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Wow, what a show. This show was sold out a while back and I had never got tickets because I didn’t think I would be able to go, but then it turned out I could go, and Schuba’s released some more tickets so I snatched those bitches up, and thank you Schuba’s for selling more tickets. This show ruled. The week before I kind of familiarized myself a little more with Blitzen and Fleet Foxes, and they both were completely awesome live. Fleet Foxes went on first, and were a pretty big group (5-6) and played a very heartfelt, intimate yet rocking kind of a set that was just awesome. Lots of acapella harmonies, with a very old school, old timey feel to them, but also very modern. Pretty much everything Fleet Foxes played was awesome, they won me over big time. I think they are all buddies with the Blitzen Trapper guys because each was up on stage with the other at various time jamming/shaking maraccas or whatnot.
After they finished, then Blitzen Trapper came out. I liked Wild Mountain Nation but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the live show, but they quickly and promptly melted and rocked my face clean off. They have a lot of really rocking songs that sound incredible live when they can really flesh them out fully. There were a lot of instruments changes, one guys was wielding a tiny $40 Casio keyboard for a while, lots of tambourines and maraccas as well. And the drummer was a super nice guy, he sold me my t-shirt and CD before the show, of course he was also totally rocking out during the show. They also did some traditional, more mellow type songs during the set as well, showing their versatility. They really put on a truly awesome show, and I really can’t wait to see these guys again. I really was thinking to myself this is what rock bands should be like, they just rock, have great chemistry, actually seem to be enjoying themselves (not like Interpol or something). The lead singer started talking about sci-fi books and stuff, and the t-shirt I got is this cool spaceship fighting an alien thing, I’m guessing that would be the connection that gives us ‘Sci-Fi Kid’ (posted below). Actually the stage show kind of reminded me a bit of Wilco live, but just on a much smaller/more intimate scale, which is cool. I wouldn’t be surprised if these guys blow up to those levels though, because they have got the goods. If you have a chance to see this tour, do not hesitate my friends, buy a fucking ticket and go, you will not be disappointed. And if you go, DO NOT show up late and miss Fleet Foxes. You have been warned.
Remaining tour dates are thusly:
4/08 Madison, WI High Noon Saloon
4/09 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
4/10 Grinnell, IA Grinnell College
4/11 Omaha, NE The Slowdown
4/12 Lawrence, KS Jackpot
4/14 Denver, CO Hi-Dive
4/15 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge
4/17 Vancouver, BC Media Club
4/18 Seattle, WA Neumo’s
4/19 Portland, OR Holocene
Blitzen Trapper - Sci-Fi Kid - From Wild Mountain Nation
Fleet Foxes - English House - From Sun Giant EP
6:29 pm on April 7th, 2008
Another blog, the tangled cord has posted a review and pictures from this show as well, check it out.
9:05 pm on April 7th, 2008
Haha yay! I love your review. Especially “they quickly and promptly melted and rocked my face clean off,” because it’s so true. That’s my boyfriend’s head in the front, lol.
3:11 pm on April 16th, 2008
[...] Well I did love these guys when I checked them out a few weeks back at Schuba’s, and they have a full length self-titled album coming out June 3rd on Sub Pop records, and this new song is making the rounds on the blogosphere, and it is pretty damn solid. It certainly falls right in line with the very serene, chilled out mountain man campfire song kind of vibe from the EP, and it sounds like the album will deliver as well. This is one to mark down to check out when it comes out. Also, they have just announced that they will be touring Europe with fellow mega-chill out band Beach House, in addition to a few more dates around the US, including the Pitchfork music fest here in Chicago. Dig it. [...]
2:54 pm on June 3rd, 2008
[...] “Sun Giant” EP and based off of their tour with Blitzen Trapper earlier this year. I checked them out when they were here at Schuba’s earlier in the year and I thought they were quite good, and I was also a big fan of the EP as well. The album finally [...]
11:02 am on July 7th, 2008
[...] Foxes of course I saw back at Schuba’s opening for Blitzen Trapper in April and I was pretty impressed with them. They were really solid, and have since released a new album [...]