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Blind Pilot
Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, Oregon
Background information
Origin	Astoria, Oregon
Genres	Indie folk, indie pop
Years active	2005–present
Labels	Expunged, ATO
Members	Israel Nebeker Ryan Dobrowski Luke Ydstie Kati Claborn Ian Krist Dave Jorgensen
Website	www.blindpilot.com

Blind Pilot is an American indie folk band based in Portland, Oregon, United States. They have released four albums and one EP since 2008.

History

On July 15, 2008, Blind Pilot released their debut CD 3 Rounds and a Sound on Expunged Records. "Go On, Say It", was chosen to be a Single of the Week on July 7, 2008 on the iTunes chart, and for the week of July 26 the record reached number 13 on the Billboard Top Digital Albums chart. Allmusic gave the album 3.5/5 stars.

Originally a duo between Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski, the band added four touring members in February 2009. On December 29 of that year, the band released an iTunes only live EP. This EP featured a cover of Gillian Welch's "Look at Miss Ohio". The EP also included new versions of previously released songs, along with a new song, titled "Get It Out". The EP was mixed and recorded by Tucker Martine.

Blind Pilot released their second album, We Are The Tide, on September 13, 2011 as a sextet. The album featured the song "Get It Out" from the previous EP. Allmusic praised the additional members, who they said "add bigger, brighter colors to the mix" in a 4.5-star review.

On June 1, 2016, Blind Pilot announced their third album, And Then Like Lions, would be released August 12 on ATO Records. The album received 'universal acclaim' from Metacritic, with a score of 71 out of 100 from critics.

After an eight-year hiatus from releasing new music, Blind Pilot announced a new album titled In The Shadow of the Holy Mountain on June 18, 2024, set for release on August 16. The announcement was made on social media, where the band expressed their excitement about the new project, stating "We made an album! We love it and we cannot wait to share it with you." The first single from the album, "Just A Bird," was released on the same day as the announcement.

On the day of the new album's release, Israel Nebeker wrote on Instagram "Last June, I woke up with a very funny thought, after years of struggling to complete another Blind Pilot album. 'I should write an album in a month, and whatever it is, I should bring that to the band and let the band create as its own living, breathing entity with whatever songs come through.' That one thought, in the between state of dreaming and walking, set such a beautiful project into motion. The way we recorded this album was with the utter joy of exploration, the yes of appreciation for one another, and more love that I've ever felt in a studio before. It's our favorite album that we've made, and we are so excited to share it with you today. We hope it brings you joy, and moves you in the way it has us. Thank you a million times for waiting. This is my happiest day in years. Thank you for all that you've given us over the years. A path to be on. A place for our music to go. We're so glad to give this album to you all today. We hope you love it."

Origin of the band name

The name "Blind Pilot" was conceived by the founding members, Israel Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski, during the early days of the band in Astoria, Oregon. The name emerged while they were residing in an old cannery building located at the confluence of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean, where they would often see pilot boats navigating the waters. Inspired by the visual impact of the word "pilot" marked on these boats and considering their impending first tour by bicycle, the duo felt the name resonated with their venture into the unknown. Israel Nebeker elaborated on the choice of the name during a 2012 interview with Imagine TV Network in Singapore, explaining that the term "blind" aptly described their initial music tour. They were about to embark on their first bike tour without any prior experience or comprehensive planning, metaphorically going into it "blind."

In a 2009 interview with LAist, Nebeker further highlighted the aptness of the name, describing a "blind pilot" as a metaphor for diving into the unknown and navigating uncharted territories, mirroring their experiences as they started their musical journey without a clear path.

Performance and touring history

The band completed a bicycle tour in 2008, biking from Bellingham, Washington to San Diego, California, carrying their instruments on custom bicycle trailers they fashioned themselves. They made more than two dozen stops along the way, including Port Townsend, Seattle, Olympia, Portland, Corvallis, Eugene, Coos Bay, Arcata and Santa Cruz.

Touring for their debut album continued in 2009. On February 12, Blind Pilot made their network television debut on Last Call with Carson Daly. In May, they played at the Sasquatch! Music Festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Washington, and in August they played at Lollapalooza in Chicago and Outside Lands in San Francisco.

To promote We Are The Tide on January 6, 2012, the band made their second network television appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, in which Letterman initially introduced the band as "Blind Spot" before correcting himself and poking fun at the gaffe. Subsequent touring for the album included a performance at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee on June 9, as well as returns to Lollapalooza and Sasquatch. Their song "Half Moon" was performed on Ellen during the host's birthday episode on January 25, 2013. Blind Pilot's music has been featured in some television programs, including Chuck, One Tree Hill, Californication, and Private Practice.

