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Biography
A musical child from an early age, Grace Potter sung in choirs, school musical productions and regional theatre productions while learning to play the piano from her mother. However, she wouldn't form a proper band until she went to college, where she met Matt Burr during an open-mic performance in 2002. Burr would later become the drummer of The Nocturnals, and also Potter's wife, and the duo would later recruit bassist Courtright Beard and guitarist Scott Tournet to complete the first true line-up of Potter's backing band in 2003. Rather than go the traditional route of searching for a label to release their music, the band formed their own label, Ragged Company, to release Potter's 2004 solo debut “Original Soul”.
Potter's second album and the band's first, 2005's “Nothing But The Water”, was also released on Ragged Company but by that point, they'd built up such a name for themselves via their records and their famed live shows, that Potter and the band signed with Hollywood Records in December of the same year. Ever since then, Potter has remained a massively acclaimed name in modern rock, with the seal of approval of everyone from The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach to Kenny Chesney, with whom Potter collaborated with to create “You And Tequila”, a top three hit on the Billboard country charts and to date, Potter's only appearance in the top forty of the Billboard Hot 100. She's an artist who's achieved far more in the first decade of her career than most achieve in a lifetime, and she's got so much more to offer as well. For that, Grace Potter comes highly recommended.
Live reviews
Best known for performing alongside her band The Nocturnals, Grace Potter has been gaining huge support across the globe for the past decade thanks to her strength as a vocalist and performer. Critics really enjoy the work of Grace and her band and with his positive press grows a strong fanbase of the curious and the loyal. It is only this year that Grace finally got around to recording and releasing her solo album 'Midnight' and she has been doing the festival rounds to promote it since.
Performing with a couple of other musicians, it may be strange to imagine Potter without the faithful Nocturnals yet the fans still remain enthusiastic to the likeable lady's presence onstage. The folk rock and blues sound continue on her solo tracks such as 'Hot To The Touch' and 'Delirious'. She also has the opportunity to rework some of her band's older singles including 'Big White Gate' and 'Stars'. The musicians tonight come together to jam out a cover of 'Rocket Man' by Elton John which is a huge highlight of the show. The mixture of new solo work and old, well worn tracks from The Nocturnals discography goes over fantastically with the audience and they applaud loudly as Grace takes her final bows beaming from ear to ear.
sean-ward
I was thrilled at a recent chance to catch the amazing Grace Potter and her band, The Nocturnals. Accompanied by a slightly incompliant best friend, I was determined to change his mind about this amazing group. He stopped protesting quite so much when he saw her, though. She is quite the hottie. And I’d like to think he changed his mind about the music, as well.
Always and incredible evening of music, this band looks like they stepped out of another time, mainly the sixties. And in some ways, they sound like a mix of the best of the psychedelic sixties, the hard rocking seventies and a bit of the glam metal of the eighties.
However you describe it, the music sounds fresh and exciting and this was true of this show as well. Grace’s soulful voice is always compared to Janis Joplin’s and this is not untrue but there is also a sweet melody to it that Janis, legend that she is, was lacking. Barefoot and beautiful, as always, Grace is the undeniable focal point of this group. Her band is super talented but let’s be honest, they would be playing covers in a bar somewhere without Grace’s energy and talent to lead them. It was an incredible night of music, as always and I think she has a new fan!
If you love Grace Potter and the Nocturnals music (and of course you do because you have ears) you will be doing yourself an incredible kindness by going to see her and the boys live.
The energy she possesses and her powerhouse voice are nothing short of spectacular. I've seen GPN 5 times and every time has been a completely unique experience. Their album The Lion the Beast and the Beat's tracks were made to be played live and the title track especially, and the band always mixes in a wonderful blend of old fan favorites well.
Fortunately there are a ton of old fan favorites and usually a cool cover that allows them to have a different set list almost every night. I would recommend everyone see GPN at least once and allow Grace to take you to church. Two of my favorite performances were at the House of Blues in Boston in 2013 or State Theater in Portland ME in 2010.
cmpowers35
Hmmm...
Well, she isn't as good as her videos! Guess the four years off leaves you out of time. I know this was the first week of her tour but much must be done. Her song selection left the crowd confused. Her band is not above average. Often during the performance I saw people looking at their phones (more than usual). Her range was there but the song mix & timing was rather plain. It could have been almost any late 90s singer. I think mommiehood had taken a bit of a toll on Ms. Grace's savvy nature. And that band. Obviously not the Nocturnals.
I saw the New Pornographers the previous month. Neko Case was with them....wow!
Wishing the best for Grace. She is always better with duets et al.
ChipinNC
The show in Des Moines was awesome! It was a horribly hot day/evening and that didn't stop her from playing with her whole being! She did the major hits and then a couple of her new singles (that will be on the new album in August)!
I was very lucky to get the opportunity to see her sound check and then was able to have her autograph my guitar! She was super nice and down to earth when talking to her. Very cool to see someone that you are a fan of... be so humble and kind off the stage! I'd say it's a must see show! If you have the chance GO! You won't be disappointed. :)
ruby09
Grace played the first of three shows (snow permitting) at the 9:30 club in Washington, DC. She was very good but thought something was missing compared to the last time I saw her in Summer 2014 at the Lockin Festival. Lots of good energy but also some pretty long, what I would call, self-indulgent periods where not much was happening. I'm not complaining. It was a good show, just didn't blow me away like she did at Lockin.
jasonjjacobson
Grace Potter kills it. Her voice is fantastic, she's super talented, and she and her band really put on a great show. I took a friend who had never heard of Grace Potter before hand and as we were walking back to our car after the show, she said she was going to become her biggest fan. I highly recommend seeing her live if she tours anywhere near you. Also, shout out to The Knitting Factory in Boise, one of my favorite venues!
Shaynetyler9
Grace Potter puts on a show and a half. Anyone putting her down for lacking energy; quit looking at your phone and pay attention! Saw her at Roxian in Pittsburgh. Band is tight; vocals (esp harmonies) great for live setting. Grace did a solo encore after doing four encores; I don't know what more you want! Definitely will see her again. Saw her with the Nocturnals and it was every bit as good.
kevin-conner
Had reservations that it wouldn't be the same without the Nocturnals, but the show kicked just as much ass as it always has. There's no denying she is a force to be reckoned with as far as the live show goes, great jam breaks, always finding a way to freshen up the hits that have to be played for the casual fan. Just an all around excellent performance as always
mwetzler
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