CHRIS PORTER – AN INTERVIEW WITH THE COMEDIAN EXTRAORDINAIRE

Chris Porter at the Hartford Funny Bone – Manchester, CT 6/18/23

Chris Porter is a hilarious underestimated comedian, born and raised in Kansas City, that delivers his simple man brand of comedy with a no nonsense attitude. He was a finalist, but robbed of victory, in Season 4 of Last Comic Standing, has made many TV and radio appearances, and opened for Shinedown and their acoustic side project Smith & Myers. Several of his comedy specials are available via DVD, vinyl, or through streaming services.

I attended his late performance on this night, so I got to see him in action at the end of his first gig. He set up a table where he could hawk his wares and kindly meet and take photos with fans. Someone bought one of his DVDs and asked him to sign it. He unwrapped that thing in record time. I’m talking so fast he would definitely make the trials if it was an Olympic event. When the last fan exited, he tapped me on the shoulder and led me to the green room for our interview. We entered the small office sized room to find two other performers sitting on a black leather couch.

CP to the performers: “Hey, I’m doing an interview in here but you guys can stay if you want.”
Performers: “That’s OK, we can leave.”
Me: “You can stay, this isn’t a porno shoot.”
CP: “Yet.”
Performer Ashley: “I’m definitely staying now.” (holds up phone like she’s filming us).
CP to me: “Who do you write for again?”
Me: AMP (myampmusic.co). I usually do concert reviews. This is my first interview, and depending on how it goes, possibly my last.”

I began with gushing my fandom, how I was first introduced to him on LCS, have been to a few of his performances, follow him on socials, love his jokes and delivery. To tie in with my concert reviewing genre, I started off by asking Porter about his connection to Shinedown.

KAT: I understand your bromance is with Zach Meyers, guitarist of Shinedown. Did you grow up together? How did the relationship start, who suggested you open for SD and how did the crowd receive you?

CP: I had no idea who Zach or Shinedown even was.

KAT: Wait a minute, you didn’t know who Shinedown was? You seem like the type of guy that listens to Allman Brothers all day, but what kind of music do you like?

CP: I am the type of guy that listens to the Allmans, but I like country music. He names two artists I never heard of.

KAT: Ugh Chris. Country? I gotta give you a demerit for that.

CP: I love the Black Crowes and I’m friends with Chris (Robinson) and all those guys.

KAT: OK, that’s cool. Black Crowes are old school though. Any new music you like? Have you ever heard of Ayron Jones? I’m obsessed with his raw, emotion provoking sound.

CP: Yes, I have heard of Ayron.

KAT: How about Jelly Roll? I’ve been hearing one of his songs, Need A Favor (rock version), and I’m intrigued.

CP: Jelly Roll is my boy!!!! Not just a great musician but I know him personally and he is just an awesome guy.

KAT: Brent from Shinedown has some great pipes. How about Aaron Lewis?

CP: Yup, love Aaron.

KAT: OK, so if you didn’t know Zach Meyers, how did this bromance come about?

CP: A friend of Zach’s noticed me on Twitter and saw my specials and told Zach, You have to hear this guy, cuz He. Is. You. Zach happened to be in LA (where Porter currently resides) and reached out and asked me to lunch.

KAT: Zach Meyers asked you on a date?

CP: Yes, yes he did. And I went. Zach went on about what a big fan of mine he was and we just hit it off. Really well. Like I called my Dad to tell him how I met this amazing person and it was going great.

KAT: (after I stop laughing) And you still didn’t know who Shinedown was at this point?

CP: No, but I knew they did a cover of Skynyrd’s “Simple Man”. I always mess with them and tell them, Yeah, that’s the cover the world needed.

KAT: (laughing again and throughout interview) Oh my God, I just saw Shinedown & Skynyrd within three months of each other. I took videos of both of them doing “Simple Man” and asked on socials Who does it best? So, who do you think does it best?

CP: (without missing a beat) Skynyrd. Look, Brent is an excellent singer, but it’s Skynyrd’s song.

KAT: So you’re a big Skynyrd fan?

CP: Oh yeah!

KAT: Me too. They’re lyrics still resonate today and everyone knows those songs. There are little kids through grandparents in the crowd and everyone is having fun. (CP agrees)

KAT: OK, so how did the idea of you opening for Shinedown come about?

