{image1}The Wisconsin Singer/Songwriter Series set up shop again last weekend in Cedarburg. Milwaukee's Willy Porter took the stage and more than embodied the mission of the series.
"Songwriters may move us to heights of emotion, give us rhythm while we work, or provoke us to action or inaction," says Joe DeLucia, founder of the series. Born in 1992 from Lucia's passion for acoustic music and intelligent and entertaining songwriting, the Wisconsin Singer/Songwriter Series today is run by volunteers, including DeLucia.
The series holds its shows at the Cedarburg Cultural Center, a storefront gallery/performance space at W62 N5546 Washington Ave. The center makes for a fitting and fun venue for artists like Porter. And last weekend, teamed with friend, keyboardist and former band mate, Dave Adler, Porter had more than his share of fun with the mainly 50-something, suburban audience.
Porter casually walked on stage in his usual T-shirt and knit cap and launched into a seemingly just-written song about Cedarburg. Born on the East Side, raised in Mequon, Porter, a Homestead High grad, took some fun shots at Mequon, suburban life and Homestead's football team in a song that endeared him to the audience.
His second tune, Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows," showcased his guitar skills and easy-going stage presence as he introduced Adler, who not only added beautiful accompaniment but also brought more laughs to the show (Adler is known for his improvisational comedy with The Annoyance Theater in Chicago). The duo then took the show down a "Dave and Willy Show" road with entertaining banter, jokes, more Porter originals and several more improv songs about Porter's wedding, his guitars and his neighborhood.
At one point in the show's second half, Porter asked the crowd to throw out words and said "we'll make up a song to them." "Gum" and "buildings" were tossed out by the front table patrons and Porter and Adler sang a rousing song full of wit, humor and some strangeness.
Milwaukee's Celia Farran, a 31-year-old singer, songwriter, musician, dancer, acting coach, Irish storyteller and teacher, played a fine opening set.
Porter plays again in the Milwaukee-area on Oct. 14 at the Northern Lights Theater at Potawatomi Bingo Casino. He'll be joined by Martin Barre of Jethro Tull.
The 2004 Wisconsin Singer-Songwriter Series continues Friday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. with John Smith and his heartfelt songs. Claudia Schmidt brings her blues, jazz and poetry to the Cedarburg Cultural Center on Nov. 12 and Buddy Mondlock, who recently toured with Art Garfunkel and Maia Sharp, plays on Saturday, Nov. 20. The annual year-end benefit concert is Dec. 10. Beverages and snacks (cookies and popcorn) are available for sale at the shows, but seating is limited to about 340, so call (262) 284-9777 for tickets and more information.
The Wisconsin Singer Songwriter Series Web site is wsss.org.
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
