Blue Giant (band)
Encyclopedia
Blue Giant is an American rock
band from Portland, Oregon
. An eclectic mix of classic country
, indie rock
, and psychedelic
styles, Blue Giant have been called a Portland supergroup
. The band was originally composed of the songwriters and musicians from Viva Voce
, Kevin Robinson and Anita Robinson, Chris Funk
of The Decemberists
, Evan Railton of Swords
, and Seth Lorinczi of The Golden Bears, Circus Lupus
& The Quails. Musically, Blue Giant could be characterized as rural-psych rock, with one music critic calling them a perfect country-rock band.
and Jimmy Eat World
, Kevin and Anita Robinson of Viva Voce
took a brief hiatus. Tiring of the confines of a two-piece band, they began writing songs they considered for another band. Evan Railton of Swords
was asked to play drums. Seth Lorinczi of The Golden Bears & Circus Lupus
was invited to play bass. Last to join on pedal steel was Chris Funk
of The Decemberists
, who, upon hearing the bands early demos, demanded to join the band. Infused with their own respective indie-rock, punk
and DIY backgrounds, the Blue Giant songs reflect a greater part of the Robinson's Southern heritage.
The band name is a reference to a blue giant
star, a transitory phase in the life cycle of a star, and one of the brightest types of stars in the universe.
Blue Giant played their first show in June 2008 headlining the Wonder Ballroom
in Portland. The band gave each audience member a free download of their first recording.
of Sleater Kinney. Tucker's distinct voice is featured on a duet with Kevin Robinson on Blue Giant's debut EP.
of Sleater Kinney, Sam Coomes
of Quasi
, Corrina Repp
and Rachel Blumberg
of Norfolk & Western, and M. Ward
. The tour culminated in a collaboration with the Portland Cello Project, which saw Blue Giant accompanied by nine cellists.
in an eMusic
Selects Q&A, on November 10, 2008. The 6 track CD EP was subsequently released by the imprint label Amore!Phonics. The 12" vinyl version of the album contains two additional tracks ("Wasn't Born To Follow" by The Byrds
, and "Got To Be Free" by The Kinks
) and was released through Jealous Butcher Records, the same label that printed the vinyl edition of Viva Voce's Rose City
.
, with plans to release a debut LP album on July 13, 2010. The announcement also stated that Funk and Lorinczi had relinquished their duties on pedal steel and bass, being replaced by Jesse Bates and Dave Depper, respectively.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band from Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. An eclectic mix of classic country
Classic country
Classic country is a music radio format that specializes in playing mainstream country hits from past decades.This genre generally follows one of two formats: those specializing in hits from the 1920s through the early 1970s, and focus primarily on innovators and artists from country music's Golden...
, indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
, and psychedelic
Psychedelic
The term psychedelic is derived from the Greek words ψυχή and δηλοῦν , translating to "soul-manifesting". A psychedelic experience is characterized by the striking perception of aspects of one's mind previously unknown, or by the creative exuberance of the mind liberated from its ostensibly...
styles, Blue Giant have been called a Portland supergroup
Supergroup (music)
In the late 1960s, the term supergroup was coined to describe "a rock music group whose performers are already famous from having performed individually or in other groups"....
. The band was originally composed of the songwriters and musicians from Viva Voce
Viva Voce (band)
Viva Voce is an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed by Kevin Robinson and Anita Robinson. Their music draws on several influences including psychedelic rock, classic rock, folk and R&B.-History:...
, Kevin Robinson and Anita Robinson, Chris Funk
Chris Funk
Christopher Lyman Funk is a multi-instrumentalist and member of the Portland, Oregon, indie rock band The Decemberists. He is originally from Valparaiso, Indiana where he worked at Front Porch Music which inspired his love of American Folk Music. He plays guitar, pedal steel, piano, violin,...
of The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
, Evan Railton of Swords
Swords (band)
Swords was an American indie rock band that formed in 1999 in Portland, Oregon. The band took their name from the idea of being "hired assassins of rock". The name of the band was shortened to Swords from The Swords Project in 2003...
