House of Blues just unveiled their annual late night Jazz Fest schedule and once again it is slam-packed with familiar festival favorites, a few newcomers, and a couple of spectacular second weekend Superjams up in the friendlier, darker and tinier confines of the Parish Room.
The overriding WOW(!) factor that jumped out most when the 2012 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival lineup was released was the caliber of both the newer and established female artists in the lineup. This year the Jazz Fest organizers hit the nail on the head with their attention to the amazing array of new female talent to emerge in a big way in recent years. Seven of the premiere live female artists in the world jumped off the screen as I scrolled through the lineup and saw Janelle Monae, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Esperanza Spalding (who shocked the world last February by winning the 2011 Grammy for Best New Artist in 2011), Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Jill Scott, Feist and Florence and the Machine – a solid representation of the biggest female artists to ascend into the mainstream conversation as household names over the last 6 or 7 years.
Braving a ton of rain and less-than-ideal lightning conditions at the venue, our friend Derek McCabe went and shot the Grace Potter & the Nocturnals show last night at Electric Factory in Philly. His reputation proceeded him enough to let the tour manager convince him to shoot the entire show, thus bringing back a seriously stellar set of Potter and all of her band mates rocking through an excellent show. These photos show what she’s capable of, that’s for sure…
Read on for his full photoset. >>>
The Avett Brothers, STS9, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Brandi Carlile, JJ Grey and Mofro, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Big Gigantic, Soja, Railroad Earth, Greensky Bluegrass, Rival Sons, & Honey Island Swamp Band have been added to the Hangout Music Festival lineup. ![Post image for Grace Potter & The Nocturnals @ House of Blues, NOLA 2.20.11 [LMB NOLA]](http://www.livemusicblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Grace-Potter-061-1600x1200-500x333.jpg)
Looking like a woman on the brink of superstardom.
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals @ Minglewood Hall, Memphis, TN 9/18/10
The first time I saw her, she opened for Gov’t Mule at Alabama Theater in 2007. Since then, I have been hooked. The show started promptly at 8:00. Grace is opening for Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings. I wasn’t sure what to expect as this was the first time I had been to this venue, but judging by the lineup on their concert calendar, it seemed like the place to be. I was right. The crowd was a little thin at the start of the show, but it was early on a Saturday night. In the South, college football is a big distraction. It was one of the more diverse crowds I have seen in a long time, fans of all ages.
The show focused heavily on the band’s newest release. Catherine Popper was noticeably absent and missed, with John Rogone from Blues and Lasers filling in and doing his part well. Grace was wearing a shimmering dress, and the band receded back into the stage wearing mostly black. She works the stage from the second the lights go down. The crowd gets quiet and the show takes off. For all of her stage presence, she does an incredible job showcasing each of the band members over the course of the set. While not an original, there is something incredibly sexy and intoxicating watching Grace sing “White Rabbit.” And then she gets down on the stage and starts pounding on the bass drum. It all ended too quickly, but it was a good set. When it ended we were left wanting more.
You can get a copy of the show taped by Tim Discenza here. Here’s the setlist:
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
Minglewood Hall
Memphis, TN
9-18-1001: Joey
02: Oasis
03: Only Love
04: One Short
05: Ah Mary
06: Tiny Light
07: Apologies
08: White Rabbit
09: Nothing But The Water (part 1)
10: Medicine
Until next time, enjoy the photos. Read on for the photos…
This past weekend’s North Coast Music Festival in Chicago looks to have gone off without a hitch and we’ll hope to see it return next year. Thanks to the promoters for getting us some photo passes, because our man Chris Monaghan absolutely killed it this weekend and took some amazing shots. You can look back at his photos from Day One, Day Two and Day Three or read on for his Top 10 Photos from the weekend with a bit of commentary on each. I had to include the photo from the New Deal set also, so technically I only gave him 9 choices from his entire set of photos from the weekend. Click here to see the full gallery…
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