Like a laser-light show, watching Port St. Willow live last Saturday at The Knit was an audio/visual spectacle. The band created true post-rock performance art — a sleek production equally suited to a large theater.
Port St. Willow is often compared to The Antlers, similarities born of the long collaboration between Principe and Antlers’ frontman Peter Silberman (who was at the show). But the sound felt more like Mogwai’s instrumentals, Bon Iver and slowcore Smoky Robinson. With rock drums and prominent audio/visual effects, Principe added energy to the introspective, ambient jam sessions on "Holiday," Port St. Willow’s first full-length, reissued this month.
His expressions and Siren-like falsetto translated the melancholic mood of the hard-to-hear lyrics. Live trombone doubled as sax and experimental noise manipulated via pedals. The trombonist also played small percussion with shells, clackers and castanets. Every stop-start break was perfectly timed, the band watching each other in anticipation.
Colored light and star projections often camouflaged the band. Principe asked the audience if they liked the visuals he called, “a Northern Lights thing.”
Port St. Willow played about an hour, without monster 25-minute bonus track, “Soft Light Rush.” The loud final crescendo was the definitive peak that said, “No encore necessary.” – Bianca Seidman
We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best mellow songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!