By Fausto Fernós on October 31, 2007 | Share & Save | Link | Print |
There is a presence is in the room today! The spirit of Janis Joplin is haunting us in a very good way since we’ve been joined by her modern day equivalent- the rockingly awesome Jen Porter.
Jen is truly a powerhouse diva and one of my favorite local talents. A lifelong musician with a great set of pipes, Jen has performed a wide range of gigs. From singing the National Anthem at many Major League Baseball games to “sing-a-longs” with the Girl Scouts at the National Mall in Washington D.C., from large rock and roll venues to small intimate cabaret clubs- Jen Poter is a versatile woman, and not just in a musical sense! Wink, wink.
Known for her uncanny vocal resemblance to Janis Joplin (and looking a bit like a Posh Agent Starling/Jodie Foster I might add), Jen transcends her own soulful voice to create a modern, folksy sound that appeals to just about everyone. Having a wide repertoire of pop covers and original music, Jen can hammer out pretty much any song you ask of her as you will see on today’s show.
Anyone got a quarter for her? She’s a human jukebox.
I love doing these type of shows. From time to time we bring some of the best musicians you may not know about and have them strut their stuff in our home studio, a sort of “unplugged” setting where their song and their voice stand alone and shine.
Listen as we talk with Jen about the music industry and why she prefers to be an independent artist, how she comes up with her original songs and being a third generation Girl Scout.
Check out Jen Porter at her website, where you can follow her tour schedule. She’s traveling pretty much everywhere, even Aruba.
Join TONIGHT us this Wednesday at Sidetrack at 6pm as Marc Felion and myself, Fausto Fernós are joined by Amanda Steinstein, Andy Shaw, Rick Aiello and other listeners, friends and fans.
We’d love to bring the parade to you, so we’re asking you our listener to pitch in! We’d like to take into the field a Sanyo HD1000 camera which allows us to capture our local flavor in ways you can’t begin to imagine.
One of our lovely listeners, Barbara is matching funds donated between now and Halloween, so your money goes twice as far.
A red hot grease fire of pure entertainment- the Feast of Fools.
Featured Music:
Jen Porter - Moving On…: iTunes | CD Baby | Site
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Ventura79 says:
October 31, 2007 at 11:38and just because u mentioned it Fausto! one of my favorite Madonna moments!
GRW144 says:
October 31, 2007 at 11:56I can’t tell you how much Jen has made my day. I couldn’t get her Moving On album fast enough! Her words, her amazing voice, and her true wit are the perfect combination.
Superboy says:
October 31, 2007 at 12:02I’m gay, but I might want to switch for Jen. Got me the whole album too GRW! Listening to it on my iPod as we speak.
Rob says:
October 31, 2007 at 12:19Great show guys, loved the interview, loved the music, loved Jen, loved everything.
Hmmm…flying down to St.Marten in January? Not a bad idea.
thanks…
GlenInDecaturGA says:
October 31, 2007 at 16:02Sing on, sing on Jen!!!!!! I really enjoyed the show today, y’all. By the way, it’s not the attention span of the thirteen year old girl that’s dwindled to 3.5 minutes……it’s the average under-read, sitcom-addicted, American Idol- watching, happy meal-eating American. The media outlets have dumbed us all down. If more people would turn off corporate owned radio and start listening to live music and/or music of independents, it would force these orgs to regroup and give us what we NEED! Everyone: listen to some LIVE music and then READ A BOOK! Check out your local library while it’s there to enjoy. Thanks!
Duane says:
October 31, 2007 at 18:11Wow! Jen is amazing!! I’m listening to Moving On right now. She is truly a Powerhouse Diva! Thanks guys for bringing her out (so to speak).
Rhea says:
October 31, 2007 at 20:21I remember taping songs off the radio as well. Still have those cassettes. And yes, they do sound awful. Thank God for iTunes and CDs!
Jen Porter, you’ve got yourself another new fan here. 
Her enthusiasm is infectious, and I am so going to buy her albums.
Another terrific show, Marc and Fausto! Without podcasts like yours, I wouldn’t know about awesome artists like Jen Porter and Baby Teeth. And crazy fetishes like sploshing! Thank you for making the world a little more colourful.
patchouli_stink says:
October 31, 2007 at 22:08I work in an independent brick and mortar record store so the discussion about the music business and its falling out hits home. Yeah the business is totally a mess. We pay as much money wholesale for a disc that best buy and itunes sell their music for. Independent record stores were the backs which this business was built on. But I have to say there is still good music coming out and being sold. One exciting thing though is we are thinkin of startin to carry LPs again. Wired reported this week about LPs becoming the new CD, the rebirth of a physical album and big outrageous album art…. Im excited about the future of music because whether or not big business is involved music will alway be a part of the human experience.
patchouli_stink says:
October 31, 2007 at 22:09oh yeah and Jen is great love her laugh…. her voice is pretty nice too
RcktMan says:
November 1, 2007 at 02:21Wow wow wow wow WOW! I remember Jen Porter from back in the days when I had a gig at Gentry… I think I opened for her a time or two, in fact. She was one of my favorites. She always had such a wonderful energy about her, and her talent seemed limitless.
