Sara Lov photo by Helena P. (The Earl)
New writer and local artist Sara Wood writes, "This was our first trip to The North Star Bar.....As soon as we arrived (about an hour and a half after doors) we kitted ourselves out with some Woodchuck cider, and heard just a little bit of the first opener of the night, Sara Lov. Sara had a sweet, and very juvenile voice, but I have to be honest: I was more attracted to her pretty t-shirt designs over on the merch table. As more and more people crowded in, we made our way to the upstairs balcony, where we found an unexpectedly sweet spot. Even though the heat was a bit much up there, the view was definitely worth it--especially to a short person such as myself!
Port O'Brien photo by Sara Wood (The North Star)
The second opener, Port O'Brien (a group from Oakland, CA) soon came on to offer us some pretty solid folksy indie rock. It was during their performance, complete with 3 guitars, 1 bass, drums, 1 banjo, and a couple of toy instruments here and there, that we discovered that the North Star Bar's acoustics weren't particularly forgiving, but they put on a good show nonetheless, and really engaged the crowd. The lead singer, Van Pierszalowski, seemed to be having just about the best time on stage, and he let it all out with the last song in particular, where pots and pans were handed out, and the audience was guided through repeating the chorus of melodic screams. Good stuff, right?
Sea Wolf photo by Sara Wood (The North Star)
Sea Wolf came on not a moment too soon, and got right to it, playing a crowd-pleasing set. I wished that I could have heard Alex's yummy vocals a bit more, but other than that, they sounded strong and balanced. I particularly appreciated the efforts of the band's two ladies; Joyce on cello and Lisa on keyboards--they really added to the character of the songs, and in my opinion, the recognizable Sea Wolf sound. Perhaps my favorite part of the show was the inclusion of a Marxophone, played by Lisa, which sounded much like a strummed mandolin, and served as a quirky complement to many of the songs. All in all, it was a great and intimate show full of some really beautiful music, and the night definitely sold me on the pros of The North Star Bar."
For more Sea Wolf photos from this show, view our online gallery of Sara's photos by clicking here.
Sea Wolf - band site / myspace
Sara Lov - myspace
Port O'Brien - myspace
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