MASON PORTER

After two snowed-out CD Release Party’s (12/19, 2/6) we decided to take matters in to our own hands last night and have it at Tim’s house in West Chester. A couple dozen folks from town schlepped though the snow to Tim’s for the party. With plenty of beverages to go around and the excitement of the snow storm we had a pretty rowdy bunch on our hands. We got started promptly at 9pm and played our Thunder In Valley album in it’s entirety for the first time. We also streamed the show live on the internet dubbing it the SnowCast!

This band has a history with snow, that’s obvious, but it goes back further than this winter. Yesterday while I was looking out at the blowing snow I was reminded of another snow storm we had a few years ago. It happened to be the night Paul and I met. I came into town with Jesse and we went down to Gee’s deli. They were closing down for the night and having a party in the store. We brought our instruments, played songs and got snowed in. Out of a handful of late nights like this one the band was born that winter. We got Tim on board and booked our first gig at Rex’s soon after. It’s three years later now and the band has grown into something very special and we’re great friends.

I got a text yesterday from a friend it read, “Dude, next time you reschedule a cd release I’m planning a ski trip”. We have an exciting year ahead of us and plenty of more shows on the schedule. We’re not sure yet if we’re going to call any of them a “CD Release Party”.

So maybe these storms weren’t what we wanted to happen but we sure had a great time last night. Thanks to everyone who came to the show and watched the SnowCast. If you missed it, or want to see it again, the SnowCast is saved and is viewable anytime here.

J.D.

Thanks to all of the people who packed the World Café last Saturday. It was an amazing way to start off the year!

Special thanks to Hezekiah Jones (and all the Jones’) for sharing the night and they’re wonderful songs with us. Brad, Kiley and Tommy for joining us on stage, and to Lisa Schaffer for taking these great photos.

Lisa is doing a group photo Feb. 1 at the Art Museum of Philly area musicians.

For those Chester County folks who didn’t get to make the show, Hezekiah Jones will be out in our neck of the woods at Steel City on Friday the 16th w/John Francis.

We’re at the Whip Tavern next this Friday the 9th.

Here we are on the last day of 2008, New Years Eve. No Mason Porter show this year. We’re glad to have been able to relax the last few weeks, spend some time with family and friends, and get ready for the busy winter ahead which starts with World Café show on Jan 3rd! We had a remarkable year and we want to take a moment to thank everyone who contributed to all the great times and success we’ve had.

One of the most important happenings in 2008 was the release of our debut EP. We are very happy with it and are thankful for the folks at MilkBoy Recording and Tom Hamilton for making it happen.

We played a lot of shows and met a lot of great people at every one. Every show is memorable and a fantastic time but a handful stick out: Starting back in the winter was the Wilmington Wintergrass festival. We met a lot of great folks there including Sandi “Texas Rose” who has been a big supporter of the band since. The winter also gave us a packed house at the Steel City with Painted Blue and Avi and Celia and a great show at the Fire with Chris Kasper, Wissahickon Chicken Shack, Adrien Reju, The Junior League and more.

The month of May brought us to MilkBoy for a Tuesday night residency; the shows were all acoustic and quite intimate. Some wonderful bands played including Joshua Park, Hezekiah Jones, Painted Blue, Max Spiegel, The New Time, Steph Hewett, Chicken Shack and Papertrees. Also in May was the NEPA Bluegrass Festival, wow, what a great time, thanks to Danny Stewart, the Grillbillies and Mike Wuerstle who have done a lot to support us since.

The summer had us on the road a little. The Purple Fiddle was amazing w/ Enter the Hagis. But a nearly sold out show at the Tin Angel sticks out as the best; a great bill too with Chicken Shack and Adrien Reju. We also released the EP in June! Some other fun ones in the summer included OATS, Bucks County Bluegrass Festival, and the Endless Summer Jam Festival.

This past fall got even better! MilkBoy Coffee show in September was a blast. Our Norfolk show was one of the best we have ever played. Steel City was packed again. We got to play live on the Folk Show on WXPN! We also got to share the stage with some great national acts including the Hackensaw Boys, Larry Keel, and Old School Freight Train. And we can’t forget the last Brickette show of the year; a Chicken and Porter spectacular! One of the most fun times we’ve had.

Truly an amazing year! We could not have done it without all the support we get from you. Thank you so much.

Have a Happy New Year!