In the last few days I’ve covered what I thought were big moments for the band. Now I’d like to hear your personal thoughts. Top 5? Top 3? Top 100? Whatever works for you. Musical memories, videos, images – I’m open.
I’ll start it off
- “I Shall Be Released” – Bennington, VT. This song, when done right, always hits me hard. At the end of a fantastic evening of music and many weeks of hard work (not to mention nearly months of trying to schedule it) this was the perfect end to an unbelievable personal evening. The fact that Grace knocked it out of the park was icing on an already delicious cake.
- “Try” + “Woodstock” + “White Rabbit”. A trinity of cover tunes done by a newly formed band who had technically never played together. Things just clicked. Being in the room filled with 300 kids who were out of this world rock n’ roll fans made it all the better.
- “Some Kind of Ride” – Terminal 5 NYC. When the band hits New York they go on stage like they have something to prove. Nothing proves it more than the jaw dropping opener this song brings. Check out the look on Grace’s face during the song break. Partial Clip
- 8×10 show in Baltimore late May. First time the new band hit a club on this tiny stage. Stood next to Van the whole show – good times. I recall playing Gram Parsons on my iPod almost the entire drive down.
- I reserve the right to keep adding . . .
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1) Seeing the jam of Cortez the Killer with Joe Satriani on MSG and wondering who the heck the female was because she was having so much fun.
2) Seeing the band for the first time at Infinity Hall and hearing Ah Mary and Stop the Bus back to back. It blew me away.
3) Seeing the show at the Terminal in NYC
4) Randomly meeting a friend of Benny’s at Terminal 5 in NYC when we picked up our tickets and partying with that group all night.
5) Knowing I have tickets to Infinity Hall and the Ridgefield Playhouse in 2010.
Nick
A couple of interview quotes I liked:
August 2009
http://www.plumtv.com/videos/2009-telluride-red-white-blues-concert-grace-potter-the-nocturnals/
“Musicians don’t want to be compared to somebody else. I don’t mind the comparisons that much; but I do think if I sound like anybody, or if I’m aiming to sound like anybody, it tends to be male singers like [Lowell George, Robert Plant, Neil Young]. There’s certain voices that I try to channel, and it’s never a female one. So when people say, “Oh – Janis Joplin,” it’s like “Really, dude”?
December 2009
http://www.pointfm.com/grace-potter-and-the-nocturnals.php
Writer/singer/keyboard player Potter, guitarist Scott Tournet and drummer Matt Burr had planned on holding extensive auditions for the vacant bass slot in New York and L.A., but they first checked out Popper on a recommendation. “She came in, plugged in and played with us,” Grace recalls, “and by the end of the first song we knew she was absolutely, positively the perfect person for us. She completely understood the direction we wanted to go in.”
After Yurco sat in with the band, including Popper, during their performance for a special VH1”School of Rock” 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival (they played “White Rabbit,” “Woodstock,” Janis Joplin’s “Try” and one original, “Nothing But The Water”), “We all had that new-band buzz,” Grace recalls. “We thought that if were making a lineup change, why not make it a whole new experience? Because we couldn’t really replace Bryan—he’d been with us too long for that. So having five members has made it a positive transition for all of us.”
only have 2:
being at the Warfield to see Gov’t Mule, and having Grace come out for 3 songs, what a sweet surprise!
and being at the Waterfront in the only way we could – via Maplehurst Florist
thanks so much Jan!
joester –
THANK YOU!!
Waterfront Burlington with the Posse was a huge highlight of the summer.
http://vimeo.com/6233455
Clearwater Festival and Vibes were fun – Albany Live at Five was amazing despite weird press
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowbird26/sets/72157620450207811/
Bennington show – THANK YOU KC – very amazing
and The Pines at Soul Live (Sharon Jones!!) and finally Infinity Hall.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowbird26/sets/72157622358764752/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowbird26/sets/72157621988272448/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUuDVT4VW-4
Looking now to 2010 and what comes next.
