The Mardi Gras season often finds New Orleans musicians taking to the road, spreading a little bit of the magic around the country and bringing the festivities directly to the people. George Porter Jr. is no stranger to this circuit, having now spent most of his life preaching the gospel of funk on stages around the world. Between his time in the foundational funk act the Meters alongside a seemingly endless list of other projects and endeavors, he has long been musical royalty. But the 76-year-old bass player may be in his purist artistic form when he’s onstage with his own band Runnin’ Pardners, which features Porter backed by a rotating cast of talented musicians. With less than two weeks until Fat Tuesday, the Pardners swept through Portland, Oregon for a show at the Star Theater on Friday, February 2nd.
Easing into a loose jam to get warmed up, the quartet set the mood right out of the gate with Porter’s lively anthem “I Get High” before he led the charge with a locked-in bass groove that saw Michael Lemmler step into the spotlight with a jazz-laden piano solo. Following the soaring tune “Come Fly With Me,” the band dropped into an eloquent and soulful instrumental that moseyed along with its casual organ. The Meters tune “My Name Up In Lights” was a standout of the night with its chugging boogie, as was “He Bite Me (The Dragon),” a dark and sinister yet fun funk number that saw Porter dropping into his growling vocals while Chris Adkins laid down a fire breathing, blues-soaked guitar solo. Porter’s chunky and deliciously brooding bass solo on this tune led the band seamlessly into a reggae-tinged rendition of Johnny Adams’ “Body and Fender Man.” Speaking of covers, the band worked in the marching, endlessly danceable Professor Longhair classic “Go to the Mardi Gras” as well as slow burning take on Johnny Vidacovich’s “Squeezing My Heart.” As the set galloped along, Porter would take the band through other standout tracks, like the poignant and soulful ballad “Happy Ride” that erupted into a wildly jubilant party, the sharp and iconic Meters funk instrumental “Cissy Strut,” and a version of “Ain’t No Use” that was oozing with thick bass lines.
If Portland wasn’t feeling the Mardi Gras spirit already, the Runnin’ Pardners lit the fire with their party-ready combination of funk, classic New Orleans R&B, and soul. Clad in his now signature tie-dye, Porter cooly held down the bass thrown in the same way he’s been doing for six decades. His ability to keep people dancing all these years later is a testament to the timelessness of his music. With so many legends passing on in recent years, Porter’s performance in Portland was a reminder to go see them as long as you can.
All photos by Greg Homolka
