We left the light on for Blitzen Trapper in July when they came to us via Chicago. They played the Windy City and finally got loaded out of the venue and onto the road half past the bewitching hour to make the three-hour drive to the Quad-Cities, where they were to encounter another floor – my floor – to sleep on, whenever they showed up. We weren’t going to wait up. The baby would be a good six hours into her slumber, we would also be well past the point of the sandman’s cometh so the door stayed unlocked and the porch light yellow as they traveled and we slept. They were quiet as angels when they finally arrived around 3:30 a.m., the van sidled up along the curb and the sleeping bags rolled out onto the living room floor. They commented the next morning that they’ve gotten good at slipping into houses during the early morning hours for a few precious moments of rest. The wake-up call came rudely early, but having to get to Minneapolis that night, there was no other way. We hit a convenience store down the street for copious amounts of coffee and muffins and Danishes, meant to tide the hunger pangs and cover suppress the sleep-ravaged bodies of these Portland boys. Secretly, we were pleased as punch to have them by in a semi-ragged state if only because the wild mountain nation that they’ve created in their rustic folk-ish songs is best served with breakfast and a splash of creek water on a face that’s still in need of a shave. The shoes are in need of a shine, the jeans in need of a change or a mend, the deodorant’s yet to be rolled on, the hair’s a messy tangle, the lucidity is still hours off and you’ve never felt more alive. Not more awake, but alive cause if there’s anything that early morning wake-up calls remind you, it’s that you’re awake, you’re most definitely awake. Feel free to soak in this raw tumble. – Sean Moeller

Second song
Country Caravan (Blitzen Trapper) [1.83MB] [3415 downloads]


– original version appears on Wild Mountain Nation
Country Caravan is another song that’s usually got more guitars, but here the piano again proved irresistible. The lyrics refer to place names in Oregon, rivers and forests of extraordinary beauty and good energy. The “country caravan” itself is a great American tradition that goes back to the days of Cabeza de Vaca (not to be confused with the Dodge Caravan or the Chrysler Town & Country). This song makes you happy when you sing it.

Third song
Miss Spiritual Tramp (Blitzen Trapper) [2.07MB] [3335 downloads]


– original version appears on Wild Mountain Nation
Miss Spiritual Tramp is a riddle, and the oldest song we played for Daytrotter, recorded originally way back in 2005. We used to play it very heavy metal but lately have been enjoying the acoustic application, harmonica and wordplay high in the mix. Perhaps one of the only songs in our catalog with a literary reference in the title, though nobody remembers where the reference points exactly.

Fourth song
Badger's Black Brigade (Blitzen Trapper) [2.11MB] [3294 downloads]


– original version appears on Wild Mountain Nation
Badger’s Black Brigade is a fun sort of “serial country music” song in which band members and audience typically howl during the break before the harmonica kicks in. In this session the song sounds like the ol’ Trapper ate some funny fungi or something, but that’s really just special effects to accentuate the Badger’s “intergalactic” nature. There’s an old military microphone that’s used to amplify the harp and to sing though, it generates little bits and pieces of feedback as Eric rocks to and fro in front of his amp.