I thought people might like to suggest bands that fans of Blitzen Trapper might like. I would start off by saying the Moondoggies from Seattle.
Bands for Blitzen Trapper Fans
Great topic, Spike! Good call on The Moondoggies, they're fantastic.
Fleet Foxes--Just in case anyone hasn't given them a listen yet. A whole lot folkier, obviously, but I think there's a similar spirit to the music.
http://www.myspace.com/fleetfoxes
The Cave Singers--They kind of inhabit a middle ground between the Foxes and the Trappers. Really fantastic songs that draw from a lot of different kinds of Americana sounds. And cool dudes.
http://www.myspace.com/thecavesingers
The Bees--From the UK, they've got kind of a 60s folk-tinged psychedelic pop sound (some places in the US you'll have to look them up under 'Band of Bees', as a US band called 'The Bees'--who've now changed to 'The Silver Seas' existed when they tried to start releasing their music over here)
http://www.myspace.com/thebeesofficial
The Black Keys--Dirty blues-rock that should definitely appeal to the funky southern-rock that crops up here and there in Trapperland.
http://www.myspace.com/theblackkeys
The Whigs--Amazing garage rock trio from Georgia. They will rock your faces off. I dug these guys from first listen, but after I saw them last year...holy crap. They lay it all out there.
http://www.myspace.com/thewhigs
Mt St Helens Vietnam Band--If you dig the more frantic frezied off-kilter rock that BT throws down, you definitely need to give these guys a listen. Their album is electric.
http://www.myspace.com/mtsthelensvietnamband
Menomena--I guess we'll call it indie rock, as a catch-all. What it really is...is thick with sounds...songs jam packed with everything including the kitchen sink, in a way that probably *should* be overwhelming, but isn't. Their songs aren't reliant on the noise, either, and stand just as well stripped down to acoustic instruments, as you can see (hear?) here: http://bit.ly/luJcv
http://www.myspace.com/menomena
Timber Timbre--Dark, stark, backwoods folk. Fans of 'Black River Killer' would do well to check out the album "Medicinals"
http://www.myspace.com/timbertimbre
Dr Dog--Quite like the band Spike above mentioned, the Moondoogies. Very laid back 60s & 70s-reminiscent soulful poppy rock jams.
http://www.myspace.com/drdog
If you haven't heard Midlake you should go listen to Van Occupanther right now. Other groups we love include Beach House, Vetiver, the Jicks, and Alela Diane.
Megafaun, Blind Pilot
Drive-by Truckers.
Double A-awesome topic
A LOT of great artists listed already. Vetiver, Fleet Foxes, Dr. Dog, Bees, Black Keys, Cave Singers, Moondoggies are all artists that I've been following for quite some time now. Highly recommend them all!
Few more getting a lot of iPod playtime lately for me:
Akron/Family
The Felice Brothers
Grizzly Bear
Yeah, definitely enjoying this thread! Gotta say I'm especially happy to see the Bees made the cut. Those guys are pretty great and way under-appreciated in the US.
I might also throw out Deerhoof. Their albums are kind of uneven, but when they're on they are ON. They've got some of that same combo of really wonderful melodies and inventive arrangements that makes me love BT. Also, they've got a kind of hidden classic rock influence... see them live and it comes out more. There are some epic, hug-the-stranger-next-to-you riffs in there. I know a lot of the BT guys are huge Deerhoof fans. We've definitely rocked it in the van on the occasions that I've ridden along.
Oh, and DUNGEN! Definitely.
And maybe Os Mutantes? For me at least. OK, digressing now...
Speaking of Deerhoof, I would add Deer Tick to the list. I really like the new album.
Alright. Great topic. Good nuggets to pursue for sure.
I'm gonna' throw one down from the wayback machine: Game Theory. (The band, not the record.)
When I first got hip to BT, very evocative of GT they were to me. Super fine melodies and arrangements. Great rhythms and instrumental work. Similar vocal timbre and stylings. Beautiful. These guys came out of the "Paisley Underground" scene of 80's LA and eventually hooked up with Mitch Easter and the Athens, GA jangle-pop gang.
If you can find it (long out of print), the '87 double LP "Lolita Nation" is a masterpiece. (I swear I hear traces of Lolita on Wild Mountain Nation.) Also, "Tinkers to Evers to Chance" is a great compilation.
Good call on the Moondoggies. I wish they would tour outside the Pacific Northwest sometime!
