Nearly a year after their “Not Beer” EP launch party, local avant-garde rock band The Blimp will be playing at WOW Hall this Friday. They’re primed to split eardrums and bend minds with their own brand of sonic dynamite.
The Blimp’s style can’t be explained simply. De-facto frontman Lucas Gunn describes their style as “avant-garage,” but says that the label only fits loosely. With two guitars, a keyboard, multiple vocalists, drums and the occasional theremin, the band is a veritable circus of sound. Drawing from a multitude of different influences, they seek to provide something local Eugene bands typically don’t have: volume. @@https://www.facebook.com/events/380572448619971/@@ @@http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=327654307303030&set=a.154739541261175.36686.128726293862500&type=1&theater@@
“All in all, it’s loud, bizarre, catchy, obnoxious, energetic, chaotic and sometimes pretty,” Gunn says.
The group is comprised of Gunn on vocals and guitar, Leland Vessey on drums, Miranda Soileau on the piano and vocals, Jesse Wood on guitar and Brayden Allison-Hall on vocals, theremin, trumpet and whatever else he can get his hands on. @@Some of the names are under General Info http://www.myspace.com/mastertheblimp@@ @@other names to confuse me http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Blimp/128726293862500?sk=info@@
The Blimp has been peddling their unique brew of guitar rock since 2004, dedicated to never once sounding the same. Their songs vary in content from jangly walls of sound, free-jazz freakouts to a cappella numbers featuring the group’s three vocalists.
When quizzed on the band’s inspiration, Gunn cited, “anyone who has their own individual and different way of playing or making music and puts passionate, honest emotion into it.” He went on to list Captain Beefheart, Mothers of Invention, 13th Floor Elevators, Bonzo Dog Band, Syd Barrett/Pink Floyd, Them, the Electric Eels, The Beach Boys, Link Wray and Hasil Adkins. @@I checked them all, I promise!@@
The lineup has been in flux for a long time. Since its beginning, where it comprised of Gunn, Vessey and their friend Brett Harding, the band has gone through three guitarists and more than nine different lineups. It’s been everything from a two-piece to a five-piece band.
Driving their individuality home, The Blimp often plays with an assortment of bizarre props on stage such as mannequins, trashcans and other such surreal accoutrements. Additionally, most of their publicity shots feature the band wearing plastic masks that look swiped from a dollar store’s back dumpster. The Blimp is dedicated to making sure that every one of their live shows is an entertaining spectacle.
At Friday’s show, Gunn will be opening with his own solo act. Previously, he has played rhythm guitar with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Soldiers, a long-running project that went on hiatus in 2008.
The Blimp’s “Not Beer” EP has received a wide distribution by The Violent Times label, and the band is currently working on an LP.