BIO

Imagine a young kid in a massive space. Musicians are chatting, taking their time setting up, tuning, and warming up. The kid stands close to his uncle who keeps an eye on the whole scene when a person walks up to him and says, “Hey, does Brad want a turn behind the kit before rehearsal starts?” The boy's eyes light up and the uncle gives an approving nod. The man puts two sticks in his hands and says, “Have at it, kid!” The fuse is lit. Now, some drummers get their start with pots n’ pans on the kitchen floor, but when your first touch is on the kit of a drummer supporting a Grammy award-winning artist, that’s when the fireworks start going off.

Brad Porter was born in Nashville, TN, where he lived until he was seven years old. From a young age, he was exposed to professional working musicians via his uncle who tour managed for Amy Grant, amongst others. When his dad got a job in Cincinnati, the family moved there and, after acquiring his uncle’s drum kit, Brad found his first musical mentor in Elmer Monk- who taught him the fundamentals of reading and ear training. After graduating high school Brad moved to Birmingham, AL for college where he quickly pivoted from school to the nightclubs honing his chops playing drums full time. In his time there he received guidance from world-class drummers Chris Fryar (Zac Brown Band, Oteil & the Peacemakers) and Jeff Sipe (Aquarian Rescue Unit/ Jimmy Herring), as well as from bassist Oteil Burbridge (Allman Bros/ Dead & Co). Coming up in Birmingham, Brad cut his teeth on a wide variety of styles ranging from Funk, Soul, Blues, Jazz, Jam, Bluegrass, and of course Southern Rock. 

He eventually left Birmingham for Memphis to absorb what his childhood musical mecca had to offer. From early childhood on Brad had been soaking up the sounds of Beale Street and then, as a teenager, hit up the clubs in Midtown on seasonal trips to see family- yet he still felt the need to experience the region on his own terms. Both sonically and experientially, Brad preferred getting down in the mud, rather than perhaps creating an easier, more polished experience for himself.

 After a stint there the opportunity to go back to college arose. Brad took it and moved to Oxford, MS to attend Ole Miss, where he completed his degree in fine art. In the six years he resided in Mississippi he immersed himself in the Hill Country Blues scene and studied New Orleans funk and second-line drumming heavily after joining a displaced group from NOLA post-Hurricane Katrina. While there he also had the privilege of working alongside famed producer Jim Dickinson for four-plus years as a sound jockey and periodic fill-in drummer on the Thacker Mountain Radio show. Post-graduation he managed a local art and music venue in Taylor, MS until recruited by Akron, OH native Patrick Sweany to hit the road. Around that time, he moved back to Birmingham to tour out of that area for the next couple of years with a variety of acts. In 2010 good friends Katharine Whalen (Squirrel Nut Zippers) and Will Dawson (The Alcazar Hotel) successfully convinced Brad to move to North Carolina. Upon settling in the Triangle, Brad found himself steeped in yet another rich, musically diverse community, quickly picking up work in the area recording and touring with a variety of artists. He continues to work out of Chapel Hill, NC where he lives with his wife, (soon to be) two children, and their dog, Ivie.

Ever capable of adapting his drumming to a variety of styles, his greatest assets are his ears and ability to lead from behind. Finding someone who truly listens, communicates, and recognizes what a song wants is a rare thing indeed. Brad does all the above with a level of polish (or mud, whatever your preference) and professionalism that has been gleaned from years spent as a gigging musician, promoter, and manager. When you work with him you don’t just get drums for your music, you get the feel and passion of a lifetime of diverse musical experiences honed exactly to what your project needs.