If ever there were a Portland super group…

We are in the midst of Blue Giant’s takeover of Portland.

This week, on hiatus from their critically acclaimed rock project, Viva Voce, Kevin and Anita Robinson (oh, Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, are you trying to seduce me?) trot the town in style. They have a monopoly on all the city’s best venues while they play a three-show stint with a treasure trove of guest musicians.

The Robinsons’ departure from Viva Voce was born of a desire to operate in more of a group environment. As indicated by their MySpace page: “… the Robinsons found themselves longing for the joy of playing music with other creative people.” For this venture they enlisted some ringers–Evan Railton of the now-defunct Swords Project thumping on the drums, Seth Lorinczi on bass and organ (The Quails and Golden Bears) and finally Chris Funk (The Decemberists) on pedal steel.

If Blue Giant was an attempt to get back at their roots, then enlisting these Portland staples was a must. The spacey indie rock was replaced with a stripped-down American country and classic-rock sound. Anita mans (or womans) the electric and slide guitar while singing backup and even leads on a few songs, while Kevin Robinson gives up the drums in favor of lead vocals and acoustic guitar.

The Vanguard was able to talk to Kevin Robinson about their upcoming tour, the album and the history of both bands.

Alex Huebsch: It seems like a Portland idea to take a tour of your hometown- do you agree? How did the tour come about? What was the idea behind it?

Kevin Robinson: A Portland idea in a sense, I suppose. Giving back a good bit. Yeah, sure! The tour idea was such that it’ll be awhile before the Blue Giant record comes out–probably next year in [the] spring. It seems that while we have this time on our hands, it’s a lot more fun for us to do these shows that are more of an event for the audience. And it just sounded like a fun idea.

AH: Who can we expect to see on stage this tour?

KR: Every night we’re grafting in new members, so we’ll be a seven-piece band some nights, and a 16-piece band others. You can expect to see anything and everything … sometimes all at once. [Among these will be Corin Tucker (Sleater-Kinney), Sam Coomes (Quasi), Corrina Repp (Tu Fawning et al.) and Rachel Blumberg (Norfolk & Western).]

AH: Blue Giant is relatively new. Do you envision the sound getting any larger? Adding any new members to the band?

KR: We added [Chris] Funk on pedal steel, so we’re now officially a “five” piece. We’re stopping there for now. I like a large sound, but we’re not looking to become the Blue Giant Spree or anything.

AH: Are there any surprises in store for those that will be coming to the shows?

KR: Well, if I told you, they wouldn’t be surprises.

AH: What happens beyond this tour? What will Blue Giant be doing? More touring? Try to release the record?

KR: We have another show lined up for December here in Portland. It might be our grandest endeavor yet. The record will come out. More shows. More recording. Giant tours. Bigger budget records. Fame. Riches. Bitter breakup … and of course the reunion phase.

Blue GiantTonight at Backspace (115 N.W. Fifth Ave.) with Norfolk and Western

Thursday, Oct. 9 at Doug Fir (830 E. Burnside) with Portland Cello Project