The band finished their tour with Vance Joy on December 3, 2016. Their tour with Bad Bad Habits, Anna Tivel, and Gregory Alan Isakov ran from 2017 to mid-2018.

In preparation for their newest album in 8 years, In The Shadow of the Holy Mountain, Blind Pilot toured in their new quartet form (consisting of Israel Nebeker, Ryan Dobrowski, Luke Ydstie, and Kati Claborn, as well as with some contribution from violinist and Blind Pilot Tour Manager Lauren Jacobson) all across the country, starting on June 16th, 2024, in Medford, Oregon, and continuing through November of 2024

Band members

• Israel Nebeker – vocals, guitar
• Ryan Dobrowski – drums, percussion
• Luke Ydstie – upright bass, bass guitar, backing vocals
• Kati Claborn – banjo, mountain dulcimer, ukulele, banjo ukulele, guitar, bass guitar, additional percussion, backing vocals
• Dave Jorgensen – trumpet, keyboards
• Ian Krist – vibraphone, additional percussion

Discography

Albums

Drummer Ryan Dobrowski, a professional artist based in Tucson, did the artwork for 3 Rounds and a Sound, We Are the Tide, and In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain, as well as the singles Like A Bird, Jacaranda, and Brave.

EPs

Singles

Notes

1. iTunes Session - EP did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number seven on the US Heatseekers Albums Chart.

References

1. Ruehl, Kim. "What Is Indie Folk Music?". About.com. Retrieved July 7, 2008.
2. ^ "3 Rounds and a Sound - Blind Pilot". Allmusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
3. "Digital Albums". Billboard. July 26, 2008. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
4. "Almost there!". Blindpilotmusic.wordpress.com. February 27, 2009. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
5. "Blind Pilot iTunes EP Available Now | Blind Pilot Official Website". Blindpilotmusic.wordpress.com. Archived from the original on 2010-04-06. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
6. ^ "We Are the Tide - Blind Pilot". Allmusic. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
7. "Song Premiere: Blind Pilot, 'Umpqua Rushing'". NPR. June 1, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
8. "Reviews for And Then Like Lions by Blind Pilot". Metacritic. August 19, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
9. "Blind Pilot announces new album 'In The Shadow of the Holy Mountain'". Twitter. 2024-06-18. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
10. "Instagram".
11. "[Interview] Blind Pilot - What you don't know about them". Imagine TV Network. 2012. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
12. "Meet Israel Nebeker - Lead Singer of Blind Pilot". LAist. Archived from the original on 2017-11-06. Retrieved 2017-04-18.
13. "Burnside helps local artist hit digital paydirt - Portland Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. August 8, 2008. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
14. "Live on Carson Daly". blindpilotmusic.wordpress.com. February 16, 2009. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
15. "Sasquatch! 2009 Line-Up: Jane's Addiction, NIN, YYYs, Animal Collective & Zach Galifianakis". stereogum.com. February 17, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
16. "It's The 2009 Lineup". Lollapalooza. April 21, 2009. Archived from the original on 2015-09-25. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
17. "Outside Lands 2009 Line-Up". stereogum.com. April 13, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
18. "Late Show With David Letterman". blindpilot.com. January 3, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
19. Blind Pilot Letterman 1/6/2012 - Extended, 7 January 2012, retrieved 2021-11-01
20. "Bonnaroo 2012 Lineup". Bonnaroo. Archived from the original on September 14, 2015. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
21. "Lollapalooza 2012 Lineup: Black Sabbath, Chili Peppers, Black Keys Headlining". Billboard. April 11, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
22. "Sasquatch! 2012 Lineup". stereogum.com. February 3, 2012. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
23. "Episode Calendar January 2013". ellentv.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
24. "Blind Pilot". tunefind.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
25. "Instagram".
26. ^ "Blind Pilot - Billboard". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2017-01-31. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
27. "Blind Pilot - Billboard Alternative Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2016-10-15. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
28. ^ "Blind Pilot - Billboard Americana/Folk Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
29. ^ "Blind Pilot - Billboard Independent". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2016-10-14. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
30. "Blind Pilot - Billboard Rock Albums". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2016-10-15. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
31. "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on July 2, 2016.
32. "Blind Pilot announce first album in eight years, In The Shadow Of The Holy Mountain". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 2024-07-10.
33. "Blind Pilot – Chart History: Billboard Heatseekers". Billboard. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
34. "Blind Pilot – Chart History – Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard.com. Billboard Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
35. Peaks on the UK Independent Singles Chart:
    • Half Moon: "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 June 2021.

External links

• Official website
• Blind Pilot on YouTube

• People from Astoria, Oregon
• Musical groups from Portland, Oregon
• Indie pop groups from Oregon
• Indie rock musical groups from Oregon
• Cycling in Oregon
• 2005 establishments in Oregon
• Musical groups established in 2005
• American indie folk groups