Adam Gnade recently reviewed the new Blitzen Trapper record for Kitty Magik, a wonderful little print/online zine based out of New Jersey. I really dig Adam’s writing style, and he seems to reallly dig the album.

“My favorite song is the first one, which morphs from a rustic harmonica and acoustic guitar folk-out - a full-on Texarkana porch jamboree - to a sudden, shambled, bouncy, indie rock song (which is essentially the second track, but they’re mixed so well it sounds like the best song-change I’ve heard in forever.) Wait, I take that back. My new favorite song is the sixth track where they sound like the fucking Grateful Dead - in a good way.” - Adam Gnade, Kitty Magik

Click here for the full review.

Our beloved ambassadors of PLUR* the Snuggle-Ups are safely back in the PDX. All the shows went great and they’re already itchin’ to get back out there again. Extra props to the people of Bend and Corvallis for throwing down mad love, and to Captain Ahab and crew for ruling in Los Angeles (I’m told). They got some love from the press too - check out these rad write ups in the OSU Daily Baromoter, The Source, and SF Station. There was an interview in the Bend Bulletin too, but I can’t seem to find it online. Trust me, it RULED!

* P.L.U.R. = PEACE LOVE UNITY RESPECT. Pass it on!

Our boys Blitzen Trapper have just been reviewed over at the wonderful Neumu. Jenny Tatone waxes poetic on passive Oregonian drivers and hidden Portland musical gems, positing the Trapper as a prime example of such. No, really:

“Blitzen Trapper have more than talent alone. They have this quirky knack for merging traditionally non-mergeable sounds and making it work. And well! They cross country twang with spacey electronics, classic indie rock vocals (think Stephen Malkmus meets Isaac Brock) with R&B grooves. With a punk-rock sort of defiance to rules, Blitzen Trapper have stumbled upon an inventive way to make indie rock interesting again.” - Jenny Tatone, Neumu.net

We couldn’t agree more. Click here for the full review.

I am so very happy to announce the addition of one of my favorite bands to the MWPR promo massive: The Snuggle-Ups. If you’ve not had the pleasure of hearing the charming and talented Brett and Liam, they make positive electro jams that are prefect for dancing and hugging and generally getting yr PLUR on. They are also quite possibly the best live experience in music right now, which is probably why Portland loves them so deeply fierce.

Next month the dudes of Snuggle are taking their show out on the road, hitting up some lucky people in Bend, Corvallis, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, with additional dates to be confirmed, late, in true DIY style. Check here for tour details, and GO SEE THEM. I swear to God and Moses that you will leave happier and full of life. And I don’t promise that often.

UPDATE: I just put up some great pictures of the magical Snuggle-Ups in action. Scroll to the bottom of this page and prepare to see radness.

Those of you in Portland should stop by Holocene tonight for a very rad show. Our beloved Blitzen Trapper is headlining, before them it’s DeSoto Records recording artists Doris Henson, all the way from Kansas City. The opener is Crinkum Crankum featuring not one but two revered artist types: Raymond Pettibon (the guy who did all the rad Black Flag art and Goo cover art) and Hans Weigand. More info on them here, and here’s a nice little writeup from the Oregonian.

And here’s the flyer:

See you there! Say hi to the DJ!