Review: Grace Potter & the Nocturnals 09/11/11

This is the fourth time I have seen Grace Potter & the Nocturnals this year. Each experience has been unique, from the tightly packed crowd at the Cannery Ballroom in Nashville, the sandy beaches at Hangout Fest ’11 in Gulf Shores, AL, the sweltering heat and dirt-caked crowds at Bonnaroo X, and now the hallowed halls of the Ryman Auditorium.

I'm not sure if it's her soaring, classic rock vocals - a mix of Janice Joplin, Stevie Nix and Ann Wilson - her striking good looks, or her giddy personality, but one way or another I am in love with Grace Potter. I would gladly see her a fifth time before the year is up if the opportunity presented itself.

Grace opened the show by strutting out in high heels with her white Gibson Flying V guitar, offering up a solo version of  "Nothing But the Water." The Nocturnals soon joined her, launching into a rocking version of "Only Love" that set the pace for the rest of the night. Showmanship pieces, hot slow-burners, and incessantly-driving, up-tempo songs were evenly scattered throughout the 90-minute set.

Highlights included a cover of Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings' "Elvis Presley Blues," Kenny Chesney/Grace Potter duet "Tequila" (with guitarist Scott Tournet filling in  - thorns to Kenny for not making an appearance), and an encore filled with original favorites "Paris (Ooh La La)" and "Medicine."

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are truly one of the must-see live acts of our time. Their tireless musicianship, hot licks and sex appeal harken back to the days when rock was king, songwriting was at its peak, and overdriven guitar licks ruled the airwaves.

(Thanks to Faith Shealy for the photo).