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Live review: Blitzen Trapper at ACL Fest
Sometimes the best thing you can say about a band is they’re perfect for their particular time and place. On Friday, as the first afternoon of this year’s Austin City Limits Festival was picking up momentum as bodies streaming through the gates, Portland’s Blitzen Trapper were the perfect band in the right place.
As the sun made one of its first real charges through the clouds on the day, there were guitarist/vocalist Eric Earley, Erik Menteer (guitar, keyboard), Brian Adrian Koch (drums, vocals), Michael Van Pelt (bass), Drew Laughery (keyboard), and Marty Marquis (keyboard, vocals) tossing off story packed lyrics and pitched melodies like were penny candy.
Chief among these was “Furr,” the title track from its 2008 album and one of the sunniest singles of the past year that drew some of the biggest smiles from the crowd and the principals on stage. Soon after, though, was the almost sinister and, yes, Dylan-esque “Black River Killer,” which added just enough intrigue and pathos without coming off as a full-on downer for the just-arrived masses.
Through their hour-long set the six piece displayed enough skill and craft to earn them a spot higher on the bill in coming years (and later in the day) than what they’re enjoying now. When that happens, it’ll be deserved but the absence of a day setting band like Blitzen Trapper perfectly serving its purpose will be missed.
Larry Kolvoord photo
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Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: ACL 2009: Friday, ACL Festival 2009
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By christian
October 3, 2009 8:49 AM | Link to this
Too bad this sound system was awful, who told them putting pretty baffles in front of the speaker would not sound like a wet blanket! This was a crime!!!