Blind Pilot
Artist: Blind Pilot
Hails From: Portland, OR
Musical Style: Folk, Indie, Pop
For Fans of: The Shins, Iron and Wine, Fleet Foxes
Why you should check them out:
In the musical melting pot of Portland OR, Blind Pilot have effortlessly and easily blended a mixture of gracious pop and folksy rock to almost overpowering potency. The music is as carefree as it is lovingly crafted, with an essence of heart and a trace of humility. The acoustic styling of Blind Pilot hearken to a time of heartily clad troubadours traveling from town to town, regaling all fortunate enough to be within earshot of their magic.
Background Check:
The partnership of singer-guitarist Israel Nebeker and drummer Ryan Dobrowski, a pairing that traces back to their time in higher learning halls and campus concerts, is a carefully constructed and flawlessly pulled off formation of friendship. As the leading forces behind Portland’s next best folk exploratory committee, Blind Pilot, the two charm and chagrin through good times and bad in the best northwestern traditions. Formed in 2005, the duo first gained notoriety with their self styled bicycle tours. Pedaling from Canada to San Francisco, the two cruised Highway One and stopped at each off the map rest stop to play fro townsfolk and truckers alike. With hand made instrument cases trailing their two wheels, the duo trekked the coast not once, but twice, taking a few musically minded friends along the way.
In 2008, Blind Pilot released a debut record of expansive beauty and formidable strength, Three Rounds and a Sound. The album quickly garnered attention for it’s lush and layered mastery, at once sensuous and sublime. The songs filled until bursting with harmonious hooks and acoustic catharsis, fronted by Nebeker’s pitch perfect vocals and mysteriously poetic lyrics. The record was so huge, in fact, that Blind Pilot had to recruit a full four members to recreate the sound on stage. Now a six member venture, Blind Pilot travels by van, if only to ensure the rest of the country (and the world for that matter) can share in their uniquely touching and compelling folk rock.
Where you can find them in cyberspace:
On Tour: