Taddy Porter

In need of a good jolt to get your weekend started right? Head down to see Exit 6C, for an evening of good old-fashioned, amps-on-11, tap-yer-foot-and-buy-another-beer rock'n'roll with Stillwater-based quartet, Taddy Porter. The group spent much of December 07 in the recording studios and is currently touring Oklahoma and surrounding states. - Urban Tulsa Weekly

"Stillwater, Oklahoma’s Taddy Porter brings back the days of the Blues Rock Gods. The songwriting is strong, the guitar playing sufficiently hot and the production top-notch. You could plug these guys into a music festival with classic and arena rock bands and they'd be right at home."

"They have a reputation for a big rock sound and strong live shows. Their 2008 release, Monocle, is a must hear."

Wildy Haskell
Wildy's World - Wildy's World -Wildy Haskell

Taddy Porter is from JJ Cale territory and have an original, classic rock sound with lots of edge.Taddy Porter is a
raucous mix of classic rock and blues with a subtle hint of modern rock.
Congratulations on being our Sonic Bids Band of The Month! The Okie bands rule this month.
The honorary OKIE from Muskogee.... Gary Allen
- Gary Allen Drummer for Charlie Danies Band & JJ Cale

Taddy Porter
Monocle


It’s near undeniable that in the past decade or so, rock has become completely digitized. The affordability of computers and home recording software has nixed the need for million-dollar equipment of old, with even that classic warm analog sound victim to reproduction by various plug-ins. Likewise, the Internet has become the main stomping ground for untapped talent, rendering record labels near-obsolete. The result is a double-edged sword: music is more accessible and musicians more empowered, but there’s an increasing oversaturation of rank amateurism (the kind once weeded out by industry gatekeepers.)

The reason I mention all this is because once in a while you find a band like Taddy Porter, who present the best of both worlds: almost completely unknown and independent, the foursome is rife with talent, moxie, and old-school charm. Their new release Monocle follows in the best traditions of funk-laced rock, throwing pretention to the wind in favor of a genuine groove. The result is a breed of music that’s sincere and yet swaggering, with a strut in its walk and a heart full of fire. That kind of combination is refreshing in today’s music world, where posturing is often used as a substitute for passion.

Taddy Porter’s boys are Oklahoma-bred and wear the label proudly, with music that’s greasy and filling and simple (without being simplistic.) Much of their charm must be credited to leadman Andy Brewer, whose bristling, soulful voice must inevitably be compared to Glenn Hughes and The Black Crowes’ Chris Robinson. But beyond the additional similarities with legends like Lynrd Skynrd and up-and-comers Kings of Leon, Taddy Porter clearly prefers funk to country on Monocle. Such inclinations prove wise, as the band gleefully (and easily) pumps out track after track of chilled-out, guitar-based sonic joy with nary a blink of the eye.

Things start off heavy n’ hot with “King Louie,” where guitar licks run at a jet’s pace with abandon. Brewer invites listeners in with a thick vocal crawl as the tension builds and never looks back. This fly-by-night attitude lends the album an undoubtedly cool aura, as if the band members are spinning musical yarns to a cabbie before heading out to the next gig. That funky poise continues through “Character Assassin” and especially on “What Gets You High,” where lusciously-distorted guitars hop up and down to a blues-inspired beat. It’s here listeners realize that the members of Taddy Porter love what they do, yet know how to do it with restraint – that is, recognizing when to pull back and keep the self-indulgence to a minimum. Whereas Monocle could have become a dragged-out psychedelic disaster, it instead opts for simple pleasure and ear-accessibility.

With that in mind, audiences won’t find two tracks with more hum-ability than “Voodoo Johnny” and “From the 9’s,” both of which take joy in slowly laying out their cards. But make no mistake: beneath the catchy licks and polished persona, there’s blood, grit, sweat, and a whole lot more (whiskey, maybe) in the music of Monocle. Thus, it’s a win-win situation for anyone who gets to experience the soon-to-be-big Taddy Porter: there’s a little bit of everything, and it’s all good.

Kevin Liedel, MuzikReviews.com Sr. Staff Editor
November 9, 2008
© MuzikReviews.com - Muzik Reviews . Com

Taddy Porter

Editor's Pick:

Some say hindsight is 20/20. If that holds true, Taddy Porter has got a perfect vision of what 70's influenced rock and roll should sound like. I've got a coulple LPs from that era that I quickly toss in favor of this Oklahoma quartet's compositions. Other acts, like Kid Rock, and now Taddy Porter are bringing Southern rock back to the forefront of American music. Don't miss out on this one.

11-17-2008 - Type 3 Media

NOVEMBER 12, 2008

Retro Hip, Indie Cool
All the pieces fall together and work for Stillwater's Taddy Porter

BY G.K. HIZER

Everything old becomes new again, right? That is certainly the case with music. Yes, the face of popular music is constantly changing, but it always seems to work its way back around to its roots especially in blues and R&B.

To that extent, fans of straight-up rock and roll find plenty to rejoice in this weekend as The Effects, Swampfox and Taddy Porter take the stage at Plan B on Saturday evening.

The lesser known group this weekend, however, is Taddy Porter -- the blues rock combo from Stillwater. Although the band played in town a few times in the spring, DFest proved to be the group's coming out party in Tulsa, and its following has grown rapidly since, winning rock fans from nearly every corner of the local scene. While comparisons can be drawn to modern acts like Jet and The Black Keys, there are also plenty of ties to classic rock and blues, with the band's sound drawing from Zeppelin, Howlin' Wolf and a big dose of Bad Company.

I caught up with drummer Doug Jones via phone last week while the band was on the road for what has become a weekly migration and a sign of just how popular the band is becoming. After playing its first gig more than a year ago, Taddy Porter has already seen enough positive response to be playing nearly every weekend throughout the Oklahoma/Texas/Arkansas region.

According to Jones, the band came together innocently enough with guitarist/singer Andy Brewer coming over while Jones was playing drums with a friend. Brewer strapped on a guitar and it was clear that the two had musical chemistry. From there, they continued to play together discretely for about six months. Eventually Brewer's guitar instructor, Joe Selby, came over to jam with them. As fate would have it, Selby ended up part of the band and, in turn, Doug's brother Kevin stepped up to fill the bass slot, partially because he had played bass previously and he fit right in.

Then, this past spring, Taddy Porter participated in a Battle of the Bands contest sponsored by The Buzz (94.7FM) in Oklahoma City that proved to be pivotal for the band. "We entered on a whim," Jones said, "and ended up winning out of 64 bands. That gave us money for stuff like shirts and gas -- and to go back into the studio."

Anyone who's already seen Taddy Porter likely has a copy of the band's Monicle EP, which the band made itself in order to have something to give out to fans and start circulating its tunes. The question is, however, which copy do you have? What started out as a six song EP has grown, for the band returned to the studio. Songs were gradually added as time and finances allowed.

As a listener, I find the beauty of Taddy Porter to be the blending of elements. The band is obviously grounded in blues and classic rock like Cream, Zeppelin and Bad Company, but there's also more than enough swagger and attitude to keep the band engaged in the current music scene, appealing to fans of everyone from The Black Crowes and Kings of Leon to The Black Keys and Radio Moscow (of which the band will be doing a short tour with this winter).

Saturday night's show definitely showcases local favorites The Effects and Swampfox, but don't be late. If you love rock with soul, Taddy Porter just might steal the show.


- Urban Tulsa Weekly