Last year, the Portland, OR-based Blitzen Trapper accomplished a unique feat for a rock band who has been releasing albums and touring for the better part of two decades: a staged musical titled Wild & Reckless that ran for 28 performances at Portland Center Stage.
The album Wild & Reckless was born from the stage production that the band spent the better part of a year producing and was released as a companion to their 2008 breakthrough album Furr to much critical acclaim in early December. The half musical, half rock-opera dealt with heroin abuse, desperation, true love and western power structures. The story evoked a bygone era of Portland with this sci-fi love story, featuring a rock-and-roll score that paired unreleased songs with favourites from the band’s catalogue.
Following the success of the production, the band took 7 original songs from the production and developed the theme further into the 12 songs that comprise the new album Wild & Reckless.
Frontman Eric Earley also sees the record as a companion and extension of their 2008 album Furr.
Blitzen Trapper is Eric Earley (songwriter/singer), Erik Menteer (guitar, keyboard), Brian Adrian Koch (drums, vocals), Michael Van Pelt (bass) and Marty Marquis (keyboard, vocals). Wild & Reckless was produced by Eric Earley and Michael Van Pelt and was recorded by Gregg Williams at The Trench, in Portland, Oregon. It was mixed by James Brown (Foo Fighters, Kings Of Leon, Blitzen Trapper’s All Across This Land) at The Union.
Wild and Reckless is out now in Europe on British indie label Lojinx. Out on heavyweight vinyl LP, CD & digital. The band will be playing a selection of venues across Europe to promote the release during April 2018. Check out Dance With Me below!
We managed to catch up with Eric Earley as he talked about their latest video and more!
How was the initial response been for the music video for Dance With Me?
People find it silly I suppose, which is what it is. It was fun to make and didn’t cost too much. Started out as an homage to Beat It but ended up as a weird dance fight dance off type deal.
How was it working with the likes of James Brown on the track?
He’s always been great to work with, very good at his job. He hears things in a certain way that I like and adds to the recordings in a meaningful magical way.
So Wild and Reckless is quite a unique album, would you say the newer songs are different to the older ones?
If you mean how do they differ from previous albums I think there’s a number of similarities, but also there’s a certain new kind of approach to the stories where they’re all interlinked in a way. It’s one large story where each song contributes to the whole.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
I’d like to write either some kid’s songs or a few commercial jingles with King Gizzard the Lizard Wizard.
How pumped are you for your upcoming European Tour?
Quite pumped I’d say.
Is there any you are looking forward to playing most?
Looking forward to Italy since it will be our first time there. Also Scandinavia is always a hoot.
What’s the alternative scene like in Portland at the moment?
Not sure what you mean by alternative scene. There’s a pretty eclectic music scene everything from hip-hop to country to R&B. It isn’t quite the close knit scene it once was as the city has gotten extremely expensive to live in.
What was the first gig you all ever attended?
My first concert was Doc Watson. I think Brian’s was Twisted Sister. Not sure about the other guys.
European Tour Dates
04/04/18: De Zwerver – Leffinge (B)
05/04/18: Fluor – Amersfoort (NL)
06/04/18: Roots of Heaven – Patronaat – Haarlem (NL)
07/04/18: Heartland Festival – Hengelo (NL)
08/04/18: Down of the River – Venlo (NL)
09/04/18: The Fleece – Bristol (UK)
10/04/18: King Tuts – Glasgow (UK)
11/04/18: The Brudenell Social Club – Leeds, (UK)
12/04/18: Hoxton Bar & Kitchen (UK)
14/04/18: Little Waves – C-Mine – Genk (B)
15/04/18: De Oosterpoort – Groningen (NL)
16/04/18: Hafenklang – Hamburg (DE)
17/04/18: Kulturkvarteret – Kristianstad (SE)
18/04/18: John Dee – Oslo (NO)
20/04/18: Bryggarsalen – Stockholm (SE)
21/04/18: Pustervik – Gothenburg (SE)
22/04/18: Loppen – Copenhagen (DK)
23/04/18: Lido – Berlin (DE)
24/04/18: Conne Island – Leipzig (DE)
25/04/18: Club Manufaktur – Schorndorf (DE)
27/04/18: Mattatoio – Carpi (IT)
29/04/18: La Nau – Barcelona (ES)
30/04/18: Loco Club – Valencia (ES)
01/05/18: El Sol – Madrid (ES)