Taddy Porter
Project 96.1 Family Reunion
October 3, 2010 – Alpheretta, GA
Earlier this year I had the pleasant surprise of seeing a new, up and coming band from Stillwater, Oklahoma called Taddy Porter. Taddy Porter is a band that blew me away and got me more excited about Rock & Roll than any new band has done in well over 10 years. They have a sound that is so fresh yet classic and a delivery that is full of heart, soul and determination. The first time I saw them live they blew me away but you could tell that they were a band just opening the book of Rock & Roll 101 and just getting started. I’ve been lucky enough to have seen them now 3 times and it’s literally like watching them grow up and graduate up the ranks. Each show is better than the last one and the most recent one had me smiling ear to ear. The Taddy Porter that I saw open Project 96.1’s Family Reunion show was a band that has cut their teeth on the road and learned a thing or two a long the way.
This particular show was a radio festival that was dominated by modern hard rock/metal bands like Sevendust, Bullet For My Valentine and Buckcherry. This was going to be a rough gig in my opinion but Taddy Porter had no problem establishing themselves and making their presence known. Guitarist Joe Selby took the stage to an audience many of whom were obviously seeing Taddy Porter for the first time. Joe stepped up like a seasoned rock guitar veteran as he unleashed some insane blues based playing before easing into the intro for “Whatever Haunts You” as the rest of the band took their places. The rhythm section of brothers Kevin (bass) and Doug Jones (drums) literally sounded like thunder coming through the PA and as singer/guitarist Andy Brewer let out a scream of Paul Rodgers proportions it was as if flood gates were opened. This wasn’t a band that was unsure of themselves or testing waters. This was a band that was energized and confident in their ability to rock the living hell out of an audience.
Taddy Porter was literally kicking ass and taking names as the audience bopped and nodded their heads along with the groove. Taddy Porter was rocking in a huge way on this giant stage with a swagger, confidence and looseness of a band twice their age. By the time they went into their first single “Shake Me,” the crowd was theirs and loving it. Their short but sweet set was highlighted by “Mean Bitch” which has such a fucking infectious grove to it that you’d have to be dead to not move to this song. It’s so full of attitude and cockiness and it just melts my face every time I hear it. In the middle section of “Mean Bitch” Taddy Porter brought it down with a jam of The Beatles’ “She’s So Heavy” only to close out by reprising “Mean Bitch” which at this point I was hooting and hollering with approval along with the rest of the crowd. In my opinion, this is the song that encapsulates just what Taddy Porter is about and what they are capable of.
By the end of their set I overheard people talking about these guys and how much they kicked ass. All I could do was grin and nod as I walked through the audience of people who had just had the privilege of seeing the best of the best. Getting to watch these guys grow with each performance is a great treat and something I haven’t had the chance to do since The Black Crowes. Taddy Porter is moving up the ranks and are set to graduate with honors.
Taddy Porter Setlist
Whatever Haunts You, Gotta Get You Back, Shake Me, I Gotta Love, Big Enough, Mean Bitch/She’s So Heavy/Mean Bitch
[svgallery name=”Taddy Porter – October 3rd, 2010 – Atlanta, GA”]
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