Matt playing w/The Eames Brothers, esp the Farmer’s market
The Matt & Grace show … Matt spilling the T-Bone beans “But you Can’t tell anybody!”
Wanee Wanee Wanee:
Last dance w/my LF brother Steve to The rads. Oh well, went link shopping, it’s only on my friends site.
Seeing the new line up for the first time
Walking through the field w/my young camping buddies & running into Matt Grace & Benny. “Want to meet them?”
All the Posse pals and new Wanee bros & sis’s
Waterfront
#1 has got be running into Benny w/some Posse Pals right as his ship had come in. “Are you still asking why the hell me, or is it beginning to feel like you Deserve it?!?”
“It IS!” Priceless
But #1 is Sure to be replaced with the best 6 day NYE run ever!!!!
8*)
Here’s the wanee link
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1264058759983
Also forgot The Terminal 5 show! Finally meeting Dino Perucci … Talking 5 of my LF buddies into coming early for Steve’s funeral the next day. They said it might be the best show they’d ever seen. Brett? Not so much
ONE WORD. WANEE.
the talk of Wanee, the shock of Wanee was GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS. people who were not in the know, were now in the know and man were they happy about it. the fact that they were at the Mushroom Stage was the icing on the Nocturnal cake. Those that missed them regretted it. Then to have the midnight jam with Derek Trucks Band and Susan Tedeschi follow…with Scotty sitting behind them the entire set with a shit eating grin on his face…MAGICAL!!
Waterfont Burlington with the Posse…sweet sweet memories that will last a lifetime. here’s to more of them in 2010!
2009- My Top 5 GPN Moments
5- Brooklyn Prospect Park (The Brooklyn Marathon)
It was the dream coming true as I turned around in the middle of the bands set and saw how the crowd had swelled to about five thousand. Most were up on their feet dancing away. GPN was on fire! They had arrived. Then off to the Brooklyn Bowl for two hours of Blues and Lasers and watching Grace throw gutter balls. An evening to remember.
4-Terminal 5 in New York City
Absolutely agree with Mojo on this one. It was indeed “Some Kind Of Ride” and New York City loved them. A truly spectacular show.
3-Souther Shore Music Fest in New Jersey- Getting to see the new lineup live for the first time. As the rain started to fall Grace jumped off the stage and into the crowd to share our getting wet experience. As she started to dance with me I lost control, grabbed her, gave her a big kiss and said Happy Birthday. The next day at the Great Hudson River Festival I apologized for stealing the kiss and she informed me that I could kiss her anytime I want. Need I say more?
2. Bonnaroo Web cast- I will never forget yelling at the top of my lungs at the computer screen. They were simply sensational and the new tunes were incredible. From that point on I knew the new lineup was going to catapult this band to another level. This show was a game changer as far as I’m concerned.
1. Bennington,Vermont Solo Show- At the very last minute I decided that a five hour drive up north to see this show was imperative. I ended up front row in front of the piano. If I leaned forward I could almost touch Grace and I will never forget her singing “Colors” for the first time. For a small time it felt like being in her living room and she was singing to me alone. An absolute priceless moment.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/snowbird26/4211469739/
I’ve got your back, Michael – in Grace’s Living Room at Bennington!
Unforgettable.
#5 I’m reserving number five for this three-show stretch we’ll be doing tonight, tomorrow, and Monday at Higher Ground. May need to adjust the list in a few days.
#4 Meeting Michael at the Hudson Festival – finally being handed one of those little Posse business cards. It felt official. The show was pretty phenomenal as well.
#3 Burlington Waterfront – meeting Scott’s mom, introducing a bunch of kids to what a rock show is all about. The threatening clouds/weather of the day holding off for a dry show. (Being in the crowd for that wonderful behind-stage-sunset shot by Adrien.)
#2 NJ/NY double-header. Seeing Matt & Grace cruise by on a golf cart in NY and Matt congratulating us on our double-header, remembering our attendance at the Southern Shore Festival the day prior.
#1 – Solo Bennington show. Soooo honored to have been part of such a wonderful event on my old campus. Giving Grace the bunny ears.
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