Midlake just sent out a message to their mailing list saying their new record is being mixed now. Great news.
I think The Acorn might appeal to BT fans.
I'm pretty amped other people have heard of The Bees, let alone dig 'em!
A couple more that popped into my head:
Black Whales http://www.myspace.com/blackwhales
Guggenheim Grotto http://www.myspace.com/guggenheimgrotto
I saw The Acorn play with Calexico in Tarrytown, NY...went because the gf at the time was big on Calexico, but I came away with a new fondness for The Acorn...good call ALady :)
I have fallen in love with The Moondoggies!! Thanks for all the suggestions...still checking some of them out. Some I may need to give a few listens before I can make the final call. My music taste is all over the place but some of my all time faves are: Dave Matthews Band, Cowboy Junkies, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Blue Rodeo, Neil Young...I could go on and on. I know those bands might be pretty mainstream but to me it is good stuff.
maybe Apollo Sunshine ?
Alberta Cross, maybe.
Since everybody seems to be digging the Moondoggies, I thought I'd post this video. This is Kevin Murphy from the Moondoggies performing "Undertaker" acoustic at the Capitol Hill Block Party in Seattle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwprKxv1KvU&feature=player_profilepage
- enya...okay, just kidding. om down...
-George Harrison-All Things Must Pass album
-Alison Brown Quartet see: http://compassrecords.com/alison-brown 9.11. & 9.13 in Bend, OR
-Grant Lee Buffalo--Mighty Joe Moon album -- just listen, this is SO fuckin' good
-Grant Lee Phillips--Virginia Creeper album -- ditto
-William Elliot Whitmore
-American Analog Project
-Thee More Shallows
-Viva Voce (maybe doesn't count--another PDX band, 2 piece, groove albums, rockin' live)
-Air
-Mike Gordon-Green Sparrow album is my fave, also 2 with the god, Leo Kottke
-Stuart Davis
-Grateful Dead-studio: American Beauty & Workingman's Dead, live: vault releases early 70s and late 80s - early 90s
-Peter Gabriel-Big Blue Ball-good world beat & Up is good
-Axiom of Choice-Unfolding & Niya Yesh albums-middle eastern--check out the polyrhythmic drums & soaring female vocals on these uplifting wolrd tracks
-Buddy Guy & Junior Wells (early 70s live tracks especially), Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, R. Johnson, Fenton Robinson--great rockin'/chill blues
-James Brown-cold sweat/get on the good foot era shit
-Eddie Vedder-Into the Wild soundtrack w/ Kaki King
-Ravi Shankar--anything live, nearly all studio stuff, Chants of India is so nice--classical Indian of course
-Brian Eno's ambient stuff like track "An Ending (Ascent)" good place to start
-Marconi Union-ambient that builds to a more dub sound--Under wires and searchlights album
-Nick Drake--probably a 'duh'
-Yo La Tengo- same
-DJ Cheb I Sabbah
-(the) Faces--Rod Stewart era, w/ Ronnie Wood & Ronnie Lane shit
-Kardes Turkuler-world, turkish
-Townes Van Zandt
- Bonnie "Prince" Billy-The Letting Go
-BILL HICKS-greatest standup comic ever, Seinfeld, Leno, Shandling, & many others got rich off watered down versions of his material made palatable for the masses.
albums: Rant in E Minor, Arizona Bay, Dangerous, Relentless, Salvation, etc.
Also any live DVD album, phenomenal talent, insightful social and human commentary, a must hear.
Give "Hoots & Hellmouth" from Philly a listen.
I'm in a band called Magnetic Flowers. We're from South Carolina. We get lots of comparisons from others to Bright Eyes, Arcade Fire, Okkervil River, and Wilco. However, I like to thing we'd fit in with The Band, BT, and Dr. Dog. Listen and see! We've got a new record out; should be available soon on itunes, emusic, the usual...
www.myspace.com/magneticflowers
- Albie.
haha I was reading this and wondering when Okkervil River would appear in this list. I'd also suggest Phil Ochs...he's not around anymore, but he has some folky stuff, a lot of acoustic. lyrically and politically not for everyone I guess, but he's good. I'd also put Elliot Smith up there...some of BT's soft, acoustic songs are in the same mix as his stuff.
