Strange Sounds on the Waterfront: Blind Pilot plays the Concert for Big Red in Astoria, OR

We left the show in Elma, WA at about midnight and arrived in Gearhart, OR two hours later at the house where the band was staying for the three days of the Concert for Big Red festival. One of Israel's parent's friends had donated their beautiful house for the band to stay in for the weekend. Blind Pilot was scheduled to play both on Friday and on Sunday, and it felt luxurious to spend four days in one location and be able to use a kitchen to make awesome breakfasts together.

The Concert for Big Red was a benefit to help restore the historic net loft in Astoria, OR, a building that Israel's father, Royal Nebeker, purchased in 1997 and transformed into artist studios and living spaces.

Ryan and Israel spent the winter of 2005-2006 living in Big Red, painting, writing the songs for their current album, Three Rounds and a Sound, and planning their first bike tour that they took in the summer of 2006. During the Great Gale in December 2007, the building suffered major damage and the third floor was torn off. Royal has been rebuilding since the storm, but the project is beyond what anyone can do on their own. The concert was a benefit to raise funds and awareness for the effort to rebuild the space even better than before and help cement a home base for the Astoria arts community. The event was organized by Gordon "Gordo" Styler, with the help of a lot of great folks and truly inspirational musicians.

It was an honor to be invited to be there and to film Blind Pilot's set. This video is our way of saying thanks, as well as the reason it took us this long to post about the concert.

Strange Sounds on the Waterfront: Blind Pilot plays the concert for Big Red.