I was a latecomer to Port O’Brien, a band whose 2009 album, Threadbare, fortunately found its way to my mailbox during the pre-release promotional push. And wouldn’t ya know, just when you think you start to know a band, they go and break up on you. But former Port O’Brien frotnman Van Pierszalowski – who … Continue reading WATERS (ex-Port O’Brien): For the One
I usually don’t make it a habit to run contests and such around here. But I’m making an exception this time because I think Port O’Brien’s newest, Threadbare, is an album deserving of reaching as many ears as possible. With that, I can tell you I have five copies – FIVE! – of Threadbare on … Continue reading Giveaway: Port O’Brien’s Threadbare on vinyl
The 44th installment of I Used to Love H.E.R., a series in which artists/bloggers/writers discuss their most essential or favorite hip-hop albums and songs, comes from singer Van Pierszalowski of Oakland-based indie-folk band Port O’Brien, which just wrapped up a seven-week tour in support of its excellent 2009 album Threadbare. Having talked to Pierszalowski at … Continue reading I Used to Love H.E.R.: Van Pierszalowski
(Port O’Brien)
Though I foolishly overlooked Port O’Brien’s 2007 album All We Could Do Was Sing (I’m making up for that now), I’m happy to have spent plenty of time with this year’s excellent Threadbare. The Oakland-based band closed a tour run with Sea Wolf on Friday at a sold-out Modified in Phoenix, and Port O’Brien brought … Continue reading Port O’Brien on KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic
From his days in Port O’Brien to his debut under the WATERS moniker (all caps) in 2011, big, powerful hooks just seem to come so easy to Van Pierszalowski. He’s at it again with this new WATERS track “Got to My Head,” the first song off what is presumably a follow-up to the very excellent … Continue reading New WATERS: Got to My Head
The sixth installment of 110 Percent, a series in which I talk to musicians about sports, features Van Pierszalowski, the former frontman of Port O’Brien who launched his new project, WATERS, with a great debut, Out in the Light, last September on TBD Records. Pierszalowski loves the Dodgers more than anything (even Lil Wayne) and … Continue reading 110 Percent: Van Pierszalowski (WATERS) on the Dodgers, A.J. Ellis and how music ended his baseball career
I should probably do more drugs. This video for WATERS’ “For the One” would then make total sense. Maybe. Either way, it’s a trip. I think every Arizonan who hangs a dreamcatcher from their rearview mirror could learn a lesson here. Out In the Light, the new album from ex-Port O’Brien frontman Van Pierszalowski’s new … Continue reading WATERS: For the One (video)
Sometimes, the most obvious answer is right in front of your face. I went around and around, mentally juggling my favorite songs of the year – all of which were great but none of which really stood out above the rest. In a year that I felt was just sorta “eh,” singling out one track … Continue reading Favorite song of 2009
I just spent the past three days traveling to and from New York, so I’m catching up on some e-mail, the most intriguing of which is one from Sub Pop offering an mp3 from Retribution Gospel Choir’s forthcoming sophomore album 2, due for release on Jan. 26 (the same date for new Spoon … 2010 … Continue reading New Retribution Gospel Choir: Hide it Away
Alex Brown Church brings Sea Wolf to Modified on Friday, a day before Halloween, which makes this new video for Wicked Blood – the leadoff track on the album White Water, White Bloom – all the more timely. Delivered in black-and-white, the visuals play out like some beauty and the beast tale, set against the … Continue reading Sea Wolf: Wicked Blood (video)