Other bands I'd compare to BT
- Angus & Julia Stone
- JF Robitaille (again quiet acoustic stuff)
- believe it or not, Foo Fighters do some quiet stuff too; they have a great acoustic album called In Your Honor (Disc 2)
- Normanoak
- (not that similar) but I totally recommend The Bats
- Good Old War
- Wreckless Eric
- Voxtrot
I can't wait to check out all the bands people are suggesting!
Sleepy Driver:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKpZEMZ7wvk
a couple of (slightly) older artists:
The Mother Hips (new album soon!)
Bill Fox
The Court & Spark (and the singer's new band Hiss Golden Messenger)
Mike Coykendall (his solo album and his band Old Joe Clarks...i think he also actually worked on Furr)
a few more interesting artists:
Golden Boots
Beachwood Sparks
Fruit Bats
The Slip
Giant Sand
Tyler Ramsey
Karl Blau
toby keith -- nah, I kid, i kid.
-Teitur
-Shuggie Otis
-Explosions in the Sky
-DeVotchKa
-Tortoise
-Sam Bush (new grass)
-Bela fleck (ditto)
-Mogwai
Wow, a second two page topic on the Trapper board. Sweet! Just saw DeVotchKa open for the Pogues last night. Truly divine. And women who play the tuba are HOT!
'The Avett Brothers' of course (look for them in concert, just released a Rick Ruben production, I and Love and You)
'Mumford & Sons' (UK band, just released their first full length LP, Sigh No More)
Check out "The Slackwater News" for a very similar blend of styles to BT.
Basia Bulat, funky indie folk songstress - http://www.myspace.com/basiabulat
The Joy Formidable, great 90sesque alternative - http://www.myspace.com/thejoyformidable
Band of Skulls, good ol' rock - http://www.myspace.com/bandofskulls
Loch Lomond! Did anyone see them open for BT on the summer tour? So good.
They are headed out on tour tomorrow in support of their new EP that comes out Tuesday titled Night Bats.
Dates below.
Go check them out www.myspace.com/lochlomondmusic
Nov 7 Sorrento Hotel Seattle, Wa
Nov 9 Pendleton Center for the Arts Pendleton, Or
Nov 10 The Woods Portland, Or
Nov 11 EMU Univ. of Oregon Eugene, Or
Nov 12 Hotel Utah San Francisco, Ca
Nov 13 Luigi's Fun Garden Sacramento, Ca
Nov 14 Historic Brookdale Lodge Santa Cruz, Ca
Nov 15 Muddy Waters Santa Barbara, Ca
Nov 16 The Loft UCSD La Jolla, Ca
Nov 17 Bootleg Theater Los Angeles, Ca
Big ups and respect for Midlake and Mumford and Sons.
I really think that Trapper fans would like the new release from Jay Farrar (Son Volt, Uncle Tupelo) and Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie, Postal Service) called "One Fast Move or I'm Gone". It was made for a Jack Kerouac documentary of the same name (the documentary is quite good as well and can be bought "bundled" with the album on iTunes). The lyrics are courtesy of Kerouac, and they are from his gut-wrenching but beautiful novel "Big Sur".
- Constance Demby ...hammered dulcimer, various instruments weave this incredible, powerful music
- Eddie Vedder & Kaki King collab on the "Into the Wild" soundtrack. Really simple, direct, real tunes. not a lot of layers, acoustic guitar, drums, bass, or sometimes, just acoustic and eddie, really emotive, heartfelt stuff. I was impressed (and it flows with the movie wonderfully)
The album is talking about things your average person's typical learning thresholds in their lives: personal loss, relationships, adversity, disappointment, necessity to set a new course in one's life, etc. Which is a great story to share those things with, based on a true story, sean penn really nailed this movie imo. Whats really interesting to me, at this point in my life, is how the album speaks also to the enormous waves of planetary change we are seeing daily beginning to roll in: declining energy and natural resources (peak oil, peak natural gas & species extinction), rapid environmental destruction, climate change & catastrophic weather, loss of arable land and fresh water, growing economic hardship (recent global econ. contraction) and political instability, pandemic disease (h1n1 ukraine outbreak), and growing worldwide conflict by a growing population facing a planet in resource decline. Vedder in one song, called Society, riffs "society/you're a crazy breed/hope you're not lonely/without me", also riffs on over consumption leading to people to buy bigger houses/storage units to hold all their un-used accumulating stuff, etc.
