Although an acoustic guitar is Willy Porter’s weapon of choice, don’t expect some strum-and-mumble folkie tilting at societal windmills with a pained aura bleeding from his voice and instrument. In the first place, Porter is a virtuoso guitarist, inspired by Leo Kottke and John Fahey to fingerpick his way up and down the fretboard with astonishing speed and dexterity. Expect to be dazzled by his six string skills.
Next, the Wisconsin native certainly has a lot to say about the state of mankind and current events, but he’s not interested in dry recitations of disasters and infidelities and political outrage. Porter approaches those subjects with a wry humor and a weary smile, like the title track of his most recent album, last fall’s How to Rob a Bank: “You can’t walk in there brazen with an Uzi like Patty Hearst/ I’m gonna secure myself a seat on the board of directors first/ Oh that’s how you rob a bank.” Expect to be moved by his estimable wordsmithery.
Porter brings the Folk passion of Woody Guthrie and Phil Ochs to his work, regardless of how it comes out in translation, like the electric Blues sting of “Hard Place,” the first person tale of a third generation soldier, or the gorgeous McCartneyesque Pop of “The Lemon Tree,” an ode to domestic bliss. Expect to be impressed by his depth and diversity.
Just as importantly, Porter offers a ground level perspective of the widescreen issues that fill the headlines and at the same time he relishes any opportunity to examine the mundane beauty of living, as he does in the Appalachian-flecked “Barefoot Reel.” Expect to be awed by his simplicity and intimacy.
Whether with a full band or standing alone in a single spotlight, Willy Porter brings a wealth of experience and insight to every song, every performance and every tale he tells from the stage. Expect to be transformed.
(Buy tickets, check out performance times and get venue details here.)
This article appears in Feb 17-23, 2010.