At the beginning of the month we posted “Sour Milk/Salt Water,” a track from Port O’Brien’s third album threadbare. As mentioned then, the followup to Van Pierszalowski, Cambria Goodwin, & Co’s All We Could Do Was Sing was recorded in two locations, namely Jason Quever’s San Francisco living room and Aaron Espinoza’s Los Angeles studio. What we didn’t know then is that the album’s mix of introspection and more cathartic, rhythmic pop was inspired by the death of Goodwin’s younger brother. As the press release notes, a song like “My Will Is Good” is, more or less, an attempt to “describe the liberation that follows in the wake of making active changes in one’s life following tragedy.” When Pierszalowski and Goodwin stopped by Quit Your Day Job, their discussions of their nautical and baking lives focused on family, small towns, and community in an honest and unpretentious way, somehow making this feel less abstract than the usual tragedies of strangers.

• Port O’Brien – “My Will Is Good”Download

threadbare is out 10/6 via TBD Records. The band’s in Europe in August, then hits the US with Sea Wolf in the fall. The touring lineup includes Tyson Voegel of Two Gallants and Graham LeBron of Rogue Wave. Keep watch for West Coast dates.

08/14 – Haldernm Germany @ Haldern Pop Festival
08/16 – Leicester, UK @ Summer Sundae Weekender
08/17 – Manchester, UK @ NIght and Day Cafe
08/18 – London, UK @ Borderline
08/20 – Kiewet, Belgium @ Pukkelpop Festival
08/21 – Erfurt, Germany @ Highfield Festival
08/22 – St Polten, Austria @ Frequency Festival
08/24 – Groningen, Holland @ Noorderzon Festival
08/25 – Utrecht, Holland @ Tivoli
09/18 – Portland, Or @ Mississippi Studios (Music Fest NW)
09/22 – Vancouver, BC @ The Media Club*
09/23 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern*
09/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue*
09/26 – Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive*
09/28 – Omaha, NE @ The Slowdown*
09/29 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry*
09/30 – Milwaukee, WI @ Mad Planet*
10/01 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas Tavern*
10/02 – St. Louis, MO @ The Billiken Club*
10/03 – Indianapolis, IN @ Radio Radio*
10/04 – Cincinnati, OH @ Southgate House*
10/07 – Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center for the Arts*
10/09 – Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dee’s*
10/10 – Montreal, PQ @ Il Motore*
10/13 – Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club*
10/14 – New York, NY @ The Mercury Lounge*
10/16 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Hall*
10/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar*
10/18 – Baltimore, MD @ The Talking Head Club*
10/19 – Washington, DC @ DC 9*
10/21 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Nightlight Bar & Club*
10/23 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl*
10/24 – Nashville, TN @ Exit In*
10/27 – Dallas, TX @ The Cavern*
10/28 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s Jr. *
10/30 – Phoenix, AZ @ Modified Arts*

* w/ Sea Wolf and Sara Lov