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Willy Porter Band
A Concert Review |
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I got some nasty e-mail the other day. It simply said
"Get your head out of your ass, Willy Porter, middle of the
road rock? Fuck Off! Sorry if I sound opinionated. B:-," This
was in reference to the Willy Porter Band review Stu Gotz gave
seeing him open for Tori Amos. Well, my defense was Stu only had 30
minutes to come up with an analysis of Willy Porter and his band
when he opened for Tori. The nice fellow wrote back stating his love
for Willy, and figured that if we saw Willy in an entire show, our
attitude would change. I can't speak for Stu, but depending on the
set Willy played opening for Tori, I can see where his opinion might
have come, but from the show I saw, and the diversity of Willy's
music, I've got my own opinion.
The Willy Porter Band was playing the House of Blues in Chicago,
which, in a story for later in this article, is not my favorite
place to see a show. My first impression as Willy took the stage was
"nice hat." He had a lovely winter, knit cap on, and then
he started playing guitar. I began to understand what our reader was
talking about. Forgive me for the lack of a set-list, I had never
heard of Willy other than Stu's review, but plan to listen to him
more in the future. Why? Well, Willy's style reminds me of the
musical gamut short of the heavy metal/alternative style genre. See,
at one point, during a song I think was called "Where Do The
Trees Grow?" (feel free to correct me if wrong all of you in
internet land), I began the attitude that Mr. Porter is one hell of
a talented guitarist. During this little song his rhythms and
pickings reminded me of the guitar great Al Di Meola. At about this
time, Stu, who came along for the ride, scribbles down "Willy
Porter is to 'sit back and groove' guitar as Joe Satriani is to
'rock and roll' guitar." Hmm, that's a different observation, I
suppose he is sort of right because you won't be "banging your
head" to Willy, but you will be amazed. Then, as I'm
contemplating what Stu wrote, Willy breaks in to, yea, scream and
yell if the song title is wrong, but I think I heard something like
"I can't hear nobody callin'." Now, instead of jazz I'm
hearing what I call folksy blues. The song reminded me of Elvin
Bishop and now I'm being more and more impressed of the diversity of
Willy Porter's musical variety.
The show continues and I'm hearing this unique blend of jazz
fusion, blues, country, and, if some of these songs are what he
played opening for Tori, I can see where Stu got his perception,
because some of the songs were right out of mainstream pop, a la
Hootie. But those songs are few and far between for The Willy Porter
Band because most of his show is about guitar, really great guitar,
and I am one to now admire his work.
I guess, in the end, I really don't know what else to say about
The Willy Porter Band, but if you like some great guitar work in a
mix of music that ranges from blues to sort-of folk to country to a
little pop, Willy and his band should be your men. And, oh yea, he
does this great Beatles medley that, as Stu puts it, kept the feel
of the original songs but shifted them just enough to make them his
own. He's a talented guy with a talented band and that goes a long
way in my book.
Now, before the rating, let's get to the problem with the House
of Blues right now. Right now, hopefully just because it is new,
it's a tourist trap for concerts. See, the way the place is set up,
it's kinda like seeing a band in a big bar where most of the crowd
isn't there to see the band. That is to say that you have a group of
people right in front of the band that is there to see the band, and
the rest of the people huddled around the bars, talkin' up a storm,
and ruining the concert going experience for those of us who didn't
get a spot on the floor in front of the stage. Maybe this will
change as the novelty of the new House of Blues wears off, but for
now I wish those yuppies from hell would head to a different bar and
let the concert going to us fans.
So, for the rating, the Willy Porter Band gets TWO THUMBS UP!!
I've always appreciated great guitar work, whether from rock to
blues to, well, you get the point, and Willy Porter plays great
guitar. As for the crowd not on the floor, they get the two big
thumbs down. Take your conversation outside and let us enjoy the
show.
That's it for this review, I'm The Dude on the Right! L8R! |
