Our last handful of Studio Milwaukee Sessions are a pretty spot-on representation of why this unique series is as popular as it is and why it comes in handy for our listeners.
Some of you might have discovered a new favorite when the fast-rising Gigi Perez stopped by. Others appreciated the chance to get up close with two of indie music’s buzzier bands: Yard Act and Hotline TNT. And just about everyone had a big ol’ smile on their face when the reliably awesome Matthew Caws of Nada Surf visited.
That last descriptor fits Blitzen Trapper like a much-needed glove on the blustery afternoon that brought them to Studio Milwaukee ahead of a nighttime show at Vivarium.
Since 2000, the group has continually treated music lovers to hearty and harmonious rock that hops from folk to alt-country while often ignoring any imaginary line that might exist between the two. What Blitzen Trapper proved with their latest release, 100's of 1000's, Millions of Billions, is how far the band has traveled from their starting point two-plus decades ago.
There’s still plenty in there about the American experience — a much-loved subject in folk and country circles — yet Blitzen Trapper dives even deeper on the new album to a place that’s both more basic and more complex: being human.
During a mid-session chat with Dori Zori, frontman Eric Earley shared how the last few years brought him to that waypoint. “I think with this record I was sort of chronicling my shift,” he said. “There’s shifts in my own mind as I’m getting older, and I’m starting to leave ideologies behind and sort of move into a freer space as far as the way I see the world and see my relationships.”
Based on the crowd that showed up for the session, plenty of people have been happy to join Earley and his bandmates on that journey. Our performance space quickly hit capacity to take in a few selections from 100's of 1000's, Millions of Billions, plus a much-need uplifting track from previous album Holy Smokes Future Jokes. It was a wonderful 20 minutes that showed Blitzen Trapper know exactly who they are — and aren’t afraid to be something more.
Use the player at the top of the page to hear the entire Studio Milwaukee Session, minus the members-only performance the band did off-air. If you want the full experience next time, jump over to our membership page and see how you can get a guaranteed invitation to all of our sessions.
Studio MKE: Blitzen Trapper set list
- “So Divine”
- “Planetarium”
- “Upon the Chain”
- “Requiem” (non-broadcast performance)
