Grace Potter & the Nocturnals have long been impressing crowds on the jam band, oots rock, and even jazz tour circuits, and now, with a label deal for the very first time in their lives, they finally have the opportunity to reach an even broader audience. Of course, Potter already has a pretty devout following, thanks to her richly expressive voice and the musical talents that she and her bandmembers possess, and these fans shouldn't be disappointed with This Is Somewhere, an album that, while it roots itself firmly in the Southern rock tradition, also flirts with Norah Jones-esque jazz ("Lose Some Time"), horn-driven grooves ("Mastermind"), and even pretty straightforward MOR pop ("Mr. Columbus," which, with its simple melodies and lyrics, is one of the weaker tracks on the record), in doing so creating a solid collection. Not every track here is superb -- the aforementioned "Mr. Columbus," for example, as well as "Mastermind," which is too unsyncopated and forced to pull off the frenzy of saxophones that appears -- but Potter is showing herself to be a very adept songwriter, able to convey witty irony (in "Ah Mary," an almost angry criticism of the U.S.) as well as reflections on death (coming from the perspective of an 84-year-old woman in "Big White Gate") and gentle love ("Stop the Bus") equally skillfully and avoiding many of the lyrical clichés often tied to themes of that sort. Yes, This Is Somewhere is a bit top-heavy, with most of stronger cuts tucked safely into its first half, and sometimes Potter seems to be trying a little too hard (in "Falling or Flying," for example), her Southern accent just a little too affected, but the album is still impressive, with a lot of passion, energy, and soul from a very able group of young musicians.
Saratoga, NY 6/20-21/08 SPAC-tacular...Here are 2 very short Tedheadone reveiws from GPN opening for Dave Mathews at SPAC last month sound, venue, and TRAFFIC. Or, in the order I experienced it: TRAFFIC, sound, venue. Arriving in the vicinity at 6:30, after stopping in Abany and getting a room for the night, I am greeted by a line of traffic headed to the Saratoga State Park, home of Sarat...
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This is Tedheadones review from the show Friday at the Palace Theatre. This entire weekend was a special one for the Noc's Street team the Potterville Posse which I am a team leader. Massive mills on the Merrimack River. That's what I remember about Manchester. I-93 goes right through the city, with downtown and most of the mills across the river on the East side. They used to do a lot of garm...
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Can't get enough of that Nocturnals stuff! This is "Meet The Beatles" ... Meets Grace Potter & The Nocturnals!
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This Is Somewhere!This release is fantastic....I cannot stop listening to it!!Go Grace!
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Can't get enough of that Nocturnals stuff! This is "Meet The Beatles" ... Meets Grace Potter & The Nocturnals!
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This is Tedheadones review from the show Friday at the Palace Theatre. This entire weekend was a special one for the Noc's Street team the Potterville Posse which I am a team leader. Massive mills on the Merrimack River. That's what I remember about Manchester. I-93 goes right through the city, with downtown and most of the mills across the river on the East side. They used to do a lot of garm...
More >
Saratoga, NY 6/20-21/08 SPAC-tacular...Here are 2 very short Tedheadone reveiws from GPN opening for Dave Mathews at SPAC last month sound, venue, and TRAFFIC. Or, in the order I experienced it: TRAFFIC, sound, venue. Arriving in the vicinity at 6:30, after stopping in Abany and getting a room for the night, I am greeted by a line of traffic headed to the Saratoga State Park, home of Sarat...
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New video from Grace Potter and the Nocturnals...Whaddya think?
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Fell in love with the Nocturnals in the summer of 2005. They were scheduled to play as the feature band for thr Friday Night Block Party at the Burlington (Vt) Discovery Jazz Fest. I had purchase their 2nd CD Down to the Water and loved it but when heard them live I knew they were really something special. In the last 2 1/2 years they have grown so much as a live band and with the release of "...
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This Is Somewhere!This release is fantastic....I cannot stop listening to it!!Go Grace!
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This band is absolutely rockin.. I have been listening to about them for a year now but finally they came to Ohio, opening for the Black Crows. Of course this is only my opnion- but black crows should have been the opener for this amazing band! This is a glimpse of my show :)We also were able to get our hands on the setlist.. This is what it was..Here's to the MeantimeaH, mARYAin't No TImeApolo...
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 "This Is Somewhere")
