WATERS, fronted by Van Pierszalowski – formerly of Port O'Brien – opened for Clap Your Hands Say Yeah in Milwaukee in December, not long after its debut disc, "Out in the Light," was released.
Now, as the record – issued by TBD Records in September – has continued to quietly garner rave reviews, Pierszalowski and company are back to play at Turner Hall on Thursday, March 22, opening for The Delta Spirit.
Tickets for the 7 p.m. show are $15.
"Out in the Light," packed with catchy melodies and gritty guitars, was recorded with producer John Congleton (Modest Mouse, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Roots, New Pornographers, etc.) in Dallas with a group that Pierszalowski put together while in Oslo.
We got a chance to ask Pierszalowski a few questions about the record and more. Here's what he had to say...
OnMilwaukee.com: I've read that Waters is basically your thing alone. But I've also read that you went to Norway and put together a band. Is Waters a band collaboration or more a solo project?
Van Pierszalowski: The idea for WATERS started as my project. I wrote most of the songs before I brought them to any sort of band. However, in the process of going to Norway and putting together a band, and now touring with my amazing dudes, its becoming more and more of a band every day.
OMC: What led you to Norway after the demise of Port O'Brien? Beyond connecting you with other musicians, how did being there inspire "Out in the Light"?
VP: On one of the last tours with Port O'Brien, I met a girl in Oslo and fell in love. I started going there to be with her, and I ended staying off and on for about two years. It was an amazing place to focus on writing and putting into focus what I wanted WATERS to become.
I'm from California, so I've never really lived through very dramatic seasons, so it was a really powerful experience to see the changes throughout the year, and I'm sure that found its way into the songs.
OMC: Is there a significance to the band name? And to the fact that you've now been in two watery-named bands?
VP: Not really. I just really love the name, although I'm trying to get this all capital letters thing to stick. Googling has been a problem, but I think its getting better. My life goal is to become the No. 1 search result for "waters" on Google. The Wikipedia page for "water" keeps getting in the way, though.
OMC: "Out in the Light" has a grittier vibe than your earlier work. Do you get Port O'Brien fans that hope you'll play some of that material at gigs?
VP: I'm sure there are some, and we have played a few once in a while, but all in all people are excited to just hear the new songs. There are a lot of more delicate moments on the album that we play live, as well.
OMC: How did your show go here in Milwaukee back in December? Are you looking forward to coming back so soon?
VP: We had an awesome time in Milwaukee with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. I was really excited to learn we were playing there again on this tour. I can't wait!
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
