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Travel Wild and Reckless(ly) in the Footsteps of Blitzen Trapper

Enjoy Oregon in the footsteps of Blitzen Trapper
Enjoy Oregon in the footsteps of Blitzen Trapper

Travel Wild and Reckless(ly) in the Footsteps of
Blitzen Trapper

Blitzen Trapper mined their lyrical storytelling and Oregonian roots to create a story for the stage that fuses the energy of a rock concert with the imaginative possibility of the theater in Wild and Reckless. In the play, The Narrator travels from a small town in the Willamette Valley to the big city of Portland to find "a song worth singing." He also travels on Highway 26 over Mt. Hood to Central Oregon with The Girl. While Wild and Reckless takes place in the future, we thought you might be as inspired as we are to explore Oregon today. There is an endless amount of activities in Oregon to enjoy, so we’d like to suggest a travel itinerary with a new twist — beer and music pairings found in Oregon cities mentioned or suggested in Wild and Reckless.

With the increasing popularity of locally brewed craft beer in Oregon, we wanted to pair great music venues (where you can see bands like Blitzen Trapper or new up-and-coming artists) with amazing locally brewed beverages that just so happen to tie in perfectly with the imagery and themes in Wild and Reckless. So take a look, pack your bags, and get ready for a "wild and reckless" time!

Portland

While in Portland, take some time to visit the Doug Fir Lounge (830 E Burnside St). Mentioned on Rolling Stone Magazine’s list of top club venues in America in 2013, this venue gives you a memorable experience in an intimate setting. You know who else made a Rolling Stone Magazine list? Blitzen Trapper. They've been featured multiple times on Rolling Stone's Best Albums of the Year list.

Also, in the heart of Portland stands Revolution Hall (1300 SE Stark St.), a stop on Blitzen Trapper’s recent All Across This Land tour. Housed in the former Washington High School building in Southeast Portland, this venue offers a wide range of performing arts shows and features a restaurant, lounge, and rooftop bar.

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Blitzen Trapper performing at Revolution Hall in Portland

Because "the wind don’t always blow, and the sun don’t always shine," escape into some of the local breweries that embody the sci-fi themes in Wild and Reckless.

At Ecliptic Brewing (825 North Cook St.), enjoy the Orbiter IPA. With a gravity measurement of 16.2˚P, this IPA is sure to give you an out-of-this world feeling.

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Ecliptic Brewing's Orbiter IPA

Your next stop should be Base Camp Brewing (930 SE Oak St.) to try their X331 Session Black IPL. The experimental hop X331, created in OSU’s hop cultivation lab, delivers huge tropical and funky hop character. Just call it the beer of the future!

Want more Portland destination ideas? Visit Travel Portland.

Salem

If you are looking for the nostalgic rock-and-roll feel of Wild and Reckless, head to Salem and enjoy a show at Salem’s Historic Grand Theatre (187 High St. NE). Established in 1900, the theater is now home to concerts, movies, theater productions, lectures and more.

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The historic Grand Theatre in Salem

To complete your musical entertainment experience, grab a beer at Gilgamesh Brewing (2065 Madrona Ave SE). The DJ Jazzy Hef — an American-style hefeweizen that needs no lemon — is nothing short of a good time.

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DJ Jazzy Hef by Gilgamesh Brewing

Also, try the Infiltrator Pilsner at Santiam Brewing (2544 19th St. SE). This crisp and refreshing lager is sure to leave you feeling pretty "wild and reckless."

Want more Salem destination ideas? Visit Travel Salem.

Eugene

Eugene is becoming increasingly popular for fans of both music and beer. For a striking experience, check out Hi Fi Music Hall (44 E 7th Ave), a venue that Blitzen Trapper has performed at in the recent past, and Wow Hall (291 W. 8th Ave) in the heart of Eugene. Both venues host an array of artists and are the perfect size for great acoustics and a smaller, more intimate experience. These bar-concert halls have everything you need for a great night of live music.

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Blitzen Trapper performing at Hi-Fi Music Hall in Eugene

While in Eugene, stop by Ninkasi Brewing (155 Blair Blvd) and try their Ground Control, a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout. This beer is out of this world, literally. Ninkasi launched yeast into space and brewed it once it returned to Earth.

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Ninkasi's Ground Control Imperial Stout

To bring you back down to Earth, indulge in a Overcast Espresso Stout at Oakshire Brewing (207 Madison St.). Wild and Reckless takes place in a time where lightning storms occur daily, so satisfy your taste buds with a beer that will strike your senses.

Want more destination ideas around Eugene? Visit Travel Lane County.

Bend

Enjoy a relaxing drive across Highway 26 and indulge in the bounties of Bend.

Attend a show at the local Tower Theater (835 NW Wall St.) or get up and dance at the Volcanic Theater Pub (70 SW Century Dr). Both embody the freedom captured in Blitzen Trapper's songs, such as "Wide Open Sky" and "Love Live On," about escaping the city and hitting the highway.

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The Tower Theater in Bend

With more than 20 breweries in Bend, the beer possibilities are nearly endless! You can even create your own beer adventure by completing the Bend Ale Trail for prizes.

However, if you don’t hit the Ale Trail, be sure to try the S1nist0r Black Ale at 10-Barrel Brewery (1135 Northwest Galveston Ave) and the Backbone Stout at Boneyard Beer (37 NW Lake Pl.). Both beers with leave you feeling like a rebellious rock star.

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Sinister Black Ale from 10 Barrel Brewing Company

Want more Bend destination ideas? Check out Visit Bend.


This project was made possible in part by a grant from Travel Oregon.


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