, and Seth Lorinczi of The Golden Bears, Circus Lupus
Circus Lupus
Circus Lupus was a post-hardcore band based in the area of Washington, DC, U.S.A.. The band originally formed in Madison where one-time Ignition and Soul Side bassist Chris Thomson met guitarist Chris Hamley and drummer Arika Casebolt while attending school...
& The Quails. Musically, Blue Giant could be characterized as rural-psych rock, with one music critic calling them a perfect country-rock band.
History
After touring extensively in 2007 with The ShinsThe Shins
The Shins are an American indie rock band comprising singer, songwriter, and guitarist James Mercer, guitarist/bassist Dave Hernandez, Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats, drummer Joe Plummer and bassist Ron Lewis. Their sound draws on several musical genres, including pop, alternative rock, indie rock,...
and Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
, Kevin and Anita Robinson of Viva Voce
Viva Voce (band)
Viva Voce is an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed by Kevin Robinson and Anita Robinson. Their music draws on several influences including psychedelic rock, classic rock, folk and R&B.-History:...
took a brief hiatus. Tiring of the confines of a two-piece band, they began writing songs they considered for another band. Evan Railton of Swords
Swords (band)
Swords was an American indie rock band that formed in 1999 in Portland, Oregon. The band took their name from the idea of being "hired assassins of rock". The name of the band was shortened to Swords from The Swords Project in 2003...
was asked to play drums. Seth Lorinczi of The Golden Bears & Circus Lupus
Circus Lupus
Circus Lupus was a post-hardcore band based in the area of Washington, DC, U.S.A.. The band originally formed in Madison where one-time Ignition and Soul Side bassist Chris Thomson met guitarist Chris Hamley and drummer Arika Casebolt while attending school...
was invited to play bass. Last to join on pedal steel was Chris Funk
Chris Funk
Christopher Lyman Funk is a multi-instrumentalist and member of the Portland, Oregon, indie rock band The Decemberists. He is originally from Valparaiso, Indiana where he worked at Front Porch Music which inspired his love of American Folk Music. He plays guitar, pedal steel, piano, violin,...
of The Decemberists
The Decemberists
The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. The other members of the band are Chris Funk , Jenny Conlee , Nate Query , and John Moen .The band's...
, who, upon hearing the bands early demos, demanded to join the band. Infused with their own respective indie-rock, punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
and DIY backgrounds, the Blue Giant songs reflect a greater part of the Robinson's Southern heritage.
The band name is a reference to a blue giant
Blue giant
In astronomy, a blue giant is a star with a spectral type of O or B and a luminosity class of III...
star, a transitory phase in the life cycle of a star, and one of the brightest types of stars in the universe.
Blue Giant played their first show in June 2008 headlining the Wonder Ballroom
Wonder Ballroom
The Wonder Ballroom is a music venue located in northeast Portland, Oregon. Prior to opening in 2004, the building was occupied by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Catholic Youth Organization, the Portland Boxing School, the American Legion Organization, and a community center eventually known...
in Portland. The band gave each audience member a free download of their first recording.
Collaborations
Blue Giant has recorded and performed with Corin TuckerCorin Tucker
Corin Lisa Tucker is a singer and guitarist, best known for her work with rock band Sleater-Kinney.- Early life :In the early 1990s, Tucker attended Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where she studied film, political economy, and social change...
of Sleater Kinney. Tucker's distinct voice is featured on a duet with Kevin Robinson on Blue Giant's debut EP.
Portland Tour
Delving further in their collaborative spirit, Blue Giant went on a mini-tour of Portland in October 2008, each night bolstered by special guests such as Corin TuckerCorin Tucker
Corin Lisa Tucker is a singer and guitarist, best known for her work with rock band Sleater-Kinney.- Early life :In the early 1990s, Tucker attended Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where she studied film, political economy, and social change...
of Sleater Kinney, Sam Coomes
Sam Coomes
Samuel J. Coomes is an American musician, and currently one-third of the Portland-area indie band Quasi, along with drummer and ex-wife Janet Weiss and bassist Joanna Bolme...
of Quasi
Quasi
Quasi is an American indie rock band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1993 by ex-husband and wife Sam Coomes and Janet Weiss . Since 2007 the group has been a trio, following the addition of bassist Joanna Bolme.-History:In 1990 , Coomes, Weiss, and Brad Pedinov formed the band Motorgoat...
