Pencil Storm’s own Jeremy Porter has a new solo record out called Dynamite Alley. As a big fan of Jeremy Porter and The Tucos, I was on this one from the moment that Jeremy announced its release. This is not the first solo record from Jeremy Porter, but I will admit that I have not delved into his previous efforts other than a quick scan at some point. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I assumed it would be a bit different from The Tucos. That would be an understatement. If you’re looking for that edgy, punchy, electric power pop, you won’t find it here. What you will find are tons of the same great storytelling lyrics that I’ve come to love from Jeremy, and a very well-crafted collection of catchy, folk-y, slightly old school country-ish songs.
Jeremy Porter - Dynamite Alley (GTG Records)
The first track on the record was also the first track released, and it has a great video to go with it. It’s called “Big Spender”, and we will start with that one. The video begins sans music with Jeremy arriving at a rural-looking spot in a beat-up pickup truck that fits the vibe perfectly. With his guitar retrieved from the back of the truck, Jeremy proceeds into a barn space that is clearly where he and his bandmates rehearse. Upon entry, all of the players—Fritz Van Kosky (bass), Dave Below (drums), Nick Raeon (banjo) and Liz Fornal (harmony vocals) are already there, and Jeremy is clearly quite late. Their looks of disdain and Jeremy’s facial expression in reaction to those looks are hilarious…
Jeremy Porter arriving late for band practice in the video for “Big Spender”
The video is quite excellent. It was filmed and directed by Noreen Porter, Jeremy’s better half. Noreen also contributes castanets on track six of the record, but we’ll get to that. In addition to Noreen and the musicians in the video, The Tucos’ Jake Riley contributed to the record on stand-up bass and Jay Gonzalez of Drive-By Truckers appears on several songs, and Tucos’ drummer Gabriel Doman engineered most of the sessions. In reality, there is a large number of guests on various tracks throughout.
The Jeremy Porter Band (L-R): Fritz Van Kosky, Jeremy Porter, David Below (Photo: Noreen Porter)
The song begins with the banjo player, and right away, my first thought was “What the hell, is this going to be a bluegrass record?!” Truthfully, it’s a little reminiscent of the opening theme for The Beverly Hillbillies television show, but watch the banjo player’s skill in the video and you will be impressed. The song then develops nicely and tells the story of a man who loses his woman to a rich guy—a big spender. The lyrics are humorous, full of comparisons between the two men…
He's got an ocean-facing view from his house in Maibu
He’s got an upper-East Side apartment too
How can I compete with my one-bedroom flat
That overlooks a Burger King and laundromat?
The song is catchy as hell.
After the opening track, we get nine more that I will run through quickly. Track two is “I Didn’t Want to Break Your Heart.” This one has its country overtones, but the banjo is gone, and it really just falls into the category of a great piece of Americana. In this one, the shoe is on the other foot so to speak—the man lamenting the inevitable fact that he will break the woman’s heart.
Track three is called “Lucy.” This one definitely has a country flavor about it. The lyrics seek to reassure a girl named Lucy about her mother. I asked Jeremy about this song because the lyrics intrigued me. Jeremy tells me that Lucy is written for the daughter of a friend of his, and that the song is sort of saying “Your mom is a bit of a mess sometimes, but she loves you more than anything...” It’s a short track at about two and a half minutes long.
Track four is a good one. “Destinations” is a thought provoking, somewhat melancholy song but it’s not slow. I want to hear it while driving through the darkness at 3:00 a.m. on a lonely highway. The guitar at 2:18 is perfect. Top notch, possibly my favorite.
Track five - the banjo is back. This song is a Loretta Lynn cover called “Everybody Wants to go to Heaven.” It’s fast paced with a repetitive 1-2 drum beat throughout and some stellar musicianship again on that banjo. Some religious overtones are in here. I find this one quite different from the majority of the tracks.
Track six is called “Angelito Bebe.” It kicks off with a spaghetti-western sounding guitar and has both English and Spanish lyrics. It sounds like something you might hear in a Mexican restaurant, albeit a very cool one. Makes me want to drink a margarita. This track was unexpected for me. As noted before, Noreen Porter contributed castanets. There’s even an accordion on this one.
Track seven, “Wet Cement,” is a slower number that paints a vivid picture for me of a man walking home on a cold winter evening thinking about life as he notices various messages left on walls and sidewalks by people from all walks of life, young and old. It’s beautiful, that’s what it is.
Track eight is called “Ain’t That Bright.” It tells a story of unrequited love, a man who just can’t get it right, because in his words, “I ain’t that bright.”
Track number nine is another one of my favorites— “The Ballad of Denise and Jane.” Another humorous slab of great lyricism and storytelling, this one is about two women who love the same man.
One of `em has a Camaro, the other a minivan.
One of `em has a tattoo, the other a spray-on tan.
And neither wants to share a man.
That’s good stuff. And listen to Jeremy’s guitar lick at 1:29 in the song. I love it.
Track ten is called “Blackout.” This is an excellent acoustic guitar song. There’s no banjo, no slide guitar, no frills. All of that makes sense when you realize that this song is a Scorpions cover. This is a killer track—exactly what I would hope to hear from a singer-songwriter playing a solo acoustic set in a dark dingy venue somewhere.
Okay, I’ve touched on all ten tracks. The bottom line is this: It’s not a blast of rock ‘n’roll guitars, but it’s not supposed to be. I have a feeling that Jeremy may have made exactly the record he set out to for this one. Go watch the “Big Spender” video and then give the whole record a couple of spins. It took me about three listens to really start to love it.
For me personally, tracks 1, 4, 7, 9, 10 are the highlights. Jeremy has been promoting the record on a tour, so go see him if you can, and by all means, go get a physical copy of the record at Jeremy’s website, www.JeremyPorterMusic.com. It’s also streaming on your favorite music service but support independent music and buy the record instead. Also available on Bandcamp. You have no excuse not to check this record out.
Well done Mr. Porter. Congrats on a great new record!
JCE, or John to his friends, was born in the Nation’s Capital. He grew up in the VA suburbs of D.C. His earliest musical memories are tied to a transistor radio with a single earphone that he carried everywhere listening to AM radio. His wife of 33 years says he’ll never grow up, and she’s exactly right. He attributes that to his lifelong love affair with all things rock n roll.