New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Blind Pilot have shared the opening track to their first album in nearly a decade, "Jacaranda," which serves as a bold declaration of reclamation and renewal from bandleader Israel Nebeker. Penned on a formative trip to Mexico City, Nebeker leaned on Blind Pilot co-founder and longtime friend Ryan Dobrowski to help overcome a years-long struggle with writing new music. Behind the group's free-flowing arrangements and full-hearted harmonies, "Jacaranda" serves a show of gratitude for their lifelong partnership and unwavering trust in one another. Nebeker remembers: "we were in a park hanging out under these giant jacaranda trees in full violet bloom, and it turned to a song of thanks to him for being so patient with me.'
Listen to "Jacaranda" here: https://atorecords-ffm.com/jacaranda
Watch a full-band live performance of the song from Flora Recording in Portland, OR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs6vybHgCLk
Pre-order Blind Pilot's In the Shadow Of The Holy Mountain (out August 16 via ATO Records) here: https://atorecords-ffm.com/itsothm
In The Shadow Of The Holy Mountain finds these "crown jewels of Oregon indie" (Pitchfork) radically transformed and revitalized, lending hard-earned depth and perspective to their "elegant, thoughtful reflections" (NPR Music). Teaming with producer Josh Kaufman (The National, The War On Drugs), the road to this first new album since 2016 began in Scandinavia - where Nebeker had traveled to reconnect with his family's roots in the nomadic Sámi community. While there, a drum ceremony led him to visions of his ancestors, and to the mountain where his creative rebirth began.
But Nebeker's return to songwriting was solidified on his trip to Mexico, where the band had been invited to perform by a humanitarian group in the country. After speaking with them for hours about the hardships and prejudice endured by migrants traveling to the United States: "I got the idea to write a song that looks at ideas of ownership and othering, and what it does when we tell people, 'This is our home, not yours.'" After years of not writing so much as a single verse, In The Shadow Of The Holy Mountain flowed out of him in one month from there.
Much of the energy pulsing through In The Shadow Of The Holy Mountain stems from Blind Pilot fully harnessing the chemistry of their live performances - and they'll continue to bring those special moments across the US through the end of November, with a full list of upcoming tour dates below.
'In The Shadow Of The Holy Mountain' Tracklist
1. Jacaranda
2. Brave
3. Pocket Knife
4. Don't You Know
5. Just A Bird
6. Coming Back
7. Faces of Light
8. One Drop
9. Lucky
10. Bitter Water
11. Same Thing
Blind Pilot Tour Dates:
July 16 - The Atlantis - Washington, DC
July 19 - Maurer Hall at Old Town School of Folk - Chicago, IL (early show)
July 19 - Maurer Hall at Old Town School of Folk - Chicago, IL (late show)
July 20 - Vivarium - Milwaukee, WI
July 21 - Off Broadway - St. Louis, MO
July 23 - The Raccoon Motel - Davenport, IA
July 24 - HI-FI Indy - Indianapolis, IN
July 26 - Grog Shop - Cleveland Heights, OH
August 11 - Remlinger Farms - Carnation, WA
August 12 - Biltmore Cabaret - Vancouver, BC
August 15 - Churchill School - Baker City, OR
August 16 - Mississippi Studios - Portland, OR
August 17 - Trout Lake Hall - Trout Lake, WA
August 31 - The Gorge Amphitheater - George, WA *
November 8 - The Domino Room - Bend, OR
November 9 - Harlow's - Sacramento, CA
November 12 - The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
November 15 - Teragram Ballroom - Los Angeles, CA
November 16 - Lobero Theatre - Santa Barbara, CA
November 17 - Belly Up Solana Beach - Solana Beach, CA
November 19 - Hotel Congress - Tucson, AZ
November 20 - Meow Wolf - Santa Fe, New Mexico
November 21 - Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO
November 22 - Washington's Foco - Fort Collins, CO
November 24 - The Commonwealth Room - South Salt Lake City, UT
November 26 - The Bing Crosby Theater - Spokane, WA
November 29 - Liberty Theatre - Astoria, OR
November 30 - Liberty Theatre - Astoria, OR
* with Dave Matthews Band.
