porterdavis is the trio of
Daniel Barrett on Guitar and Vocals,
Mike Meadows on percussion and backing vocals, and
Simon Wallace on Harmonica and backing vocals.
Influences
Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Robert Johnson, Little Walter, Howlin' Wolf, Jimi Hendrix, Steve Ray Vaughn, Bob Dylan, The Darkness, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The White Stripes, Sonny Boy Williamson, Jimmy Reed, Nine Inch Nails, Paul Lamb, Woody Allen, Larry David, David Milch, Sacha Baron Cohen, Rosa Parks, Ayn Rand, Bessie Smith, Townes Van Zandt, Dutch Mills, Eric Clapton, John Mayall, Oasis, Curtis Mayfield, Bob Marley, The Who, The Kinks, The Small Faces, John Lee Hooker, Billie Holiday, Stereophonics, Coldplay, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, Paul Simon, Jack Johnson, Rolling Stones, The Beatles...
Sounds Like
American Roots & Blues
- Amped Harmonica
- Slide, Electric & Acoustic Guitar
- Multi Percussion
This ain’t your run-of-the-mill blues trio. It might even surprise you that the soulful musical texture flowing from the stage is in fact emanating from only three guys. And therein lies the beauty of porterdavis. With just three musicians, a wide variety of influences from Townes Van Zandt, to Muddy Waters, to James Brown, and a collective imagination that transcends their individual musical prowess, porterdavis dishes up some truly original roots music.
Underneath the expressive lyrics and the smooth 3-part harmonies, is a band that was founded on a deep appreciation for the formidable musicians who have paved the way before them. Dan Barrett delivers the slide electric and acoustic guitar along with the lead vocals, backed by the English Simon Wallace on Chicago-style blues harp, and Mike Meadows rounds it out with his unique concoction of percussion instruments from around the world.
Dan and Mike got their start by busking in the Porter Square and Davis Square subway stations of Boston, Massachusetts bright and early in the morning. It wasn't the most ideal stage, but it did provide a space in which they could experiment with their music—not to mention, a meaningful name for the band. Then in 2004, the guys decided to move their home base to Austin, Texas where they solidified the sound of porterdavis by adding a third harmony and the final member to the band, Simon.
The band took a major step this year when Ray Wylie Hubbard introduced them to producer Gurf Morlix. Known for his work with Lucinda Williams, Robert Earle Keene, Slaid Cleaves and more, Morlix warmly welcomed the project of producing porterdavis. The finished product is a full-length album recorded without the use of Pro Tools technology, and performed on instruments much older than the band itself.
QUOTES:
"Together, they fulfill an all-important condition for success as a trio: they're so good as a unit, the whole sounds bigger than the sum of the parts."
--Lynne Margolis/ Austin Monthly Magazine
“Dirty swamp blues by a trio who sound bigger than their britches”
--David Pyndus/ Pop Culture Press
2008 – 2009 ACCLAIMS:
Performing at 2009 Simply the Blues and Joshua Tree Roots Music festivals
Showcasing Artist two years in a row at South by South West and International Folk Alliance conferences
Featured performer at 2008 Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival/ B.C. Canada
Opened for or shared stages with: The Neville Brothers, Lyle Lovett, Patty Griffin, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Guy Clark, Chris Smither, Los Lonely Boys, Grand Funk Railroad, The Guess Who, Doyle Bramhall, the Subdudes and more...
you guys were great last night at the dawg house! i bought your newest cd and it's great. i love the new artwork and t-shirts too. it was great to be able to hear you guys again! every time you come, i get to introduce more people to your talent. hope you'll come back soon.
Hey guys, sorry I couldn't make it out to see y'all the past couple times. Been pretty busy. But I'm gonna do my damnedest to make it on the 13th! Later guys,
