A cool summer wind brought some New Orleans funk up to Asheville, NC as George Porter Jr. blew into town alongside his Runnin’ Pardners to deliver a concert at Salvage Station. The show also featured opening support from Marvelous Funkshun and an extensive guest appearance by Joe Marcinek.
Opening with the breezy instrumental “Cloud Funk” to start things off, Porter and his Pardners quickly got a feel for the cool mountain air. It didn’t take long for the lifetime achievement Grammy-winner to dip into his new album Crying For Hope, his first in a decade, as the show rolled on with “A Tasty Truth”, which allowed guitarist Chris Adkins to really strut his stuff. Even though Porter is technically the star of the show, one would never know it based on how well he assimilates himself into the backbeat.
Related: George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners Are “Crying For Hope” In New Music Video [Watch]
Following a climb up “A Ladder”, Porter delivered the timely, emotionally charged title track to Crying For Hope. The evocative contemplation on racial injustice in the United States rang clear through the progressive mountain town, as Porter laid his soul bare for all to witness. The party soon resumed, however, with The Meters classic “Hey Pocky A-Way” as the crowd and band alike settled in for a long groove.
The Meters energy kept on coming with the familiar “Cissy Got The Blues” before the Stealie-clad Porter took the Appalachian crowd westward for a “West L.A. Fadeaway”. Though the Grateful Dead classic was already imbued with some backroom funk energy, Porter and his Pardners cranked the knob up to 11 as they maxed out the infectious groove. Just as easily as the group melded into the Dead catalog, the ensemble slid right back into a vintage Meters jam as the clock wound down.
It appeared that Porter was as taken with the crowd as they were with him, as he then implored “I gotta take y’all home with me” before taking a panorama photo of the entire landscape. Porter, 73, confessed that he was getting a bit tired and that it was time to start wrapping up the show but—despite his lethargy—still had the overwhelming urge to “Wanna Get Funky” before closing the set. Upon returning for the encore, George Porter Jr. and Runnin’ Pardners returned to the Dead songbook with a satisfyingly sensual “They Love Each Other” to send everyone home smiling.
George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners w/ Joe Marcinek – “They Love Each Other” (Grateful Dead) – Asheville, NC – 7/9/21
[Video: Michael Broerman]
The post George Porter Jr. Brings The Funkction To Asheville’s Salvage Station [Video] appeared first on L4LM.
