Blitzen Trapper: Their Rock and Roll Was Made for You, Plus A Mike + Ruthy Band Premiere

If you haven’t heard Blitzen Trapper before, it’s as good a time as any to drop what you’re doing and learn about one of the best roots rock bands in the country right now.

Blitzen Trapper is a Portland, Oregon-based band signed to Vagrant Records. Formed in 2000, the band currently operates as a quintet, with Eric Earley (guitar/harmonica/vocals/keyboard), Erik Menteer (guitar/keyboard), Brian Adrian Koch (drums/vocals/harmonica), Michael Van Pelt (bass), and Marty Marquis (guitar/keyboards/vocals/melodica).

Over the course of their last seven albums, the band has taken forays into folk, country, alternative, psychedelia, and pop, never losing sight of their rock roots. All of these styles and experiences come together in their eighth album, All Across this Land, due Oct. 2 on Vagrant Records. The album sounds like a long-forgotten gem from ‘70s AM radio, taking it’s cues from artists like the Eagles, Leon Russell, and Bob Dylan while still managing to sound current. It’s the perfect soundtrack to a drive down the road with the windows down.

The first three videos I’ve chosen for my column this week feature three live performances from All Across This Land captured live in the Skype Live Studio of 101.9 KINK FM in Portland. The fourth video is the band recorded live back in March 15, 2012 at Stage On Sixth in Austin, Texas.

And, wrapping it up this week, our series of video premieres from the fabulous Mike + Ruthy Band. This time it’s “The Farmer,” from their 2015 release Bright As You Can.