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Thank You.

by Jim Harrington of Inside Bay Area

There's plenty to say about Willy Porter, the great acoustic guitarist and intelligent lyricist who will perform Friday night at the Freight and Salvage Coffee House in Berkeley.

Nothing cuts to the chase, however, quite like the quote we found from Tori Amos on Porter's Web site.

"Willy plays rhythms that make me want to crawl inside his guitar and sleep there forever," Amos is quoted as saying.

That begs a follow-up question: Is there room in the guitar for more guests?

Porter is indeed a sensational guitarist, one who has been likened to the great Leo Kottke. In concert, he'll display enough big-time chops and enough technical know-how to impress every guitar-head in the joint.

It's not simply his finger-speed that we are most impressed with — it's his sense of touch. He wears his emotions on his fingertips, which means he has an uncanny ability to make the sound of his guitar exactly match the lyrical content of his songs.

That's not an easy task, which is why some guitarists sound like they are strumming the Eagles' "Peaceful Easy Feeling" on every song they play.

Porter is nearly as good on the mic as he is on guitar. He possesses a warm, throaty baritone that should appeal to fans of both Steve Earle and John Hiatt.

If you're not familiar with the musician, who remains best known for the radio hit "Angry Words," we suggest that you correct that situation Friday.

Showtime is 8 p.m. Tickets are $18.50 advance; $19.50 door. The Freight and Salvage is at 1111 Addison St. Call (510) 548-1761 or visit http://www.thefreight.org.

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