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ports of call bio...
atmospheric dream pop akin to My Bloody Valentine and Ride combined with drugged out psychedelic rock....

Ports of Call began in 2007 when former atsro-physicists Tom (i invented string theory) Fleischer and Thomas (my mind is a black hole) Mosher reunited and joined forces with an ancient mayan spiritual force Daniel (i only rock when the party stops) Salerno. The band recorded their highly anticipated debut album underwater at Second Story Studios with former russian ballet/ psychic mime Carolynne (*) McNeel sharing vocal duties and Andrew (one man universe) Grossman on bass. Upon completion of the record, the lovely and talented (far more talented than everyone else at least) Stephanie Forsythe joined the group replacing the sadly lost Grossman. we mounred. This would prove to be key when McNeel decided to depart the group for some much needed down time and to pursue her other musical interests, and ever growing collection of tin woodsmen and tick-tock wind-ups. Following her departure, Stephanie has stepped forward to execute those sweet boy-girl vocals live alongside Thomas that are so loved on the group's self-released debut album "Like Thieves...". The record was released in February 2008 amidst an internet buzz that has since only grown louder. Unlike the voices in Thomas' head which have dimmed a bit since his youth...

The track "Washout" has been very popular on internet radio as well as some broadcast radio stations throughout the United States and Europe. The band completed work on a video for the track with martian expert Derek (my dad IS batman) Moench and released it at the tail end of January 2009. Ports of Call has been featured on Pitchfork's Forkcast as well as twice on Local Support in Philadelphia.

Ports of Call have played in venues along the eastern seaboard sharing stages with artists such as Film School, Grand Archives, Mahogany, LoveLikeFire, Photon Band, Himalaya, Monocle, Dead Leaf Echo, Screen Vinyl Image, and many others. Ports of Call hopes to one day feature as part of your morning routine whereupon we will help you make the best oatmeal that this world has ever seen....

reviews here is what some people somewhere said and they are important because people listen to them....

"...the crowd ate up every second of sound Ports of Call provided. Salerno's drums drove songs forward, along with McNeel's tambourine on a few songs, behind beautiful three part harmonies that walked the line of haunting and eerie... Ports of Call is an absolute must to see perform live.
-popwreck(oning)

"As simple as it may be for many musicians to hum a melody and relay it into instrumental form, capturing a sense of atmospheric believability is a skill that cannot simply be taught…it would be quite easy for me to group Ports of Call into the masses of shoegaze revivalists…but they, unlike many of their contemporaries, clearly have the ability to craft an audible atmosphere through their musical prowess alone. Whether it be through their haunting production effects, reverbed vocals, or resoundingly sterile guitars, their atmospheric ability is easy to admire.”
-Obscure Sound

“With their debut album “Like Thieves....” they have cleverly sidestepped all of the faux pas that led to the genres demise first time around. Shoegaze came under heavy fire for it’s self-congratulatory attitude, meaningless lyrics and pretentious pomposity coupled with shy, awkward live performances…With “Like Thieves...”, Ports of Call have married the shimmering effulgent walls of noise with tangible melodies, resplendent reverb-infused vocals and a firm anchorage to the philosophy of alternative rock…Rather than feeling like you’re listening to half an hour of pretty noise, the end result is a rich, evolving tapestry of heartfelt art.”
-Strangeglue UK Rated 8/10

“Philadelphia five-piece Ports of Call aren’t the first band to bathe in the tuneful shoegaze jangling of Ride, but they’ve soaked up the influences to nice effect. On “Washout”, from their self-released Like Thieves..., some wobbly guitar strums,smoldering distortion, and faraway warbles surround a measured bass line, cymbals splashing right behind them. Thomas Mosher, on guitar, and Carolynne McNeel—who plays guitars, violins and keyboards in the group-- trade sweet, C86-ready nothings in duet, their whispery voices barely emerging above the din.”
-Pitchfork

"So enter Ports of Call as another shoegaze act that you should get familiar with this year. The Philly quintet blends psychedelic with atmospheric in the most beautiful of ways, painting haunting soundscapes which are highlighted by the interplay of innocent boy/girl vocals that are almost drowned out by the noise.
-Friction NYC