Port O’Brien

I first heard Port O’Brien opening for Rogue Wave back in October of 07, and at first I sort of brushed them aside as another indie band that would be forever opening for other indie bands, never quite able to break on through. After having listened to their album All We Could Do Was Sing, I feel bad for feeling that way. It wasn’t that their live show was unenthusiastic or fun to listen to, I had intentions to look them up after the show, but I never got around to it (maybe it was because Rogue Wave’s show was too awesome). The album is much fuller than what I remember of their live show; it has string arrangements, some sound clips of the ocean, and layered vocals. “When I Woke Up Today” was both the opening and closing song for their set. It sounded better the second time when the audience started to sing along, sounding more like it does on the record. Though I’m not sure of the nautical experience of Modest Mouse or the Decemberists, Port O’Brien seems to have some authentic experience as it is poignantly expressed in “Fisherman’s Son”.

Every summer, Van works on his father’s commercial salmon fishing boat, the Shawnee, on Kodiak Island in Alaska. The work is exhausting and the weather could be much better, but the contrast between the serenity of the wilderness and the rigorousness of the labor seem to cause quite a bit of musical inspiration.

– from their website

The album has its soft and delicate moments as in “Don’t Take My Advice” and its rockin’ out moments like in “Pigeonhold”, but it all works together in the end. Don’t be a fool like me and brush this band aside, give them a chance and I think you’ll enjoy them. Here are a few tracks for your listening pleasure:

MP3: Port O’Brien – I Woke Up Today

MP3: Port O’Brien – Fisherman’s Son

MP3: Port O’Brien – Don’t Take My Advice

Catch them live at one of these upcoming dates:

Jun 23 2008 7:00P
Brookdale Lodge w/ Black Francis (featuring some dude from some band called THE PIXIES) Santa Cruz, California
Jul 7 2008 8:00P
The Casbah w/ Builders and the Butchers San Diego, California
Jul 8 2008 8:00P
The Detroit Bar w/ Builders and the Butchers Costa Mesa, California
Jul 9 2008 8:00P
Muddy Waters w/ Builders and the Butchers ALL AGES Santa Barbara, California
Jul 10 2008 8:00P
Spaceland w/ Builders and the Butchers Los Angeles, California
Jul 11 2008 8:00P
Cafe Du Nord w/ Builders and the Butchers ALL AGES San Franciscoooooooo!, California
Aug 6 2008 8:00P
Cafe Montmartre w/ Bodies of Water Madison, WI
Aug 7 2008 8:00P
Schubas w/ Bodies of Water Chicago, IL
Aug 9 2008 8:00P
El Mocambo w/ Bodies of Water Toronto, ON ~ CANADA
Aug 10 2008 8:00P
Le Divan Orange w/ Bodies of Water Montreal, QC ~ CANADA
Aug 12 2008 8:00P
The Middle East Upstairs w/ Bodies of Water Cambridge, MA
Aug 13 2008 8:00P
Mercury Lounge w/ Bodies of Water New York, NY
Aug 15 2008 8:00P
Union Hall w/ Bodies of Water Brooklyn, NY
Aug 16 2008 8:00P
Johnny Brenda’s w/ Bodies of Water Philadelphia, PA
Aug 17 2008 8:00P
Black Cat Backstage w/ Bodies of Water Washington, DC
Aug 18 2008 8:00P
Cafe Bourbon St Annex w/ Bodies of Water Columbus, OH
Aug 19 2008 8:00P
Locals Only w/ Bodies of Water Indianapolis, IN
Sep 13 2008 2:00P
Monolith Festival @ Red Rocks! Denver, Colorado

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