Eli/Porter

Travis Hay Feb 26, 2011

A few months ago Guerilla Candy introduced you to the rap-rock hybrid band Eli/Porter.

You remember? They were the first group to be a For Your Consideration feature.

Well, a lot has happened in the Eli/Porter camp since then. The band headlined Neumos in January and threw what they called “the glow show” at the High Dive earlier this month. If you’re curious, the glow show was a massive black light party and from the looks of it it’s something more local bands should attempt.

Right now there isn’t really a place for a band like Eli/Porter in the local scene, which is a shame since anyone who has seen the group live knows they can bring a lot to the table and breathe some new life into a scene rife with folk, hip-hop and poppy Americana groups that tend to get all of the attention.

Tonight Eli/Porter will celebrate the release of its first full-length record, Official, with a show at the Showbox SoDo ($13, 7 p.m.). The record leans more heavily on the band’s rock skills as opposed to its hip-hop tendencies and overall is a solid effort for a debut album. For the past two years the band has been steadily working on improving its craft and their hard work culminates with the release of Official. Perhaps after tonight’s show at the Showbox the scene might find some room for all the bands like Eli/Porter out there. - Guerrilla Candy

BY TRAVIS HAY – NOVEMBER 16, 2010

For your consideration is a semi-regular feature on Guerrilla Candy that looks at the lesser-knowns of the local music community

Eli/Porter is a local six-piece band that blends elements of hip hop and rock and while rap-rock is the first thing that comes to mind when listening to their music Eli/Porter is not rap-rock of the Limp Bizkit varierty.

The band features an MC (Colby McGehee) and a vocalist (Richard Latham) who compliment one another well with McGehee spitting rapid-fire rhymes and Latham’s impressive pipes setting the tone for the band’s blending of musical styles. The pair have an impressive dynamic on stage which is what gives Eli/Porter its edge over your standard band trying to recreate the sounds of 1999.

If it sounds like the band gives off a bit of a Linkin Park vibe (one song even features McGehee repeating “I’m about to break”), you’re right and this can be a good or bad thing depending on how you feel about Chester Bennington and Co. Luckily unlike Linkin Park for the most part the band’s DJ, Matt Rice, stays away from the music and lets his beats and the skills of his bandmates speak for themselves.

Earlier this month the group opened a Sunday night all-ages bill of rock groups at the Showbox headlined by The Classic Crime, aka the pride of Cashmere, Wash. and to say Eli/Porter’s rap-rock tinged songs won over the crowd is an understatement. During their 25-minute set Eli/Porter’s high energy and impressive musicianship (guitarist Kenny McLean is the group’s secret weapon) made sure the kids walked away satisfied and impressed by the evening’s opening act.

While that show happened to be filled with bands that make music for the Hot Topic masses, the versatility of Eli/Porter makes sure the group would also fit in on a hip-hop heavy bill. They definitely straddle genre lines and the blurring of boundaries is something that will likely work in their favor down the road.

Eli/Porter performs about one show every three or four weeks so you have to be on the lookout if you want to catch them live. You can also check out some music over on their website. However, don’t be fooled by the funk rock sound you hear from the recorded material, the band is definitely a different beast in a live setting so make sure to see them perform before passing judgment. - Guerrilla Candy

Unrated Music sits down with Eli/Porter to get the background of the band. - Unrated Music

"Color me impressed. Eli Porter totally rocked the party at Nectar tonight. It's an interesting mix of hip hop and rock. Not 100% hip hop or 100% rock. A nice blend." - Ear Candy Blog - 12.26.09 - Ear Candy Blog