Speaking of stuff to check out...WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING ? Man. It is one of THE crucial questions to be asking with honesty and sincerity right now...to just be with the question over time and see what response comes up. Its really impacted me since I started looking around, educating myself on the world's condition recently. Wow, things are clearly changing rapidly, and not for the better, can you feel it? (It helps to look also at alternative news sites, foreign press for a real clear sense, tendency of the MSM is to be 90% hopelessly lost in hypnotizing TV's crap like paris hilton.) There's a new book I've started to read that I'm really excited about, and thanks to the unbelievable step by step prep. in the back of the book: its really been a major crossroads in my life, a huge fork in the road and a 180-degree change in my relationship with everything in my life. I highly recommend all young people in particular reading this incredible book, talk about real perspective based on real changes and individual empowerment as a result of changing circumstances! Wow. What a read! I am telling everybody about this book and have given several away, including to a kid at work. Its called the The Great Waves of Change: Navigating the Difficult Times Ahead. As the book says, in the Great Waves of change now converging in the world, everyone's life will be affected: how will you really know what to do? (in the face of the great changes I listed above). check out the nonprofit publisher of the book's website: GreatWavesOfChange.org for 4 free chapters of a new book by award-winning author Marshall Summers, who's also a good speaker and visionary writer. It is truthfully one of the most important sets of chapters (the free one's even) and also one of the best books on any subject you'll ever read.
bill fox is great! i highly recommend him, especially to those of you who especially like blitzen trapper's acoustic stuff
I recommend this song by Silver Jews because it's catchy as hell.
Matt Berry, king of tongue in cheek Neil Diamond tunes Neil Diamond would totally jam to: http://www.myspace.com/mattberrysmusic
Bruce Peninsula, music for driving through the mountains, all warped folk and appalachian gospel choirs and dirty blues growls: http://www.myspace.com/brucepeninsula
Some stuff we listen to in the van on tour (that you may not have guessed):
Pentagram, the Daktaris, Of Montreal, Augustus Pablo, Caetano Veloso, Dead Moon, Joanna Newsom, Earth, Althea & Donna, Roy Orbison, Queen, Merle Haggard, Edan, Panda Bear, Neutral Milk Hotel, Mastodon, EPMD, Sam Cooke, Dusty Springfield, Ethiopiques - and lots lots more.
One of my long time favorite websites for music is:
http://awesometapesfromafrica.blogspot.com/
Super-cool, download-able bootlegs from all over Africa.
Share the music people!
love,
m
i just thought of another band that's been around for a while .... and thankfully has returned too ..... the Florida band Home. they are pretty great.
You guys should definitely do a Mastodon cover on your next tour.
MOGA- from Providence, R.I.
Calexico
Neko Case
Caitlin Rose
Nash Street (Local Bluegrass)
Dr. Dog
Avett Brothers
Thanks for all the suggestions, my iTunes just keeps getting bigger!
marty is right, midlake is great. i love jenny lewis with passion too.
Neko Case is superb. ...and sultry sounding, i concur.
Great American Taxi - great bluegrass/newgrass
PT Walkley.
Bishop Allen.
Ben Lee-song for the divine mother.
for supreme quiet stuff...sometime...you may dig Yungchen Lhamo...strings, stark, bare.
more electronic, a pioneer or two: along the same lines, Brian Eno's melodic or ambient stuff or Steven Halpern. there's also Dan Gibson, the pure nature sounds stuff, or Rocky Mtn Retreat is also coo w/ some guitar and fiddle.
Check out 'Monsters of Folk' and there self titled debut album, awesome! Its a supergroup made from members of Bright Eyes, My Morning Jacket and Mr M Ward. M Wards solo stuff as well is worth checking out, awesome.
Oh and my band 'Old Yellow', check us out and become a fan:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Old-Yellow/60091032282?ref=ts
Why not hey.
Sorry, forgot to post a beautiful version of our song "Wither Away", done live in rehearsal last week. Check Old Yellow out!:
hey thanks gatorbutts - that's my band! if anyone else is interested: http://www.myspace.com/theslackwaternews
we're also very active on facebook. now how do we get on tour with Blitzen Trapper!?
I'll suggest ones on the psych rock side of BT, since many went the "roots" side:
-Dungen
-The Amazing (offshoot of Dungen - real laurel canyon style psych folk/rock - gorgeous)
-Besnard Lakes
-Apollo Sunshine (these guys are way under rated)
-Tame Impala (just hearing these guys - fun)
-Super Furry Animals (ok, tiny bit of stretch, but they are the most incredible band ever, and BT does do some of the lush, melodic, Beach Boys style harmonies that SFA perfected way back when)
-Also, did anyone mention Pavement/S Malkmus? definite parallels.
captain love sounds pretty similar.
