Jeff White & The Front Porch

Jeff White & The Front Porch have an edgy roots/rock and country/folk sound. Blending influences such as Daniel Lanois, Bob Dylan, Leon Redbone, Hank Williams and even the Muppet Band, they have quickly earned a reputation among audiences for having a fun, unique and modern style.

The band hails from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, but they've been playing regionally of late, and they gain waves of fans each time they perform. This spring, the band played two weeks of competition to win a date at Summerfest in Milwaukee.

The band did a fantastic job opening for Greg Brown at Barn Aid. The were joined by special guest Molly Barnes for this show.

Frontman Jeff White has been writing songs since his early teens. His penetrating lyrics and earthy voice have struck a rich chord with audiences, and he has been a local success since his first band, Milktruck. With Milkltruck, Jeff had the pleasure of recording at the legendary Big Mama Recording Studios in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Jeff will be releasing his solo CD titled "Til the Last String Dies" in May, 2001. You can find more information about Jeff White & The Front Porch at the band's Web site.

Jeff White met bass player Kalin Capra through a mutual friend, and they have been playing together for over six years. Kalin comes from a family of traditional musicians, and picked up the bass because, as he says, "There is nothing better than a good groove." He has been playing the bass professionally for over seven years, and has earned: The Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, his school's highest musical honor, for his skills on the upright and electric bass.

Jeff and Kalin began playing together with the alternative folk-rock band, The Amazing Zamboni Bros., who produced and sold out their first recording. Lead guitarist Jeremy Holt later joined the Zambonis, bringing with him seven years of self-taught musical talent. Jeremy, who has played with rock bands Bump City and Planet Vinyl, brings a vibrant creative flare to the band.

After the Zambonis, Jeff White picked up his guitar, grabbed his pen and hit the folk circuit, playing coffeehouses and clubs throughout the Midwest, Northern California and Colorado. Kalin moved to San Francisco, where he toured up and down the west coast with Sony recording artist Shannon Moore. With her, he played nearly every club in San Francisco as well as the annual High Sierra Music Festival.

Jeremy went to Missoula, Montana, where he was turned on to bluegrass by local pickers, and produced several home recordings. During one of Jeff's tours, all three met up with each other in Montana to pick some tunes, and Jeff White & The Front Porch was formed.

Since then, Kalin and Jeremy moved home to Wisconsin and joined Jeff on the road. After playing the coffeehouse circuit for a while, the band evolved its style and picked up drummer Joe Westerlund. Joe brings over ten years of percussion experience to the band, four of those years touring with the world music band Mt. Vernon. Joe's dynamic drumming makes many audiences get up and dance.

This band of young, highly talented musicians is poised to become a touring success, and is "must see" for music lovers. Together, they take the audience on a musical adventure that leaves them cheering for more.