9] was released on October 2, 2015. Their ninth studio release - marking a return to the band's own label LidKerCow - is titled Wild and Reckless and was released on November 3, 2017.

At the end of 2019, longtime members Erik Menteer (guitar/keyboard), Michael Van Pelt (bass), and Marty Marquis (guitar/keyboards/vocals/melodica) retired from the band.[10] Remaining founding members Earley and Koch returned to touring in 2022 with a new lineup. During their hiatus from live shows, the band signed to Yep Roc for the release of their tenth album Holy Smokes Future Jokes on September 25, 2020.

  1. ^ Solarski, M. (2007). Blitzen Trapper Step Into the Sub Pop Stable Archived 2007-07-16 at the Wayback Machine Pitchforkmedia.com. Retrieved August 8, 2007.
  2. ^ Vagrant Records. "VAGRANT". Vagrant Records. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  3. ^ a b "blitzen trapper - vii, the album, buy the gatefold softpack cd, digital download or heavyweight white vinyl lp". Lojinx. 30 September 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  4. ^ Yep Roc Records. "Yep Roc Records". Retrieved 20 Nov 2023.
  5. ^ DeBenedetti, Christian (21 August 2023). "Brian Koch". Soul Boat Sessons (Podcast). Acast. Event occurs at 31:27. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  6. ^ No byline (December 11, 2007). "The 100 Best Songs of 2007" Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2007-12-21
  7. ^ "News". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  8. ^ "News". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 11, 2008. Retrieved 2012-04-02.
  9. ^ "All Across This Land". BlitzenTrapper.net.
  10. ^ Cohen, Jason (23 Aug 2022). "Blitzen Trapper Are Dead. Long Live Blitzen Trapper!". Willamette Week. Retrieved 2 Oct 2023.