Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Ridgefield Playhouse - February 20, 2008My long awaited winter concert date finally arrived, and now it’s a fantastic memory of a rocking evening spent with dear old friends and meeting some most excellent new ones. We arrive at the Playhouse and find a parking space way out back, and see the great big tour bus parked out that way too. Alright, it’s really happening! As we enter the theater, I see a familiar yellow t-shirt and a friendly smiling Corporal Cowbell arms full of yellow roses which he kindly welcomes my friends and I. Nice start to the evening – thanks for your thoughtfulness John! I pass on some stickers and business cards to him and he entrusts me with the Posse cowbell for the NBTW chorus. Okay, next come the ushers with the armbands for our “gold circle” meet and greet session and we find our way down to the second row center and take a seat . I Very soon the house lights dim and Lowell Thompson begins his very cool acoustic set. Oh – just before this the playhouse announcer is trying to do her thing up there, yadda, yadda, and who comes out to upstage her completely?? KICK!! Too funny.Next up Grace and the boys take the stage and prepare to mainline us with a high energy evening of some old, some newer, a few covers, and a even couple brandy new tunes all perfectly segueing into the next with barely a breath in between. Now, the stage is looking a bit different than I’ve ever seen it tonight. Grace is in her usual spot stage left with her B-3 and piano and directly opposite here stage right is Matt – he’s come out from backstage and it’s nice to see him highlighted there. The stage is plenty roomy enough to let Scott and Brian have stage center, with Grace joining them with the flying V when she’s ready to rock on. I liked the set up, but did feel that Brian could have used another mic on him to pick up the great back beat he always provides.Some highlights were hearing Grace sound so happy to be the closest to home that she’s been in a while, just 4 hours away. Hearing the song Can’t See Though for the first time was another highlight. Grace introduced it a a new song they’ve only played 3 times or so, we were to be her guinea pigs, so she said, she also went on to say it’s a song about Saying Goodbye. It is one gorgeous song, in my humble opinion. Finally got to hear the other new song Sugar that they have been playing live since the recorded it down at Sun Studios just about a month or two ago. Smoking bluesy rock n roll, just the way I like it! Bringing out my older favorites Treat Me Right and Ragged company also made this girl happy, along with a super long jam on Over Again where Scott just RULED. That guitar did not gently weep – it soared and roared and just plain wailed under his expertise. Tasty covers of Jet Airliner and Getting in Tune rounded out my listening pleasure. As the chillingly haunting, yet utterly lovely notes of Grace starting NBTW resound in the auditorium, we scramble to get the Posse Cowbell (by this time all decorum has gone out the door, we’ve all rushed the stage, and are dancing up front – this started somewhere around Sugar and Sweet Hands) and while I know John was wanting me to be ringing the bell during the a capella with Grace’s tambourine, I just had to hold out till the raucous part II before I let that happen. Grace acapella just give me chills, and I couldn’t diminish it with the cowbell. Sorry John, hope you understand. Now, Grace goes over to the B-3 and let me tell you that cow bell rang and rang and rang– and I was able to get Carol up front briefly to join me in ringing it, before I passed it of to Chris and John to carry on. After the finale with Angel Band and Big White Gate, always wonderful, we milled about waiting for that meet and greet, and while I was doing so, was so very pleasantly surprised to be introduced to Peggy and Sparky Potter – what awesome parents, so pleasant and friendly. Also met Justin (indie911) and got a second chance to speak with Matt after going through the reception line. What warm and genuine people I meet this evening. It’s no wonder I love this band, their music, their real life personalities it’s all so good. I better sign off now, hope I haven’t bored you all.