I first mentioned these guys back in june, but the album was released recently and I can’t stop listening. Port O’Brien is the brainchild of Van Pierszalowski, a singer/songwriter from Big Sur, California and part-time fisherman off of Kodiak Island in Alaska. He may be giving up his fishing summer job real soon. The Wind and Swell is technically their second album, but it will be the one to put them on the map.
The album starts off with an amazing track called “I Woke Up Today” that finds beauty in its imperfections. Van’s wailing vocals surround a loosely played acoustic guitar. The chorus sounds like a native Indian chant and the entire song sounds like well-orchestrated chaos. I think it’s brilliant.
The next track, “My Eyes Won’t Shut,” is a lazy acoustic number about, well, being lazy. In the beginning of the song, Van enjoys the breeze, watching the leaves blow around and watching nature pass by. He seems to understand that his inner thoughts are spoken out loud and tells himself to “shut the fuck up” to abruptly end the song.
The album continues with more folky, acoustic arrangements that bring out your inner hippie. “I Won’t Look Back” has some nice guitar-work, “Split” is the most experimental track and sounds like the percussion is banged out on tin cans. The two other standout songs are the banjo driven “A Bird Flies By” and the only electric track, “Anchor.” I know I’m leaving out other great songs, like “Five and Dime,” but what can you do? There’s just too much good to go around on this record.
Dive in to Port O’Brien as soon as you can. It’s my favorite album at the moment.
Below are the mp3’s, videos, and tour dates. You can catch them supporting Bright Eyes and Rogue Wave.
Website | MySpace
Port O’Brien – I Woke Up Today
Port O’Brien – My Eyes Won’t Shut
Port O’Brien – Five and Dime
Port O’Brien – Tree Bones
Port O’Brien – A Bird Flies By
[youtube]2z43eZZwcOw[/youtube]
Port O’Brien have also figured out that all us crackers like to hear indie covers of rap songs.
Port O’Brien – My Humps (Fergie)
Port O’Brien – Move Bitch (Ludacris) – The backup vocals are great.
[youtube]vDB1XP3GZsI[/youtube]
Tour Dates:
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Thekla (supporting King Creosote) |
Bristol |
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The Point (Supporting King Creosote) |
Cardiff, UK |
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Joiners (supporting King Creosote) |
Southhampton |
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End of the Road Festival |
North Dorset, UK |
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End of the Road Festival |
Dorset ~ England |
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McDonald Theatre (Supporting Bright Eyes) |
Eugene, Oregon |
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Senator Theatre (Supporting Bright Eyes) |
Chico, California |
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The Roxy (Filter Night) |
Los Angeles, California |
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Casbah (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
San Diego, California |
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El Rey Theatre (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Los Angeles, California |
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Bimbo’s 365 Club (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
San Francisco, California |
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Wonder Ballroom (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Portland, Oregon |
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Neumo’s (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Seattle, Washington |
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Bluebird Theatre (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Denver, Colorado |
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The Bottleneck (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Lawrence, Kansas |
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The Waiting Room (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Omaha, Nebraska |
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400 Bar (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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Double Door (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Chicago, Illinois |
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Mod Club (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Toronto, Ontario |
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Cabaret Music Hall (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Montreal, Quebec |
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Iron Horse Music Hall (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Northampton, Massachusetts |
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Paradise Rock Club (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Boston, Massachusetts |
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Bowery Ballroom (supporting Rogue Wave) |
New York, New York |
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Maxwell’s (Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Hoboken, New Jersey |
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Johnny Brenda’s ( Supporting Rogue Wave) |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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The Black Cat (supporting Rogue Wave) |
DC, Washington DC |
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The Earl (supporting Rogue Wave) |
Atlanta, Georgia |
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Mercy Lounge (supporting Rogue Wave) |
Nashville, Tennessee |
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The Bottletree (supporting Rogue Wave) |
Birmingham, Alabama |
{ 5 trackbacks }
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I didn’t like it at first but it has grown on me. Very good indeed plus I love the My Humps.
nice. i like the review that the san fran paper gave…to paraphrase : sounds like a late night sing along amongst wasted friends. true dat.
that second video was from a show in LA a year and a half ago. There were about 15 really snotty people in the audience, who didn’t find any humor in their ‘move bitch’ cover. It was a great night; LA just doesn’t understand. LA never understands.
Ohhh, they’re gonna be in Atlanta? With Rogue Wave? I must see if I can’t convince the husband that we should attend. =3
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