Al de Leon

The last time Steve Porter played at Sound-Bar, he opened for Sasha and nearly stole the show with an infectious mix of melodic, upbeat dance music. The sweltering heat of that night last June and the standing-room-only crowd who showed up for the superstar headliner didn't faze Porter, who effortlessly worked the sweat-filled dancefloor into a frenzy with a kitchen-sink-full of house, breaks and everything in between. In many ways, Porter's ability to go beyond the boundaries of specific genres is reminiscent of a young Sasha. One minute he's laying down a fuzzy acid-house bassline, and the next minute he goes diva on you with a soulful vocal loop. Throw in a catchy piano riff here and a guitar lick there, and you have an idea of Porter's approach, which is fueled by a high level of musicality and a knack for keeping the vibe up--way up. He's so skilled at it that you almost want him to bring it down a little more often to give you a chance to catch your breath and rest your feet before he brings it back in his signature hard and funky style. This time around at Sound-Bar, Porter is headlining to support his first compilation mix, "Porterhouse," and despite the January frost, be prepared for the dancefloor to be hot and sweaty, just like last time.

With Johnny Chaos, John Grammatis, and Shaka 23 at Sound-Bar, 226 West Ontario, (312)787-4480, on January 27.

(2006-01-24)

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