The new, self-titled disc from Austin’s Porterdavis is a Country-Blues gem. With stomping rhythms, a menacing harmonica weaving it’s way through the melodies, and the dark, smokey and soulful vocals of Dan Barrett, much of the disc seems to be rooted in the mud of Mississippi rather than dusty soil of Texas. If another band from Austin, Band of Heathens, had decided to put a rougher edge on an entire album of songs like “Jackson Station” and “Cornbread”, they would likely dream up an album similar to Porterdavis.
The album, produced by Texas guru Gurf Morlix, was recorded with his live and loose touch in the studio and the band’s tight interplay shines throughout. Feeding off of each other and forgoing pro-tools, there is an organic vibe that suits their simple and rustic style extremely well.
Songs like “Smack Your Back” and “Take the Fall” offer muscular, almost aggressive examples while “Strange Way to Grieve” lightens things up considerably when the group seems to channel their inner Jack Johnson with their breezy, summery guitar strums. As the title of the song suggests, the lyrics throw anyone looking for a happy-go-lucky sing along off the trail as the harmonica again takes center stage and bellows subtly while still providing a commanding presence. With “Carter’s Tune”, we have another Texan, Eliza Gilkyson, lending her soft vocals to what is likely the album’s softest song, along with “Grass Growing Through Concrete”. In “Carter’s Tune”, as with so many of the other numbers on the album, it is again the harmonica of Simon Wallace that leads the song by threading the vocals together with the rhythm and creating a seamless tapestry of roots, blues and folk. This melding of styles really gives the entire disc it’s winning personality.
Listen to tracks from the Porterdavis’ new album, Porterdavis on their Myspace page.
9 Responses
[...] The Gobblers Knob calls the new, self-titled disc from Porterdavis a country-blues gem. With stomping rhythms, a menacing harmonica weaving it’s way through the melodies, and the dark, smokey and soulful vocals of Dan Barrett, much of the disc seems to be rooted in the mud of Mississippi rather than dusty soil of Texas. [...]
I already like Gurf Morlix quite a bit and I’m liking what I’m hearing on Porterdavis’ myspace page. Thanks for the recommendation.
My pleasure Leeann! I have been in a blues-intensive mode recently, and I just dig the soul that the harmonica, rhythym and vocals ooze on this album.
To me, “Soul” is one of those classic, “you know it when you hear it” types of vibes or sounds. I cant explain why it feels souful, but when I listen to the vocals on this album, it’s there…
I know what you mean. I’m into Delbert McClinton right now and that’s how I’d describe his voice too.
Absolutely. Tell you what, you should check out this new album that I just listened to. The new disc by Seth James is pretty good. He too has a touch of soul and struck me as a younger Delbert with a tad more rock in his sound. Most of that disc was written by james with help from Chris Stapleton, Trent Summar, Jay Knowles and other good writers. he even has a version of “Leaves of September”, which was one of the songs that Caitlin & Will sang on the podcast.
As an aside, Caitlin told me last week via an email that it might be theie next single….
I’m on it. Chris Stapleton, Trent Summar and Delbert is all you needed to say.:)
I’m thinking I’m not on Caitlin’s good list right now, but, hopefully, that’ll change in the future.
did I miss a snarky, anti-C&W post over at CU or something?
I didn’t mean it to be snarky, but I didn’t like the production on “Address in the Stars” and I said as much in my review. I also said something about Catlin showboating a little, which didn’t mean that I didn’t like her vocal performance, because I actually thought she sounded very good and sincere on the song. She’s got some loyal fans who did a good job of defending her and she, herself, came to the thread to clarify some things. She was extremely classy though, but I did feel a little sheepish, because I don’t always think of artists reading my reviews.:)
I used to book these guys a lot. Not only are they extraordinarily talented, esp. Simon and Mike, they are incredibly kind. The new album has some real gems on it, but I’m still to this day smitten with an oldie of theirs, ‘Penny Candy’.