There is something incredibly humbling about a musician who feels honored to play in a small venue.

“It’s a great place,” Porter says of the Maintenance Shop. “I like that it’s not too good. You know it’s not trying to be some highfalutin performance venue.”

Porter says he likes the intimacy of the ISU venue and the ability to reach the crowd.

“It makes the audience feel more comfortable,” he says. “You can really communicate [with the crowd] in that room.”

It’s a good thing Porter feels this way — he’ll be performing both Thursday and Friday night.

Porter is currently on tour to support his latest release, “High Wire Live,” which is the answer to his fans’ prayers. After a year and a half on the road, the singer, songwriter and guitarist released a live album full of his most requested songs.

With five albums under his belt, Porter says he has improved as a songwriter since his 1990 debut, “The Trees Have Soul.”

“The music has gotten simpler,” Porter says. “I’ve realized I don’t have to write songs so much for the guitar as much as I do for the songs themselves. [I] pull from outside of my own life and try to see things from another person’s perspective.”

The skilled acoustic guitarist has a passion for writing heartfelt, storytelling lyrics. When it comes to writing, Porter doesn’t need to go far for his inspiration. He started out writing about what he knew, but looked to his surroundings for ideas.

“I try to be a spectator to what’s happening around me,” Porter says. “[The lyrics] come from every source, whether my own existence or other people’s lives.”

Other people’s lives are exactly what encouraged Porter’s deep love for music. Growing up, a young Porter was commonly entertained by his father’s passion for jazz piano.

“[My father] has got great ears, and he was able to listen to great records and voice out the chords on the piano that were being played,” Porter says. “For me it was great. I was able to watch him do that. If you just listened hard enough, you could solve the puzzle.”

As of lately, Porter’s taste in music has been centered around Leonard Cohen. He believes listening to other musicians influences his own sound.

“You aren’t even conscious of it,” Porter says. “As you listen and live, all of a sudden you realize you are some of what you’ve heard and lived.”

The Wisconsin native has continually gained credit for his ability to fully connect with his audience. One unique way Porter does this is by occasionally performing an improvisation piece. With the audience’s help, Porter writes a song right on the spot. Although he says he doesn’t perform “The Happy Accident” (one of the many names of this game) very often anymore, he does find enjoyment in it.

“It’s really pretty interesting depending on the mood in the room,” Porter begins. “[It tests] the temperature of the vibe in the room, if you will, to see if people are into it.”

As the performer continues to pursue his love of music, there is one thing he hopes to never stop doing.

“[I’ve] got to remain a student and not get comfortable,” he says.

Before he goes, Porter gives one fantastically sensible reason to why people should attend his show.

“Because I’m great!” he says with a laugh. “Let’s leave it at that.”

Who: Willy Porter

Where: M-Shop

When: 8 p.m., Thursday — Friday

Cost: $12 students, $14 public