And now here she is, still doing what she does best, and sounding better and hotter than ever! Jen, you are amazing!!!
What a great show. As others have said, this is exactly why I love Feast of Fools and shows like it– giving the listeners a chance to hear great artists they may not have heard before– or in my case, had forgotten about over the years. iTunes, here I come!!
I loved the quizzing on the keyboard part, and both of Jen’s raw and honest performances — LIVE and in person. What a joyful show. I’ll be listening to this one again, I’m sure!
GRW144 says:
November 1, 2007 at 06:07After three rounds of listening to Moving On, I have to stop and comment again.
Jen… I want to thank you and give gratitude for “Pictures of You”. I was in my car when the song came on and I was so absorbed in the CD when I suddenly started reliving the finally moments I have shared with some of my loved ones as they left this life. Each time, I had to tell myself, “This is the last time I’ll ever see you” as my whole world collapsed into their quiet peace.
I thank you for Allen Jacobs, Joey “Tasha” Martin, David Mitchell, and Mark Brown. Their lives are forever pictures in my heart.
Phi Tau 27 says:
November 1, 2007 at 08:43Great show! Seriously, this was such a fun show, with such great music and enthusiasm from Jen and the boys… awesomeness!
I was priviledged enough to see Jen at Gentry last year, shortly after I moved to Chicago. The music scene here is one of the reasons I translocated myself to this city, so when I was wandering Boystown for one of the first times and saw that there was a not only a cabaret bar, but a live diva just wailing on the piano, I had to stop in. My plan was just to stick around for a minute, have a cocktail and head to the next bar, but I became completely captivated by her sound! 5 drinks later her set was finished, but I wasn’t satisfied so I bought a copy of Move On from her right there. Love that album!!
Seriously, I love Jen’s sound, and I think she’s a great testament to what an independent musician can accomplish. Yes, you can actually make a living doing what you love!
DKMPLS says:
November 1, 2007 at 08:58Thanks for the show. Jen rocks it hardcore!! I’ll be purchasing her music for sure…
I really appreciate all the indie music you guy put on your show!
PupDon says:
November 1, 2007 at 11:33Yay Jen!!! Awesome show. What a talent.
I had to laugh at your comment about being a major in communications. My major from Slippery Rock U (yes, that is a real place) was communications and my minor was english writing. So yeah, I work in porn. It was gonna be rock star or porn purveyor. LOL!
PupDon says:
November 1, 2007 at 11:57Jen’s comment about the fake horns in songs reminded me of something I heard in a Stevie Nicks interview once. She has this great bluesy song called “Whole Lotta Trouble”, and when she was recording it she figured the horn section would end up being all fake synth horns because she never dreamed she could get a horn section. So the very day they were working on that song, there just happened to be this musical group recording down the hall that was made up of a very talented horn section. So she went over as they were packing up and asked if they’d do it. They said they would love to and within an hour had learned the whole song and started laying down the tracks. I can’t imagine that song with fake horns and I always thought how lucky she was that it worked out that way.
patrick says:
November 2, 2007 at 06:23great show! great guest! i just recently created an fof playlist– featuring the music of, among others, rachael sage, baby teeth, christopher dallman, chris garneau, ellen rosner and that other great jen, zias… jen porter’s definitely going to be my latest addition. her voice is simply unbelievable! thanks for introducing us to these great artists who, without this show, we’d be oblivious to!
StevenvanL. says:
November 2, 2007 at 10:54Great voice and personality - on that cd cover she looks like the love child of Jodie Foster and Debra Messing (Grace from ‘Will &…’)
MultipleX says:
November 2, 2007 at 21:17Listener(s) in St.Maarten Fausto? As far as I know I’m alone here! lol. I just loved her voice.
Marc Felion says:
November 3, 2007 at 02:45Yep, your the one! I hope you go see her and have a picture taken with her!
Kenny says:
November 3, 2007 at 16:32This podcast was my introduction to Jen Porter. Wow! What a dynamic performer. I think that I’ll be putting her CD’s on my Christmas list for Santa Claus (aka my boyfriend). Fausto, that Breakdown 2007 bit will have to be recycled over and over on future podcasts.
jose fournier says:
November 4, 2007 at 20:27Marc and Fausto thank you so mush to introduce Jen Porter to me! She is just delicious and interesting.
I wish i was closer to Chicago!
Heaven to me is so intense……Wow!
Jen you’re voice is a major turn on!
Bring Jen back to the show…….pretty Please.
Marlin says:
November 5, 2007 at 03:39This was one of the funnest shows is weeks, I loved it! And that version of Heaven to Me she did live for you sounds even BETTER than the album version! I want to touch that tambourine too!
GRW144 says:
November 5, 2007 at 14:26just a thought here…. but considering Jen is a “local”, would she give some thought to dropping by FoF at least once a week? Believe me, she’s generated enough of a fan base within the past 7 days!
