Taddy Porter are a band with a clear sense of purpose. From the first note of their eponymous debut album the intent is clear. This is American blues rock the way it is supposed to be. It’s dirty yet precise, loose yet structured, heartfelt yet fun and Taddy Porter display these qualities with a surprising balance between comfort and skill; riffs melting into solos, melting into raspy vocals with relative ease.
Originating from Stillwater, Oklahoma, Andy Brewer (lead vocal/guitar), Joe Selby (lead guitar/backing vocals), Kevin Jones (bass), and Doug Jones (drums) formed Taddy Porter in 2007 and have been slowly honing their craft since then – and it certainly shows.
Their debut album, released June 2010 on Primary Wave Music, is a relentless piece of classic rock, mixed with blues updated for the modern musical landscape, and from the first track, “Whatever Haunts You” one can tell that it’s something special. With a riff most other bands would kill for and an atmosphere the band must have stolen from the desert itself, it kicks off the album with a blast of energy that doesn’t let up until the end of the last track, forty-eight minutes later. If, as the record continues, you find yourself thinking, “this sounds familiar” as you tap your foot, that can only be to the album’s credit. Taddy Porter have distilled each and every one of their influences so adeptly that the music sounds as though it’s been around for a number of decades. It feels almost timeless, in a way.
While the band isn’t necessarily creating a new genre of music as they go, if you’re looking for an authentic slice of classic American rock ‘n’ roll then you’ve found it. They do what they do, and they do it incredibly well, immersing themselves in everything that makes their genre what it is.
In the titles alone the soul of blues-rock can be found – the kind of images that sprout from the title “Mean Bitch” and “Bringin’ Me Down” are examples of this – and the album carries a dark yet playful mood with it that only this kind of music can. Andy Brewer’s battered voice goes from a growl to a soar across the record and there is some truly impressive guitar work from Joe Selby – the way the two musicians interact with one another adding up to create a potentially legendary rock ‘n’ roll duo.
It is a testament to the record that it only feels like dragging once, during a ballad somewhat appropriately titled “Long Slow Drag”, but for the most part, the reckless energy does not relent. To create a genuinely interesting and enjoyable record in a musical landscape currently and largely dominated by Jack White is an impressive feat in itself. To sum it all up, this is a very promising debut that should only lead to bigger and better things for Taddy Porter.
Dead on Adam. These guys Rock! Would love to see then at Glastonbury this year. I think they would ROCK the joint!!
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