On a Saturday night in Atlanta, Rock & Roll is alive and well. Not only is it alive and well but it’s proven to be timeless and know no age boundaries. Stillwater, Oklahoma’s Taddy Porter proved that to me and a handful of folks at Smith’s Olde Bar here in Atlanta. Somewhere in the last 10 years or so, Rock & Roll seemed to lose it’s edge. Gone were the times of letting your freak flag fly (aka. long hair) and in came bands who were trading in their locks for stylish hairdos that cost $200.00 to look like they just rolled out of bed. It also seemed that younger bands just plain out forgot or in some cases never even knew just what good, honest Rock & Roll is. Just listen to a lot of the younger bands coming out and it’s very obvious. So imagine my surprise when Taddy Porter hits the stage looking like they crawled out of a DeLorean time machine that kidnapped them from 1977 and dropped them right in our laps!
Taddy Porter’s sound isn’t something new but it’s something that never gets old. Much like younger bands such as American Minor and Silvertide, Taddy Porter is a group of young fellas who grew up on the good stuff. They cut their teeth on bands like Bad Company, Free and Aerosmith and it shows completely. They are a band that’s not afraid to wear their influences on their sleeves. While it’s easy to hear the influences, it’s nearly impossible to say who they sound like which is an awesome thing. They have taken all the elements of the bands that move and inspire them and make it their own thing.
The band took the stage and slammed right into “Gotta Getcha Back” and right away I was floored with the quality of the performance and 
the song. Taddy Porter performed with a reckless abandonment that sucked me in right away and moved me. I couldn’t help but be moved both emotionally and physically as these guys just gave 120% of themselves. They did this not so much in the way that a band does to try and impress people but they did it in a way that was honest and true. Taddy Porter doesn’t need to try so hard like many others. Taddy Porter just rocks my fucking face off. No ifs, ands or buts! The band stormed through songs from their upcoming debut album and I was hard pressed to hear a song that wasn’t mind blowing. As opposed to the the dips and dives one would hear in set, this set just seemed to literally climb with each song just as good if not better than the song that came before it. The band’s 2nd song “I Gotta Love” had such an intense delivery and they even came across as a sort of Gov. Mule on uppers. The band’s first single “Shake Me” was delivered with all the raunchy and snarling attitude of early Black Crowes’ “Shake Your Moneymaker” era. “I Gotta Love” is such a great fucking song that even as I write this I found myself listening to it 3 times on the sampler I have of them. Taddy Porter’s debut album isn’t out yet but if this 4 song sampler is any sign of what’s to come, I can honestly say this is a contender for album of the year without a doubt. It’s got stellar production and the performance is just as mind blowing as the live show. It’s so rare that a band that kicks this much ass live is captured well in the studio but whoever produced this thing managed to pull the all the rats out of this band. This is going to be one hell of an album.
The bands energy on stage matched the quality of the songs as they delivered a live show that could have not just entertained but captivated thousands. Singer/Guitarist Andy Brewer channels the vocals of Paul Rogers and at times even gyrates like a possessed Joe Cocker feeling the music and every beat that is played. Lead guitarist Joe Shelby locks down the ship as Andy just cuts loose on his vocals letting his guitar drop to the side and the rhythm section of brothers Doug (drums) and Kevin (bass) Jones literally pound you in the chest enough to knock the wind out of you. Kevin is quite a sight to take in as he thrashes around the stage taking out just about anything that gets in his way. How these guys haven’t collided on stage yet is beyond me. Maybe they have but who cares. It’s so cool to see a band not afraid to move on stage and actually exude some emotion to the music they’re playing. That alone makes it easier to let the audience in and feel like it’s OK to move and be moved. Singer Andy Brewer was literally singing himself into a sweat and giving all he had even though he was sick as a dog and running 102 fever. Now THAT’S what I call Rock N’ Roll!
One by one the songs just kept coming and making me a believer but it was the song “Whatever Haunts You” that completely melted my face. Andy introduced it as a song about having skeletons in your closet and right way they were
channeling old school Black Sabbath with a kind of psychedelic hard rock sludge stoner groove. The dark undertone of the lyrics along with music that was equally as haunting showed me that these boys really know how to craft a song and do it well and full of heart. Taddy Porter closed the night with “Mean Mix” which completely brought it all together in one big melting pot of kick ass. This song showcased the bands ability to really lose themselves in a song and just jam. They jammed without losing focus of the song and it was just enough to pump the audience and let them know that they were about to tear some shit up and not go quietly. They did just than and while they were done, I could have easily done with another hour from these guys. The only problem is that with as hard as they played, I don’t know that they could have done another hour and not collapsed from exhaustion.
Taddy Porter proved to me this night that Rock & Roll is very much alive in the hearts of young people. It never really went anywhere. It’s almost like it was maybe taking a nap of sorts and the boys in Taddy Porter decided it was time to wake it up, dust it off and take it back to the people where it belongs. So they might not be doing something completely original but what they are doing is very real, very authentic and full of heart. They are delivering top notch Rock & Roll songs that everyone should hear and live shows that is guaranteed to kick you in the ass and get your attention. Taddy Porter is a name to be looked out for and when they come to your town, do yourself a favor and give them a try. It just might make your day. Just don’t ask them which one’s Taddy.
Head on over to http://www.myspace.com/taddyportermusic and get a taste of what is yet to come!
Taddy Porter – Atlanta, GA – 03/13/2010
Gotta Getcha Back
I Gotta Love
Shake Me
King Louie
Railroad Queen
Whatever Haunts You
Fire In The Streets
Mean Mix
The Brainfart w/ Taddy Porter guitarist Joe Selby (left) and drummer Doug Jones
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