Blind Pilot suited for intimate settings

Blind Pilot lead singer Israel Nebeker played the role of a frustrated school teacher… Blind Pilot lead singer Israel Nebeker played the role of a frustrated school teacher trying to control a rowdy classroom Friday during his band’s closing song.

The six members of the Portland folk band hoped to perform “Three Rounds and a Sound” fully unplugged to a packed crowd at Mr. Smalls Theater. Nebeker realized the difficulty of the task and decided to poll the audience about their interest.

“How about a show of hands, who wants to be really quiet?” Nebeker asked.

While the hands darted up from those closest to the stage and in the under 21 section,  a few talkative dissenters in the 21 and over crowd were not too pleased to submit to the band’s demands.

“Act like you are alive,” shouted one particularly displeased heckler.

The band managed to overcome the loud chatter with the booming voices of the crowd’s singing once the chorus arrived — creating an effect that outweighed the annoyance of the multiple “shhs” during the verse.

Blind Pilot’s encore emphasizes that this is a band better suited to campfires than full-capacity crowds. Given the strength of the band’s show on Friday — Blind Pilot will likely continue playing packed venues, not empty stages.

After opening with a smooth rendition of its song, “Keep You Right,” the band expressed a genuine appreciation for the large attendance.

The disco ball spun for the ideal slow dancing song “The Colored Night,”  as Nebeker replicated a Ryan Adams sound.

After continuing the mellow trend for a few songs, the band energized the crowd with a more upbeat version of “The Story I Heard.”

The members’ mastery of various instruments ranging from the vibraphone to the harmonium helped to maintain the fullness of the recorded versions in their live performance of the songs. Member Kati Claborn seamlessly switched between the banjo, dulcimer and guitar depending on the song.

Claborn’s subtle ukulele strumming and strong harmonies gave “White Apple” a haunting quality that paired nicely with Nebeker’s lyrics.

The band launched into a cover of Gillian Welch’s song, “Look at Miss Ohio,” showing the band possesses enough country twang to venture deeper into a bluegrass sound.

“New York” was a powerful ballad, but the noise of the audience’s conversation took away from the emotion. The marching drumming of “We Are the Tide” ended the set with a positive celebration and filled the room with some much needed energy.

The encore started with a building version of “The Bitter End,” beginning with only Nebeker on the stage playing while his band mates joined as the song progressed.

The number on stage continued to grow during the encore as opening act — The Barr Brothers — joined Blind Pilot to cover John Prine’s “Clay Pigeons.” What followed was a fitting tribute to an artist whom both bands attempt to resemble.

Even the crowd calamity in its closing song could not spoil Blind Pilot’s solid evening of folk-filled fun.