Photos by Jackson WilliamsWe're reaching the end of the lazy summer, just another reminder that we need to catch all the shows we can before winter hits. Some of us love the heat of August, but for the people who make up
Port O'Brien, Summer means hard work. Last year, it was in the frigid confines of Larsen Bay, Alaska. This year, we find them hard at work touring in support of their debut album,
All We Could Do Was Sing.
The energy of the group onstage is undoubtedly one of the most electric of the season; the power of the song-writing so closely related to and deeply rooted in firsthand experience in Alaska shines onstage, with lead singer
Van Pierszalowski and only-female member Cambria Goodwin, who formed the band in 2005. Support comes from guys picked up along the way, and together, they played a hell of a show.
Bodies of Water played as well, but their epic constructions failed to make as large a splash. Van and the gang blew it out of the water with their finale, a sing-along "All We Could Do Was Sing" complete with audience participation: Van handed out pots and pans, washboards and tambourines for the crowd to play, and invited them onstage to chant along with him. We're looking forward to the charming return of these Californian rockers. -
joe puglisiPort O'Brien on Tour8/15 - Union Hall- Brooklyn, NY
8/16 - Johnny Brendas - Philadelphia, PA
8/17 - Black Cat Backstage - Washington, DC
8/18 - Cafe Bourbon St Annex - Columbus, OH
8/19 - Locals Only - Indianapolis, IN
9/13 - Monolith Festival @ Red Rocks - Denver, Colorado
9/15 - The Paladium - Salt Lake City, Utah
9/18 - Little Fox w/ the PEGI YOUNG band - Redwood City, CA
9/21 - TREASURE ISLAND FESTIVAL - In between SF and OAKLAND, CA
9/27 - Festival in the Forest! w/ the Silver Jews, Megapuss, Entrance, Beach House, Little Wings @ Fernwood - Big Sur, CA
10/3 - Concrete and Glass Festival - London, England
10/22 - University of Sheffield - Sheffield, England
10/23 - Night and Day - Manchester, England
10/24 - Brudenell Social Club - Leeds, England
10/25 - King Tuts - Glasgow, Scotland
10/27 - The Black Box - Belfast, Ireland
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Port O'Brien on Myspace
Album Review: All We Could Do Was Sing