The Days of Lore

Obits are a lively bunch

Monday, March 9th, 2009 | musiX | No Comments

I have a soft spot for old folks who play loud rock. By the time you’ve played in a band for 15, 20 years you figure out how to control the noise.

Rick Froberg isn’t old by any means, but in rock years he’s getting up there. Froberg’s been at it for years fronting a long line of noise-making San Diego bands including Pitchfork, Drive Like Jehu and Hot Snakes. He now lives in Brooklyn and fronts Obits, a band that purposely set out to not reinvent the wheel. It’s all about following primal urges here.

As Froberg puts it: “We just go ahead and play the stuff we like, and we don’t worry about originality per se, because that takes care of itself.”

And it must feel pretty damn good—early rock ‘n’ roll dry humps punk, which makes sweet, sweet love to the blues and soul. It sounds like Obits … and a little like CCR. Now if that’s not an endorsement …

Obits formed more or less in 2005 just as Hot Snakes was calling it a day and played its first show about a year ago. A bootleg of said show has been kicking around on the Interwebs ever since. Obits will finally release their debut I Blame You on March 24 on Sub Pop. It’s rock music that will get those endorphins swishing and swirling. If you’re older, you’ll feel as invincible as a teenager. If you’re young (or old), this is the kind of band you want to be in.

“Pine On” - Obits

Tags: Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes, I Blame You, Obits, Pitchfork, Rick Froberg, Sub Pop

Barroom blitz

Friday, October 31st, 2008 | musiX, pdX | No Comments

Blitzen Trapper might have the best logo I’ve seen in years. However, if you were to judge a band by its album cover you might think the Portland, Ore., sextet was a throwback to when rockers dressed like women and women liked that sort of thing. But there’s nary a gimmick here. Blitzen Trapper hearkens back to American roots music of the late-’60s early-’70s in the vein of Neil Young and The Band—it’s the kind of music I’ve been listening to for years without actually having listened to Blitzen Trapper. How could this happen?!

The band has been kicking around since 2003, but it wasn’t until the release of 2007’s Wild Mountain Nation that these guys began their journey to becoming household names in the hovels of music dweebs across the country. Blitzen Trapper has appeared in Rolling Stone, received the elusive “Pitchfork bump” and has been blogged about by everyone and their mothers (hi mom!).

With the recent release of Furr (their first for Sub Pop), the members of Blitzen Trapper are doing it all over again. Rave reviews, big shows (they’ve already played with Fleet Foxes and Stephen Malkmus and have gigs lined up with Iron & Wine and a Nov. 17 performance on Late Night with Conan O’Brien). Why not? Smart lyrics, pop hooks, sweet harmonies. Just the right amount of twang and rawk. Fits well in a smoky bar or a big stage. You’d be silly not to like it. Does this mean it’s acceptable for critics to officially bring back the term “alt-country”? Didn’t think so.

“Gold For Bread” - Blitzen Trapper

Tags: Blitzen Trapper, Fleet Foxes, Furr, Iron & Wine, Neil Young, Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Stephen Malkmus, Sub Pop, The Band, Wild Mountain nation