Kesley, are you referring to the 2008 album by Mock Orange?
Glad somebody(s) already mentioned Okkervil River, Joanna Newsom, and Neutral Milk Hotel. Brilliant artists, one and all.
I'd also recommend Shearwater (sharing some members with Okkervil River), Dawes, The Tallest Man on Earth, Woods, Bonny "Prince" Billy, Vetiver, The War on Drugs, Andrew Bird, and Sun Kil Moon/Red House Painters/Mark Kozelek to anyone that digs Blitzen Trapper.
Goddamn, Destroyer of the Void is good. Well done, sirs.
Just came across this board but thought I'd chip in some bands that I find to be similar and enjoy. For the most part I just tried to find links to one of my favorite tracks for each band. Hope some of you like these! :)
Tapes N Tapes
http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#tapes%20n%20tapes%20drums/all/1
The Village Green
http://www.myspace.com/villagegreen
Delta Spirit
http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#delta%20spirit%20people%20c'mon/all/1
Wild Beasts
http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#wild%20beasts%20all%20the%20kings/all/1
Field Music
http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#field%20music%20each/all/1
Spoon
I imagine most everyone knows of these guys already ;)
Alot of great bands mentioned already. I've been listening to the Great Lake Swimmers out of Canada lately. They are great live and Tony Dekker is amazing.
Sorry, shameless self-promotion: Tony Dekker was gracious enough to take part in an exclusive video performance for my music site. So, check out his cover of "The Storms Are On The Ocean," if you feel so inclined:
http://tracermagazine.com/2009/04/20/the-cover-up-w-great-lake-swimmers/
You must check out Blake Mills' (former of Simon Dawes, now Dawes) new solo record "Break Mirrors". So good. "Hey Lover" is such a great single.
Agreed, Blake's a good'un. Have you heard Dawes' cover of 'Hey Lover'?? It's kind of amazing.
@ Fan of GreatWavesOfChange, thanks for putting Grant Lee Buffalo on the list. Mighty Joe Moon is definitely in the all-time top 5 albums of the nineties. Copperopolis and Fuzzy are 2 more from that same list! If you like BT, you will like Grant Lee Buffalo.
Check out Parlor Hawk http://www.myspace.com/parlorhawk
They are just so extremely good, and fairly new so they are going to be amazing! And they are going on tour this summer and I am so excited to see them.
Joshua James http://www.myspace.com/joshuajamesmusic
Desert Noise http://www.myspace.com/thedesertnoises
Avi Buffalo, Villagers, Fanfarlo, Local Natives, Broken Bells, Felice Brothers, A.A. Bondy, Johnny Flynn, Corey Chisel (& the Wandering Sons), Cass McCombs (listen to Dream Girl), Chad VanGaalen (listen to Willow Tree (and check out his crazy videos!))
I don't think this band has been mentioned yet "Plants and Animals". This Canadian band's "Parc Ave" album is stellar. I think this is the band I was reading about and they referred to them as the Canadian Blitzen Trapper....I was like "No way, no wonder why I like them"
here is my bands first ep 'all you creatures' if anyone is interested: http://www.mediafire.com/?fjrlfhijnub
and sorry to plug my own shit, i'll stop (for awhile). i'm guessing everyone loves MMJ and Dr Dog already, i also love Man Man.
The Sketties are a GREAT band just starting to make waves on the east coast: http://www.myspace.com/thesketties
If anyone is interested in more sketties, shoot me an email.
Didn't read through all the posts, did anyone mention The Radio Department? If not, The Radio Department.
I've think The Slip (or Surprise Me Mr. Davis) would be a great band to see with BT. I don't know why; the two bands sound nothing alike. I still think it would be a spectacular show though.
Someone posted Andrew Bird above. Great call. He's one of the best musicians out there right now, imo. Noble Beast took some time to grow on me, but I now love it as much as the others. I wish he do a real US tour soon.
Alot of great bands posted here. Did anyone mention Edward Sharp and The Magnetic Zero's?
this is an awesome thread, going to print it out and check out all the bands i haven't heard of yet... can't wait to see BT in minneapolis this week!
i've been OBSESSED with The Band lately
i've been saying for years that The Band are the only band i am willing to get in a fist fight for