, Corrina Repp
Corrina Repp
Corrina Repp is a vocalist, guitarist, songwriter, and maker of quiet music based in Portland, Oregon. Her albums I Take On Your Days and It's Only the Future were released on Hush Records, while The Absent and the Distant was released on Mark Kozelek's personal label Caldo Verde...
and Rachel Blumberg
Rachel Blumberg
Rachel Blumberg is an American drummer and singer, best known for her tenure as the drummer for the indie rock band The Decemberists. Blumburg was a member of many Portland, Oregon-based indie bands, including Sissyface, Boycrazy, Norfolk & Western, The Minders and M...
of Norfolk & Western, and M. Ward
M. Ward
Matthew Stephen Ward, known by his stage name M. Ward, is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who rose to prominence in the Portland, Oregon music scene. In addition to his solo work he is known as a member of She & Him and Monsters of Folk.-Career:...
. The tour culminated in a collaboration with the Portland Cello Project, which saw Blue Giant accompanied by nine cellists.
Target Heart
Prior to release, Kevin Robinson was asked to talk about Blue Giant and the Target Heart EPTarget Heart EP
Target Heart EP is a self-released EP album by the Portland, Oregon based band Blue Giant. Released initially by eMusic on November 11, 2008 as download only, the EP was subsequently released by the bands Amore!Phonics imprint label on CD/Digital...
in an eMusic
EMusic
eMusic is an online music and audiobook store that operates by subscription. It is headquartered in New York City with an office in London and owned by Dimensional Associates. As of September 2008 eMusic has over 400,000 subscribers....
Selects Q&A, on November 10, 2008. The 6 track CD EP was subsequently released by the imprint label Amore!Phonics. The 12" vinyl version of the album contains two additional tracks ("Wasn't Born To Follow" by The Byrds
The Byrds
The Byrds were an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1964. The band underwent multiple line-up changes throughout its existence, with frontman Roger McGuinn remaining the sole consistent member until the group disbanded in 1973...
, and "Got To Be Free" by The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
) and was released through Jealous Butcher Records, the same label that printed the vinyl edition of Viva Voce's Rose City
Rose City (album)
Rose City is an album by Viva Voce, released May 26, 2009, on Barsuk Records.- Track listing :# "Devotion" 4:04 # "Die A Little" 2:02 # "Octavio" 4:31 # "Midnight Sun" 4:14 # "Red Letter Day" 3:50# "Good As Gold" 3:19 # "Rose City" 2:54...
.
New Tour, Record Deal, and Lineup Change
In February 2010, the band announced a nationwide tour and a recording deal with Vanguard RecordsVanguard Records
Vanguard Records is a record label set up in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon in New York. It started as a classical label, but is perhaps best known for its catalogue of recordings by a number of pivotal folk and blues artists from the 1960s; the Bach Guild was a subsidiary...
, with plans to release a debut LP album on July 13, 2010. The announcement also stated that Funk and Lorinczi had relinquished their duties on pedal steel and bass, being replaced by Jesse Bates and Dave Depper, respectively.
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Target Heart EP Target Heart EP Target Heart EP is a self-released EP album by the Portland, Oregon based band Blue Giant. Released initially by eMusic on November 11, 2008 as download only, the EP was subsequently released by the bands Amore!Phonics imprint label on CD/Digital... |
Amore!Phonics / Jealous Butcher |
| 2010 | Blue Giant | Vanguard Records Vanguard Records Vanguard Records is a record label set up in 1950 by brothers Maynard and Seymour Solomon in New York. It started as a classical label, but is perhaps best known for its catalogue of recordings by a number of pivotal folk and blues artists from the 1960s; the Bach Guild was a subsidiary... |