Music Box: Blitzen Trapper at Music on Main

By Aaron Davis (for JHWeekly.com)Jackson Hole, Wyo - Sandwiched between a run of shows with Wilco and a slot at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, Blitzen Trapper returns to the Tetons this Thursday as a reprise to its near sold-out Pink Garter Theatre show last March. The band’s nonchalant stage presence gave the impression of everyday dudes, focused on the business at hand with few spoken words to match a musical evening that focused on material from its latest LP, American Goldwing.Blitzen Trapper’s appeal lies within a career that has intuitively experimented with folk forms, ultimately settling into a Neil Young-esque brand of alt-country and folk-rock, with added textures. The reach-back to ’70s country and Southern rock influences has become a hip thing to hear from Portland bands, arguably due in part to this quintet’s influence on the Northwest musical hub. And while American Goldwing is less innovative than Furr (2008) and other studio efforts, it’s not often that a phenomenal roots-rock album is this enjoyable from start to finish. It’s as accessible as Creedence Clearwater Revival’s Greatest Hits.“I don’t know, it’s all rock music,” said frontman/singer-songwriter Eric Earley. “All good songwriting is personal, but I wanted this record to be fun to play live. The live show is the most important thing right now, and we’ve focused on that more. It’s tighter. That’s the part that is enjoyable for me, and that’s how we make money.”With a foggy croak and varying degrees of storytelling tunes from quirky to straightforward, Earley is the clear orchestrator of the band. On stage, he stands front and center with keyboard, electric and acoustic guitars surrounding him, with a laidback energy that beckons a Red Bull.The heavy, double electric guitar interplay that disperses the hookiest of riff-rock is a big part of Earley’s “fun to play live” effort, and a live-versus-studio comparison notches the guitars into an even heavier zone in person. That’s not to say there’s not a gentler side to Earley’s delivery, as newer tunes like “Hometown” and “Taking it Easy Too Long” balance the wall of sound with acoustic sensibility.Rounding out the band are Erik Menteer (guitar/keyboard), Brian Adrian Koch (drums/vocals/harmonica), Michael Van Pelt (bass), and Marty Marquis (guitar/keyboards/vocals/melodica). Being its second show in Teton County in several months, it will be interesting to see if the band modifies its setlist at all to feature deeper cuts from its discography.Opening act The Shook Twins are comprised of identical twins, Laurie and Katelyn, backed by upright bassist Kyle Volkman. Angelic sibling harmonies are fused with a folk foundation, though experimentation with effects, looping and even beat boxing is not out-of-the-question for this trio that has been making more appearances on regional festival stages.Teton Valley Foundation’s Music on Main series is as much of a social community scene as an evening of quality free music. The intent, listener-type of concertgoer that’s looking to fully engage is advised to move close to the stage, where there’s often just as much breathing room as in the rest of the venue. For the casual experience, which is also very family-friendly, lay down a blanket wherever you please and make it a relaxing affair next to a Teton neighbor.Music on Main features Blitzen Trapper with The Shook Twins, 6 p.m., Thursday at Victor City Park. Free, all-ages. TetonValleyFoundation.org.