Hey Porter, Hey Porter!

Porter Wagoner (with The White Stripes, Grinderman)
@ Madison Square Garden
July 24, 2007

The grand ole country legend from nowheres, Missouri - who was the yang (or yin) to Dolly Parton's yin (or yang), got to play at the big old Madison Square Garden. And while it is a little disturbing to hear an old country legend essentially say he's honored to open for Jack White, the Wagonmaster did everything in fine style. Nudie suit in tow, Porter was backed by another venerable country musician, Marty Stuart and a band of good ol' boys. True hillbilly foot-stompin' at times, the rump of the short set consisted of those standard slow country laments which, if you are not a big fan of, did nothing to convert you. But on a night of both nostalgia, reflections, and looking ahead, it was a great way to start the show. This writer was once the only 11 year old in Brooklyn who liked country music and knew who Marty Stuart was (but admittedly only knew of Porter, not by name, as "the old guy Dolly worked with"). It was a nice trip down a very narrow memory lane.