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Frederick’s Café Nola to welcome American rockers Mason Porter

Pennsylvania-based roots-rock band Mason Porter has released two full-length albums since their self-titled debut EP dropped back in 2008. Their latter works were christened with mysterious, almost mystical, names mirroring the American music experience the band hopes to convey: First “Thunder in the Valley,” then “Story of the Rifle.”

Another EP is in the works and should be available later this year, says cofounder and mandolinist Joe D’Amico, but the band is keeping details closely guarded.

“The title has not been agreed upon,” D’Amico says. “I don’t know if I should say.”

After all, a strict, professional code exists, even among buddies.

And good pals is just what the members of Mason Porter have grown to be, says D’Amico, although when they assembled in 2006 outside of Philadelphia in the little town of West Chester, Pa., the core group – D’Amico, guitarist Paul Wilkinson and upright bassist Tim Selfo – were little more than acquaintances.

“There was just sort of a folk music scene happening in town at the time,” D’Amico says. “We all met at different parties and stuff, hanging out. We all came from a different group of friends. Some of us went to college together; some of us didn’t. It started out as an informal thing – and then grew.”

And how.

“The band has grown from a trio to … a quintet,” says Wilkinson.

Along the way, Mason Porter – named for a distant troubadour relative of D’Amico’s – picked up drummer Pat Hughes, dobro player Brad Hinton and sometimes sit-in Bob Beach on harmonica.

According to Wilkinson, the sound of the band is somewhat elusive.

“The term ‘folk-rock’ comes across as kind of cheesy to me,” he says. “But we’re definitely folk-based with a rock edge. Some people might say ‘Americana,’ but that’s also a bit hard to pinpoint. We’re rootsy, with a modern twist.”

Following four short years of modern twisting, last summer, the musicians took a bow at the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

“It’s a very prestigious fest, so we were very excited and honored to be a part of it,” D’Amico says. “We met a lot of people and got a lot of great reviews. It opened a lot of doors for us. For a band just starting out, it let people know, ‘Hey, maybe we should pay attention to these guys.’”

The band has since shared the stage with national acts like Peter Rowan, New Riders of the Purple Sage and Carrie Rodriguez.

“Inspiration comes from a lot of different places, you know? A lot of times, the big act you open for isn’t necessarily the one that inspires you,” D’Amico says. “Sometimes it’s the local guy sitting in the corner who writes great songs.”

Guys, perhaps, like the musicians comprising Mason Porter once were.

Still, D’Amico says, sharing the mic with the big guns has its perks.

“It looks good on the resume,” he says.

Whatever the title, the new EP will feature a shift in instrumentals, says Wilkinson – placing an emphasis on electrical guitar, rather than acoustic.

“We’re making a slight change in direction,”he says. “We’ll still have the same vibe, the same three-part harmony, but we’re moving more toward rock than folk.”

Mason Porter performed at Cafe Nola almost a year ago, exactly, and the band is looking forward to their return engagement on Friday.

“We really enjoyed it,” says Wilkinson. “The food was delicious, people offered us couches that night. It’s a good stopping point on our way to Richmond, Va.”

D’Amico agrees.

“It’s a great venue,” he says. “We’re going to have a good time. We perform a high-energy kind of show. We go from fun and upbeat to beautiful harmonies … Some bands are just rock, rock, rock. We kind of play in between those stereotypes. We’re about the songs, you know?”

Mason Porter

-When: 9 p.m. Saturday

-Where: Café Nola, 4 E. Patrick St., Frederick

-For information: 301-694-NOLA

www.cafe-nola.com

noravec@gazette.net

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