CP: Well, it was only for the one show in Kansas City. Zach told the band about me. They became fans of mine as well and asked what I thought about opening for them that night. I told them it sounded like a terrible fucking idea. I mean, kids go to Shinedown. I finally agreed to do it though. They really marketed it, had my name on the marquis and all the announcements.

KAT: Were you nervous? To go from a comedy club to a 10,000 seat venue?

CP: No, it was at a theater, maybe 3000 seats or so. I asked if I could say fuck, like would there be no fucks, but they said I could have some fucks.”

KAT: How did it go?

CP: I get out there and there’s a 10 year old kid in the front row waiting for Shinedown and I’m doing 30 minutes talking about not getting laid.”

KAT: (dying) So how did the crowd receive you?

CP: Honestly, first six or seven rows listened and everyone else was just talking, not paying much attention.

KAT: So, just the one show then?

CP: I also interviewed Shinedown for 92Y NYC. They were gonna have someone else do it, but Brent was like, Let’s ask Porter! I’ve also opened for Smith & Meyers a few times.

KAT: You were a great pick to do that interview, I’ll have to find it. Tell me about opening for Smith & Meyers.

CP: It’s never even planned. I just show up to check out the show and sometimes they ask me to get up and do 10 minutes. I never expect it so a coupla times I was completely hammered.

KAT: I remember you wearing flared jeans and having a more boho look. In your most recent special you’re rocking a white button down and straight legs. Are you in malls so much that you started sporting mall trends?

CP: No. Ya know, people go through phases and back then I thought I needed to look like I was going to the clubs so I had the bell bottoms and velvet jacket and stuff. But then I cut my hair and added the white button down. The real reason I stopped wearing flares is because I bought a pair of Jordans I’ve wanted since I was a kid.

KAT: Holy shit, the flares hid the Jordans.

CP: Yup.

KAT: Which Jordans?

CP: Jordan Fives. Wanted em since I was a kid. Had to change to straight legs to show em off. (By the way ladies, he has a size thirteen shoe).

KAT: I like what you have on tonight. (A black Rolling Stones baseball t-shirt with white sleeves).

CP: Yeah, I like the way this shirt looks. Freaking Zach turned me onto Madewell. I can’t believe how much money I spend on clothes now.

KAT: Well, getting you addicted to clothes versus drugs is a good thing.

CP: Heroin would probably be cheaper than what I’m spending on clothes now.

KAT: I loved your recent special, There’s No Money in Babies. Why is it free on youtube?

CP: You mean versus Netflix or something? It’s just where my career is right now. Miles Davis once said, An album is an advertisement for the live performance.

KAT: We gotta change that narrative. Get the word out about how funny you are. Do you have anything you want to promote?

CP: Zach and I are doing that show Campfire Astronauts (a night of stand up comedy and live music).

KAT: OK, so you want to promote a sold out show that no one can get tickets to? Will there be s’mores? Do you tell jokes and then Zach sings songs?

CP: No s’mores. There will be jokes but Zach and I both play guitar, all covers. And yes, I want to promote it because we’d like to do more dates.

KAT: Wait a minute, you play guitar?!?!?

CP: Yep, we do all covers though.

KAT: Time for a Porter/Meyers original, dontcha think? (CP chuckles while scarfing a burger and tots).

KAT: I’m a Cincinnati Bengals fan.

CP: Sorry to hear that. (why does everyone say this?!?!) We discussed football and baseball for a bit.

KAT: Well, that’s all I had, so I guess our interview is over.

CP: OK well, thanks. And awesome, I have enough time to go out and get high.

KAT: (still laughing) You’re still open about weed! What are you into: flower, vape, edibles?

CP: I’m strictly analog. Good ole flower for me. I use hybrid to get me through the day.

KAT: Me too! Well enjoy your break, hope I wasn’t too much of a pain in the ass, and knock em dead!

Porter gave yet another very funny performance that night, had the whole crowd laughing along to his stories and observations conveyed in his unique Kansan brand. I encourage you to devour his catalog immediately. Screaming From The Cosmos (2009), Ugly & Angry (2014), Lost & Alone (2017) and A Man From Kansas (2019) are available on DVD, Vinyl (the trendy ones in cool colors), audiobook, Spotify and YouTube. His new 2023 special, There’s No Money In Babies, can also be found on YouTube. Porter will perform with Zach Meyers, as the Campfire Astronauts, 6/30/23 at The recordBar in Kansas City. The show is Sold Out.

Check him out, I guarantee you will laugh and we all need more of that.

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