Porter (band)

Porter is a Mexican indie rock band based in Guadalajara, Mexico.[1][2]

Porter
Current members
Background information
OriginGuadalajara, Mexico
GenresExperimental Rock
Alternative Rock
Indie Pop
Dream Pop
Years active2004–2008
2013–present
Labels3er Piso Records (2004 - 2007)
Industrias WIO (2015 - 2017)
Universal Music (2018 - Present)
MembersDavid Velasco
Fernando de la Huerta
Víctor Valverde
Diego Rangel
Past membersJuan Son
Juan Pablo Vázquez

Despite their uncommon sound the band got decent radio airplay on important broadcasting stations, their videos: "Espiral", "Daphne" and "Host of a Ghost" had a good reception in music video channels.[3] "Daphne" was placed in the Telehit's Top Ten videos and, more recently, "Host of a Ghost". (October 2007). The band has overall acceptance among critics & the audience, which often labels their sound as weird, interesting and vanguardish.

History

Porter was formed in May 2004. At the beginning they were an instrumental band, until Juan Son joined the band that same year. They then recorded the EP Donde los Ponys Pastan, with 3er piso records, a Mexican indie record label. This EP was produced by Alejandro Pérez Orco (member of Azul Violeta) and includes seven songs, among which are: "No te encuentro" ("I can't find you"), "Girl", "Daphne", "Bipolar" and their most popular song "Espiral". There are also two instrumental songs in this EP called "Interlude" and "Interlude Complicado". Later that year, Porter made it to the semi-finals of an indie rock band contest called 0-music, with the song "I can't find you".

On September 3, 2006, they served as the opening act for The Strokes at the Arena VFG in Guadalajara.

Porter performed on the 2007 Vive Latino festival, where the first copies of their debut album, Atemahawke were available. The album went on sale on May 15, 2007.

Porter also performed for the first time outside of Mexico in Hollywood, California at Al Borde's Rock N' Bliss concert on October 12, 2007, and, in 2008, at the Coachella Festival[4] where Natalia Lafourcade joined them on stage during the performance of "Host of a Ghost".

Their music has been classified as alternative, indie, and experimental. However, lyrics often explore surrealist and space rock themes combining English and Spanish languages. As an example, the 2007 track "Xoloitzcuintle Chicloso" contains Spanish words from Nahuatl (the title comes from xoloitzcuintli, a kind of dog, and tzictli, gum, gummy dog); the whole story relies on a cat-alike dressed kid (Vega) and a talking dog (Chicloso). On the other hand, "Host of a Ghost" and "Girl" were written completely in English.

After a hiatus and various rumors of disbanding, they dissolved after playing the [Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival] in Indio, California in 2008.

Juan Son, former vocalist for Porter went on to focus on a solo project, releasing the critically praised Mermaid Sashimi in February 2009. Victor "Villor" Valverde (former Porter member) joined Juan Son's band for a time before working on his architecture career. The first new single from Mermaid Sashimi is titled "Nada". A music video was recorded for the song. Juan Son and his newly formed band recently opened for Sigur Rós in Mexico City and took part in the Rock N' Exa concert in 2009. The song "Goldfish" was released as the second single from Mermaid Sashimi, as with some of Porter's previous music it is entirely in English.

Juan Son has mentioned in interviews that the last few months as a member of Porter were no longer inspiring to him. He admitted to being very lazy and playing with little or no enthusiasm. He said he got along great with the guys and still does to this day but he saw himself doing something else. His solo album has less guitars and live drums and more samples and a mixture of different genres.

The other members of the band focused on finishing their education and their own solo project, most notably, Fernando de la Huerta in the band Vansen Tiger and Diego Bacter with his group Holger and solo work.

On December 4, 2012, during the announcement of the Vive Latino 2013 music festival lineup, it was confirmed that Porter would meet to perform at the festival. In 2013, several days before their performance, they released their first new single since getting back together, "Kiosco". A few months later on June 8, Porter performed again at the first annual Loudblue festival presented by Ballantine's. Two days prior, the band announced on their Facebook page that Juan Son would not be joining them on stage, instead the musician David Velasco would be filling in. There were no specific reasons cited for Juan Son's absence.

July 17, the band announced: "We would like to inform you all that Juan Carlos [Juan Son] will not be participating with Porter for an indefinite period of time. We spent 5 years hoping to meet again, but now we are only four on the journey. We are writing new music which in September we will share. Soon we will announce new dates. We appreciate the unconditional support. Porter forever."

In 2015 they released a new album, Moctezuma, and toured to promote it during 2015 and 2016. Rolling Stone considered this one of the top ten latin albums of 2015.[5]

Musical style

Their sound consists of a mixture of electronic and acoustic beats, rock guitars, sound loops and Juan Son's distinctive tenor voice and high pitch vocals. The band had cited artists such Air, Sigur Rós, Caifanes, Zurdok, Röyksopp, Café Tacvba, The Cure and Mecano[6] as influences. In fact, portions of songs from several of these influences and others have been included in live performances of their songs.

Discography

EPs

Albums
  • Atemahawke (2007)
  • Moctezuma (2014)
  • Las Batallas (2019)

Band members
  • Victor "Villor" Valverde – guitar, piano
  • David Velasco – lead vocals
  • Fernando "Fehr" de la Huerta – guitar
  • Diego "Bacter" Rangel – bass, synthesizer, programming

Past members
  • Juan Carlos Pereda "Juan Son" – lead vocals
  • Juan Pablo "Chata" Vázquez – drums
gollark: Well, anarchowhatever *sounds* chaotic, but you just do all the "ah yes look at me I am edgy anarchist" things, so more lawful-leaning there.
gollark: I'll put you down as neutral evil.
gollark: Hmm.
gollark: Or, well, you didn't break anything irrevocably.
gollark: Hmm. Yes. Well. That's probably for the best, since you didn't break anything before I was able to declare you literal bees.

References
  1. Peña, Patricia (June 16, 2007). "Porter: somos la generación del escepticismo; todo nos deprime", La Jornada. Retrieved on 2009-07-18.
  2. Peña, Patricia (June 15, 2007). "Liquits, Porter, fiesta Diablito", La Jornada. Retrieved on 2009-07-18.
  3. Armenta, Francisco (September 7, 2007). "Entrevista: Juan Son: Abraza la natu", Mural, p. 31.
  4. Magaña, Omar (April 27, 2008). "Imponen británicos su estilo en Coachella", Reforma, p. 15.
  5. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/10-best-latin-albums-of-the-year-20151230/porter-moctezuma-20151222
  6. Jesus Olvera (2006). "Porter ¿La Salvación del Rock Mexicano?" (in Spanish). alborde.com. Archived from the original on March 14, 2010. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
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