Students can expect the reminiscent sounds of classic rock bands like Led Zeppelin and the Black Crowes when Taddy Porter performs at The Varsity Theatre tonight.Currently on the Southern leg of its tour with Saving Abel, the band is making its debut performance in Baton Rouge and its first show in Louisiana since the Red River Revel Arts Festival in Shreveport in October.”My girlfriend went to LSU, and we’re excited to be down in Baton Rouge, especially since it’s a college town,” said drummer Doug Jones, 23. “We’ve always wanted to play in southern Louisiana.”Hailing from Stillwater, Okla., Taddy Porter aims to preserve the sound of its influences while giving its fans a fresh sound.”A lot of the guys I hear from say they’re tired of the radio or the indie scene with a new band coming out every week,” said bassist Kevin Jones, 20. “I’ve had people come up to me after a show and say, ‘Whoa, that’s refreshing.'”Members of Taddy Porter met while attending Oklahoma State University. The group won a battle of the bands and began touring nationally after only playing together for four months.”We entered a battle of the bands and won out of the 64 bands competing,” Jones said. “They gave us a show and a management deal with Saving Abel. They kind of put us out there to get some publicity.”The band has been playing major cities like New York City with Saving Abel and other bands, but it differs from many signed bands in a big way — it’s still in the van.In an effort to raise money to buy a new tour bus for the band to travel in, the members recently started a “Get the Band out of the Van” promotion, in which they’re selling T-shirts and stickers to get a new tour bus. They’ve also set up a Flickr photo pool so fans can upload their T-shirt and sticker designs.
“We played on a tour with three other bands recently, and we were the only band on the bill still driving in the van,” said singer Andy Brewer, 24. “We appreciate being able to play around the country, but it’d definitely be more comfortable in a bus.”The band will travel in the van from Atlanta to Houston during the next few months until returning to Louisiana for a show in Houma on April 15.The show is 18 and up and starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available online, at the door or at The Chimes.Follow Ben Bourgeois on Twitter @ TDR_BBourgeois.—–Contact Ben Bourgeois at [email protected]