Blind Pilot

by Andrew LeaheyA Portland-based duo comprised of singer/guitarist Israel Nebeker and drummer Ryan Dobrowski, Blind Pilot strike a balance between mellow folk and West Coast indie pop. The two friends first banded together in college before combining their musical talents and touring the northwestern Oregon circuit. By 2006, however, they'd decided that a change of scenery might help fuel their songwriting. Blind Pilot consequently relocated 90 miles north, where they spent three months inside an Astoria warehouse while recording demos for a full-length album. Afterwards, Nebeker and Dobrowski launched a "bike tour" that saw them traveling from Vancouver to San Francisco via their bicycles, playing shows and selling EPs (not to mention saving gas money) along the way. They returned home to finalize their 3 Round and a Sound debut, which was released by Expunged Records in June 2008.