Tune In Saturdays: Port O'Brien
Simple, but not simplistic. You guys have heard that enough from me, but that's the sweet spot. Good, classic songwriting without the need to show off. And that's the spot where Port O'Brien resides, making these lovable folksy tunes, and really, the kind of stuff you might expect from a guy that spends so much time on the water. The music is written by a Van Pierszalowski, who still spends his summers in Alaska fishing salmon on his dad's boat, and that sort of solitude has certainly done him well. I'm guessing you'll hear more from them, as they seem to be getting all the right kind of attention, including opening for some indie stalwarts like Bright Eyes and Rogue Wave.
From Pitchfork:
"In the process, The Wind and the Swell builds and fades, suggesting a landlocked anomie that only the ocean can assuage: "And I just wanna be floating on the sea," Pierszalowski sings on "Anchor", "with my anchor tied to land." The product of days and days at sea, The Wind and the Swell retains the songs' original documentary impact, even as it shows that Pierszalowski's music is less about seafaring summers than simple remoteness, both geographical and emotional."
Port O'Brien - I Woke Up Today (mp3)
Port O'Brien - My Eyes Won't Shut (mp3)
Port O'Brien - Five and Dime (mp3)
Port O'Brien - A Bird Flies By (video)