Last thing we heard from Portland’s left-field kitchen-sink country rockers Blitzen Trapper, they gave Heart’s “Crazy On You” a Kevin Barnes-styled makeover. But now we get to talk up the band’s awesome Wild Mountain Nation, Blitzen’s third LP, due out this June. Because they’ve got guitars and are from Portland, we’d love to avoid mentioning the Shins; but there they are, seeping into “Futures & Folly”‘s melody. It’s okay though, the rest of the track comes from the best of ’70s styled AM lilt rock.
And really, that’s as far as the Shins comparisons go with Blitzen; though rooted in country, the band takes all sorts of detours, starting with the title track’s sunny day, good-time slide-guitar rollick and roll.
Wild Mountain Nation is out 6/12 on LidKerCow. The band’s hitting the road this summer with the boozy bloggers of the Hold Steady. Tour dates after the jump.
05/26 George, WA (Sasquatch! Festival)
05/28 Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom*
05/30 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s*
05/31 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey*
06/01 San Diego, CA @ Cane’s*
06/02 Phoenix, AZ @ Brick House*
06/04 Tucson, AZ @ Plush*
06/07 Houston, TX @ Walter’s on Washington*
06/08 Austin, TX @ Emo’s*
06/09 Denton, TX @ Hailey’s*
06/10 Norman, OK @ The Opolis*
06/11 Little Rock, AR @ Sticky Fingerz Chicken Shack*
06/12 Columbia, MO @ Blue Note*
06/28 Portland, OR @ Holocene – CD Release Party
* w/ The Hold Steady
You Might Also Like
 The 5 Best Videos Of The Week |  Blitzen Trapper – “Taking It Easy Too Long” Video |  Blitzen Trapper Play “Might Find It Cheap” For Letterman |  Blitzen Trapper – “American Goldwing” |
 |
 |
