Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner George Porter Jr., an original member of The Meters, has released his compelling music video for “Crying For Hope,” the title track of his recent studio album. The video’s dynamic, contemplative visuals evoke the complexities of the song’s call to action. It premiered exclusively via Billboard, who praised the track, calling it, “a powerful anthem that combines the signature sound of Porter’s iconic funk group The Meters with a message of resistance and urgency for 2021.”
Porter says of the social justice anthem: “‘Crying For Hope’ was inspired by the continued racial tension in our country. I wrote the song from my own pain and experience watching the events of last summer. I really just wanted to be able to feel hopeful for the future. I think the video captures both feelings of the song, the seriousness of the issue and that feeling of hope and change we all wish for.”
“Crying For Hope” was Porter’s first studio release since 2015 with his longtime touring project the Runnin’ Pardners, which now features Porter on bass, Michael Lemmler on keys, Chris Adkins on guitar and Terrence Houston on drums. Released in March 2021 via Controlled Substance Sound Labs/Color Red, the album showcases a mix of unreleased Pardners tunes, robust new anthems and purely instrumental funk. The band collaborated remotely during the pandemic to re-record and mix the album’s 12 songs, culminating in Porter & the Runnin Pardners’ most compelling release to date.
In a video interview filmed exclusively for OffBeat in February 2021, Porter discussed the message of “Crying For Hope.”
George Porter Jr & Runnin’ Pardners will perform in support of the new album at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival’s triumphant return in October 2021. In addition to his weekly hometown shows at the Maple Leaf Bar every Monday, Porter will perform several additional tour dates this month:
July 2021 Tour Dates
July 8 – Charleston, South Carolina – Charleston Pour House
July 9 – Asheville, North Carolina – Salvage Station
July 10 – Winston-Salem, North Carolina – A Marvelous Affair @ Rootdown
July 11 – Baltimore, Maryland – Mother’s Federal Hill Grille
July 14-17 – Port Chester, New York – Garcia’s at the Capitol Theatre
July 18 – New York, New York – The Stand (Upstairs)
July 19 – Redding, Connecticut – Milestone
