Catch the groove: George Porter Jr. to perform at Montgomery Whitewater
Folks might be feeling the funk, with all the "in your face" music and fun happening this weekend at Montgomery Whitewater's grand opening. But that's not how singer and bass player George Porter Jr. defines himself.
"I don't have a real definition of funk, because I'm not a big fan of the labels that get stuck on music," said Porter, who will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday with his band, the Runnin' Pardners. "If they're calling it funk, and it's Louisiana and New Orleans funk, it has to do with syncopation."
That's a variety of rhythms played together that has a disturbance or interruption to the regular flow.
He said "funk" is just a title that's been put on his music.
"I've intermingled rock 'n' roll into my version of funk," Porter said. "I just call what I play 'music' ... I'm not a big fan of the label thing at all."
It's been a while since his last real visit to Montgomery, though he's passed through several times on his way to Atlanta.
"We're on our way, and we're coming to play," Porter said.
Montgomery Whitewater is at 1100 Maxwell Blvd. While there's no admission charge, the grand opening weekend Friday through Sunday has a $10 parking fee. Learn more online at montgomerywhitewater.com.
While the grand opening happening Friday through Sunday will be a first-time whitewater park experience for many, Porter has actually performed at one before years ago in Charlotte, North Carolina. But he's never been whitewater rafting.
"I don't get in large bodies of water," he said.
Porter's path to music
Porter grew up on music in New Orleans, listening to the jazz his father liked. His mom sang in a Catholic school choir. Porter took guitar lessons as a young child, learning to play mostly country western music. While walking to those lessons one day when he was about 10, he heard a blues sound from a neighborhood porch that changed his life.
"I said, 'Man, that's the music I want to play,' " Porter said. "That led to my downfall with my teacher, because at one of the recitals I was supposed to play 'Red River Valley.' Instead, I played 'St. Louis Blues.' He got upset with me."
Since the '60s as a young man in New Orleans, he was in many bands and worked with artists like Irma Thomas, Eddie Bo and the Laste Brothers, Snooks Eaglin, and Johnny Adams. That led him to become a founder and bassist with the Meters. The band earned a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
He formed the Runnin' Pardners in 1990, which also features drummer Terrence “Groove Guardian” Houston, Michael Lemmler on keyboards and guitarist Chris Adkins.
He and the Runnin' Pardners released the album "Crying For Hope" in 2021, and they've released several live albums since 1994.
"One of those recordings is my version of 16 Meters songs that were recorded but never performed live by the Meters," Porter said.
New music out of Iceland
Porter went to Iceland to record the "Boots In Place" album at Floki Studios with Eddie Roberts, Nikki Glaspie and Robert Walter. The project will be released on Friday. He described it as a band of band leaders.
"We went into the studio for five days and were throwing music up against the wall, figuring it out, playing it and recording it," Porter said. "I think we did about 13 or 14 songs."
Keep up with Porter's tour and music online at georgeporterjr.com.
Montgomery Advertiser reporter Shannon Heupel covers things to do in the River Region. Contact him at sheupel@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: George Porter Jr. to perform at Montgomery Whitewater
