The Goodish – Music Blog -

Portland’s Blitzen Trapper played “Furr” last night on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. After watching this for the eighth time in a row I can safely say that this is a great song. I never really got into last year’s Wild Mountain Nation, but Blitzen Trapper is definitely growing on me.

And as a bonus this episode of Conan also featured Snoop Dogg.

Blitzen Trapper’s latest release Furr (the album) has been out since September on Sub Pop. The band is on tour now.

I Recently caught a show at my favorite local venue Downtown Brew. The band was FLOBOTS and the crowd was hype.  Non-stop energy throughout the night, everyone in the room had their hands in the air and 1 out of every 3 people were sporting an American flag handkerchief.  It has been a while since I have seen a band so politically charged.  It reminded me of a Rage Against the Machine show and the energy carried over as well. Glad to see that  the music is a message for these young kats with so much on their mind.  All positive.  All good.

You can grab Flobots current release “Fight with Tools” on iTunes or your local record store.

You can also find out how to  “Chang the World” by checking out their cause here: http://www.fightwithtools.org/

Joe Pug’s bio reads like a how-to manual for aspiring singer-songwriters.  He gave up college, moved across the country to Chicago, and took up a dual life, spending his days as a carpenter and his nights writing songs. Even his approach is familiar: honest folk music simply constructed from voice, acoustic guitar and the occasional harmonica.  It’s not hard to see why he’s been compared to the Bob Dylan and Josh Ritter, the earlier versions of both. But despite the borrowed formula that built Nation of Heat, Joe Pug stands out and demands attention.

The seven songs that make up Nation of Heat examine spirituality, heartache and freedom through hyper-literate, first-person observations. Pug’s voice is big and confident, and each note he sings comes with more life than his 23 years should allow. “Hymn #101,” the EP’s strongest track, supplies challenging lyrics (They say I come with less than I should rightfully posses/I say the more I buy the more I’m bought/And the more I’m bought the less I cost) that stick with you long after the music stops. Nation of Heat is full of lyrics like these that leave you obliged to listen again – to pick out some new piece of Pug’s puzzle that takes shape the longer you ponder.

The EP is strong throughout, but other standouts include “Speak Plainly Diana” and the closing title track. Pug plans a full-length release in 2009, but for now he needs your help getting the word out. Send him an e-mail and he’ll send you free CD samplers to enjoy and share with your friends.

Joe Pug – “Hymn #101″

For more Joe Pug check out LaundroMatinee’s superb new video session including two unreleased songs, and Pug on NPR’s Mountain Stage, which includes a cover of Willie Dixon’s “I Want to be Loved.”

The new Blood Bank 12″/cdep will feature four songs including the road-tested title track and “Babys.” The official US release date is Jan. 20 (Jan. 19 in the UK). Or, you can pick up the 12″ at a show if you are lucky enough to catch one of their upcoming tour dates, which includes a stop at The Late Show with David Letterman on Dec. 11.

Read all about it at Jagjaguwar.

Happy election day. If you are planning to participate in your democracy today, Wilco will send you a free song. Head to their site, pledge to vote, and you will receive your very own mp3 of Wilco featuring Fleet Foxes on a live rendition of Bob Dylan’s “I Shall be Released.”