Things I learned at the Blitzen Trapper show (an incomplete list):

1.) There are some really good songs on Destroyer of the Void.  I've been struggling to get into the new record (probably because of how much I love the previous two), but Blitzen Trapper's live treatment of the new material sold me on much of it.  "Love and Hate" is an explosion of glam rock histrionics live, pulsing off the stage in a fiery ball of T-Rex-esque power chords and drama.  I now enjoy listening to it on the record; I get it now.  "Sadie," buried at the end of the record (and the end of the set, coincidentally) comes across as a slow-burning Elton John song, essentially, live.  Pair that with one of the most time worn themes in popular music (I can't change; you can't change me) and it's a winner.  It's another cut that I was lukewarm on before the gig, but now have on repeat.  The guitar riff on "Laughing Lover" is one for the ages.The stuff that I liked about Destroyer of the Void before the show, I like more after the show.  The title track is awesome; live that second bit (starting right around the 3:30 mark on the record) is mind-numbingly good.  "The Man Who Would Speak True"  is (to a certain degree) Earley plagiarizing Earley, but easy to love.  When he gives it the live treatment, it packs a big emotional punch.  All this to say that I'm glad we didn't review this record when it came out.  I'm not making the reductive argument that Blitzen Trapper is better live (as a drunken reveler did on the way out of the Beachland), but rather that the live material and the recorded material are essential parts of a singular whole.  The ear needs some time to dig into this material; you need to see it live; Iyou need to approach it with a fresh mental palette, which leads us nicely to the second thing I learned at the Blitzen Trapper show.

2.) It's (mostly) good that the set is mostly new stuff.  I love the old stuff.  There were six songs from Furr in the set proper and one song from EP3 ("Silver Moon," although I (greedily) would have preferred "Big Black Bird." Such is life).  The encore was all old material ("Not Your Lover." with Earley singing alone at first, accompanied only by his keyboard, then joined by Cousin Marty (super talented multi-instrumentalist Marty Marquis, who will always be Cousin Marty in my mind, give his gingerness) and Brian Adrian Koch for the soaring three part harmony, a blistering version of "Gold for Bread," and (after a brief conference between Earley and Marquis) a triumphant rendition of "Wild Mountain Nation," which Kevin captured on video using his "internet smart telephone.")  At the show, I'll admit to being a touch bummed that the band didn't play more pre-Destroyer songs (to my eye, they played every track save two from the new record, which is a ton, that accounted for more than half the set).  After I chewed on it for a bit, I'm glad they went heavy on the new material.  Those are the songs that I needed to hear to keep loving the band.  Arguably, it would have been easier for the band to bang through 90% of Wild Mountain Nation and Furr; Cleveland was ready to hear those songs.  From the dude in the back yelling "Sci-Fi Kid" at every chance to the entire crowd's roar of approval at the opening strains of "Black River Killer," it was clear that Blitzen Trapper could have trotted out only the old chestnuts and left everybody smiling.   They took the harder path and did the work of selling the new songs.  Good call.

3.) Cleveland loves Blitzen Trapper. The show was on a Thursday; Blitzen Trapper took the stage at 11:00.  The Beachland was packed.  People were invested in the tunes, singing along, being a good crowd in general.  For an act that hasn't been in town for something like three years, Blitzen Trapper was welcomed like conquering heroes.  This makes me happy.

4.) (We've said this one before.) If Blitzen Trapper are within 100 miles of your house, go see them.  They've got a ton more dates.  You're a sucker if you don't make it to one.

5.) Cloud Nothings are as talented as advertised.  Wow.  Dudes blew the roof off.  It was loud and fast and smart and awesome.  There was a solid turnout, even though Cloud Nothings hit the stage two hours before Blitzen Trapper.  Cleveland crowds (in my general experience) don't dance too much as a rule, but Cloud Nothings invite the pogo.  My left toe was certainly tapping.  "Hey Cool Kid" is, perhaps, the best song that Rivers Cuomo never wrote.  Much like fellow Clevelanders The Modern Electric, I'm glad that Cloud Nothings are around.  I'll not miss them in town again.

We've got videos, songs from the new record and a slew of photos.  Enjoy.  And, in related news, we get the setlist.  Word.

Blitzen Trapper – Dragon's Song

Blitzen Trapper – Heaven And Earth