Also…. how about creating a JEN-LIVE album during the show??? MY GOD… just to hear that laugh after each song… KILLER!!
OK… I gotta get back to my 10th re-listening of this podcast. Addiction to JEN,… is that possible? UBETCHA!
BTW… Jen’s contact webpage on her website isn’t working, so hopefully she’ll get this message~~~~~
sOrange says:
November 5, 2007 at 18:24Wow! What a great voice! It was wonderful listening to the show. All of you sounded like you were having a blast. Keep it up!
Henry says:
November 5, 2007 at 19:34talk about a voice! wow. i am excited to hear fausto burst out from the top of his lungs from here on out.. “Breakdown 2007!”.. definitely talented, Jen has to make a return to do another show. Hearing you all having a good time is always wonderful!
Larry La Fountain says:
November 9, 2007 at 14:02This was a great show. I loved Jen Porter’s songs and the jukebox “sing-that-tune!” sequence–that was really amazing!
Mdvanii says:
November 14, 2007 at 16:50What a beautiful, beautiful guest!
Jen, you just another fan!
kisses from Greece!
Mdvanii says:
November 14, 2007 at 16:52edit: you just *got* another fan ;
albeit a retarded one, lol
M says:
November 16, 2007 at 00:16Thanks for introducing me to Jen Porter! I’ll be buying her music right up!
flowergurl says:
November 18, 2007 at 22:21I loved this Jen Porter episode! She has such a beautiful voice!
Mel and Shaun in Oz says:
November 24, 2007 at 21:33Hey guys,
Thank you so much for introducing us to Jen Porter. What an awesome performer with an incredible vocal range. She is FABULOUS!!!
We have gone onto iTunes (following your links, of course) and got some of her music.
Of the many reasons why we love The Feast of Fools, one of the main ones is when you introduce us to independent artists whom we would never have heard of otherwise. Our iPods are full of artists that you have featured on your show. Chris Garneau, Reuben Butchart, Levi Kreis, Cathy Richardson, Nedra Johnson, The Wet Spots, Christopher Dallman and now Jen Porter amongst others.
We would never have heard of these people otherwise and would be much poorer for it.
Thank you for opening our world to so many more wonderful opportunities and of course, a whole lot of laughter and cheer.
You guys make a world of difference and we Thank you.
Kisses and hugs from Brisbane, Australia
Mel & Shaun
Benjamin says:
March 4, 2008 at 12:13Just listened to this episode again - I love Jen. Her album is next up on my list to buy - I\’ve been saving pennies and leftover quarters.
Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Fausto Fernós created the Feast of Fools in 1998 as wacky artists variety show in Chicago, Illinois.
Along with his partner Marc Felion, he hosts the world's most downloaded talk show for gay people on the internet, Feast of Fools.
Fausto loves pomegranates, waterfalls and 70s retro funk music.
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David Craig | October 12, 2008
Levi is a genius! It’s just a matter of time before the world finds out and falls in love with him!
Marc Felion | October 12, 2008
Thanks Xavi- for more on Prop 8 listen to this show http://www.feastoffools.net/ga y-fun-show/2008/08/27/fof-828- the-battle-for-equality-082608 / We said way...
Xavi | October 12, 2008
Scott, Marc and Fausto, Thanks for discussing the No on 8 campaign. While it directly affects us in California in the end it affects us all. thanks again! Regarding...
Saulo | October 12, 2008
Another mega show!!! Levi is a very talented artist and thank you FOF for bringing him and his music to us! Kisses!
TrickyToro | October 11, 2008
Levi’s openess about sexuality and his philosophy about love are incredibly refreshing. And, its very hot that he hangs out at the Faultline. It was a hoot...
Posting tweet...
Gay Fun ShowDavid Craig | October 12, 2008
Levi is a genius! It’s just a matter of time before the world finds out and falls in love with him!
Marc Felion | October 12, 2008
Thanks Xavi- for more on Prop 8 listen to this show http://www.feastoffools.net/ga y-fun-show/2008/08/27/fof-828- the-battle-for-equality-082608 / We said way...
Xavi | October 12, 2008
Scott, Marc and Fausto, Thanks for discussing the No on 8 campaign. While it directly affects us in California in the end it affects us all. thanks again! Regarding...
Saulo | October 12, 2008
Another mega show!!! Levi is a very talented artist and thank you FOF for bringing him and his music to us! Kisses!
TrickyToro | October 11, 2008
Levi’s openess about sexuality and his philosophy about love are incredibly refreshing. And, its very hot that he hangs out at the Faultline. It was a hoot...
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Ventura79 says:
October 31, 2007 at 11:06WOW!!!! that voice!!!! u guys have made me an instant FAN!!! thanx for intoducing me to artists such as a Jen Porter and Chris Garneau!!!!
Jen, expect an email from me!!!!
LOVED THE SHOW!!!
http://www.faguloz.com