Review: Grace Potter

That's not Cybill Shephard in "Last Picture Show." It's Grace Potter at Crosstown Station. Photos by Timothy Finn/The Star

There haven't been too many nights like this at Crosstown Station, one of our city's best live-music venues: The room was way full  and the doormen were turning away customers, some of whom were willing to pay a little more than the $20 it took to get inside.

Grace Potter was in town Friday night with her band, the Nocturnals, and she drew the kind of crowd that indicates something big might be afoot, at least in her world.

More than 300 people were in the place by the time Potter started her set. Many of them were very familiar with her nearly all of material, songs like: "Treat Me Right," "Ain't No Time," "Here's to the Meantime," "Ah, Mary," "Sugar," "Sweet Hands," "Stop the Bus" and her sweet cover of Otis Reddings's "Pain In My Heart."

Potter spent about half the night behind her Hammond B3 and her Wurlitzer and most of the rest of the night wearing her Gibson Flying V. For a few songs in the middle of her set, she banged a tambourine and bounced around the stage.

She has found a niche in the jam-band world, thanks to her tour support for bands like Moe, Gov't Mule and the Black Crowes and appearances at festivals like Wakarusa. But she also has crossover appeal and not only because she's probably the sexiest star in the jam-band universe. She also draws fans of straight-up blues, soul and classic rock, thanks to the diversity of her sound and to her conservative approach to jamming. Her band can bring it, including guitarist Scott Tournet, but Instead of noodling half the night away, they let her songs and her voice do most of the talking.

One of the interested spectators Friday night was Roger Naber, former owner of the Grand Emporium, who told me Potter and her band have become a hot attraction in the blues world, including on his blues cruises.

Naber has seen phenoms like this rise, settle and fade in the blues world (Shannon Curfman), but Potter, is different. For one, she's as much a singer as she is a musician. Her voice gets compared a lot to Janis Joplin's. Fair enough: There were some heavy resemblances several times on Friday. But when she gets soulful, it sounds more like Aretha's.

Even better, she's a good songwriter, too. And instead of sticking to one generic color or hue, her sound veers around the music pallet. "Stop the Bus" sounds like a Tom Petty song; "Ah, Mary" sounds like an indie-/grunge rocker born in the Lilith Fair era.

The crowd was loud and enthusiastic throughout the evening. By the end of the night, this show felt like one of those moments when fans realize they probably won't have many more chances to see an act like this in a room this size, even if it is one of our city's showcase music venues.

Backyard Tire Fire: They were the perfect opener: a lively, entertaining alternative alt-country band that rocks some electric country-blues, too. At times they sounded like a more Southern version of the Bottle Rockets. Their cover of Neil Young's "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" was a highlight of the entire evening.

| Timothy Finn, The Star

Comments

[40wnks]

It was a great night for Grace and the band. I think she really warmed to the crowd as the night went on. They were very impressive opening for Gov't Mule last November at the Voodoo Lounge but her voice was stronger last night. An excellent concert that picked up speed as the night wore on. I left during the second encore song and would appreciate a set list Tim, if possible.
BTF were a decent opener but I feel like they needed a better sound mix. Some songs seemed a little muddled. Lots of energy and they made strong effort to mix and mingle with the crowd after their set.
Overall, Crosstown seemed too small for Grace, as did the stage. I look forward to bigger and better things from her and the band. They need a new CD, they are overdue and no mention was made of a new one.
Bill

[VinceM]

I loved Grace when I saw her a few years ago at Wakarusa. I definitely felt it was a matter of time before she was huge. They certainly had the look, and guitarist Scott Tournet gets an amazing snarl from his Telecaster. I'd have to say though the last few times I saw them I was underwhelmed. The band's second album "Nothing But the Water" was gutsy and soulful and Grace had a special songwriting touch that belied her age. Their last record though is pure 80s arena pop rock. It was a real letdown and an obvious attempt at crossing over. I don't blame the band, but it certainly was alienating to some of their original fans. Their last show at the Bottleneck was pretty average and they gave a pretty sleepy performance at Wakarusa 2007. Grace tends to sing out of her range often. I thought about heading to the show last night, but I think I'm done with Grace until she gives a proper follow-up to "Nothing But the Water."

Backyard Tire Fire is great though. I've seen them 3-4 times. I love Ed Anderson. As soon as they figure out what kind of band they want to be they could be just as big.

Anyway, it's good to see a sold-out show at the Crosstown Station. Everytime I've been there it's been almost empty.

[grace rocks!]

bill,

"this is somewhere" is their current record, and it came out in August 2007. not new enough for you? some artists take more time between records to write, record and craft the albums...

[bob]

"By the end of the night, this show felt like one of those moments when fans realize they probably won't have many more chances to see an act like this in a room this size, even if it is one of our city's showcase music venues." Tim

Ahhh, great line, Tim. I remember the first time I felt that was seeing 311 at Liberty Hall 15 years ago (no longer a fan, but kudos to those guys for their continued success). Other bands... Robert Randolph at the old (real) Grand Emporium and North Mississippi Allstars at the same venue the night Phish was playing at Sandstone. NMAS had a a bit better than 3/4 full room crowd (would have been over sold out had PHish not been in town) and they freaking rocked forever.

I also thought the same thing after seeing Split Lip at Davie's several years ago. The funny thing is they kept getting bigger, but loved Davie's so they kept playing there. God bless Split Lip Rayfield.

[Tim Finn]

Two shows come to mind: REM at Hoch Auditorium on the KU campus in 1984; and Coldplay at Memorial Hall in 2003 -- two bands about to bust huge. And it happened, and they never sounded better than they did in the smaller venues.

[pellboy]

I remember that REM show @ Hoch. As for other big acts at smaller venues,the old Lawrence Opera House, (now Liberty Hall) was a goldmine of such activity back in the early 80s w/ a show by The Police standing out among several other notable bands (Devo, XTC, Go Go's,etc.)that played there during that time period. But perhaps my most memorable concert in this category...U2 at Memorial Hall on their 'War' tour. Bono climbing into the second balcony...truly an unforgettable experience.

[Rick in KC]

Sorry, but you forgot. That was U2 at the Uptown, not Memorial Hall, where Bono climbed up to the balcony. Or at least he did that at the Uptown, in 1980 or so...

[Rick in KC]

That was on their first album tour, "Boy." You could say they blew up from there on ...