Blind Pilot

Blind Pilot is an American indie folk band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 2005 by vocalist and guitarist Israel Nebeker and drummer Ryan Dobrowski. The duo initially gained attention for a low-tech, environmentally conscious approach — famously touring the West Coast by bicycle with instruments strapped to their bikes — which matched the intimate, handmade feel of their music.

Their 2008 debut, 3 Rounds and a Sound, released independently through Expunged Records, established their gentle, warm sound built on Nebeker’s tender vocals, acoustic guitar and understated arrangements, with songs like the title track and «Oviedo» becoming fan favorites. The band later expanded into a full sextet, adding members including Luke Ydstie and Kati Claborn, which broadened their sound on the 2011 follow-up We Are the Tide while keeping its low-key, folk-rooted core.

Following personal upheaval in Nebeker’s life, the band released And Then Like Lions in 2016, their first album for ATO Records, marked by a more somber, reflective tone that critics praised as their most mature work. Across their catalog, Blind Pilot remains defined by close vocal harmonies, unhurried songwriting and a modest, community-driven ethos rare among bands of their profile.