Port St. Willow @ The Great Hall

Sometimes the choices we make come not from reason, just instinct. When we received some copy about Port St. Willow, it got a cursory look-over.... then we stopped, looked again, and lucked out.

Port St. Willow is the music project of Nick Principe. Currently based in Brooklyn, New York, he's on tour opening for The Antlers. His first full-length album, Holiday, released in May 2012, is a mix of shoegazer, stoic white noise and shamelessly insistent vocals.

Toronto saw his first performance outside America, and we feel Nick chose his crowd well. An appropriate opener to The Antlers [they're good, but everyone knows that already]. So, if you're thinking of picking up a new sound this week, this should be it. Give it a listen here. 

The Great Hall was filled with "a love record to no one", just as the website said. We like people who keep their promises. It plays a little dreamy, slightly rainy, definitely autumnal in it's approach. Like the cold it creeps up on you, but you know you kinda dig it. 

The pluses of hearing a band on the up and up are many. Besides the fact that you can still fan-spam him directly [ portstwillow@gmail.com ], you can be part of the fun and say you totally knew the project before it got big. If you're curious or just fell in love instantly like we did, Nick is headed back to NYC to play as headliner at Mercury Lounge on October 12 with Conveyor