{"id":265,"date":"2013-09-01T00:23:52","date_gmt":"2013-09-01T05:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.robpenfold.com\/?p=265"},"modified":"2013-10-21T23:03:32","modified_gmt":"2013-10-22T04:03:32","slug":"grace-potter-the-nocturnals-danforth-music-hall-24-aug-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.robpenfold.com\/?p=265","title":{"rendered":"Grace Potter & The Nocturnals @ Danforth Music Hall – 24 Aug 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"GPN01\"<\/a>Let me start off this review by saying I MET GRACE POTTER!!!!\u00a0 Ok, I’ll get to that later.\u00a0 I have been a fan of Grace Potter & The Nocturnals for a few years, 2009 I think.\u00a0 While looking for something else I stumbled across an in-studio session they did at Shore 104 in Vancouver.\u00a0 Like every other red blooded male I of course noticed first that Grace is drop-dead gorgeous.\u00a0 Then I heard her sing.\u00a0 Her voice is very reminiscent of Grace Slick (Jefferson Airplane) or Janis Joplin.\u00a0 It has a very powerful 70’s rock sound.\u00a0 Besides Grace’s considerable talent as a singer, songwriter and performer what made me love this band is that they are one of the few bands out there still making honest, sincere rock and roll.\u00a0 Their sound has evolved over four albums but at is core is still blues influenced, 70’s flavoured rock.\u00a0 (I reviewed their latest album<\/a>, The Lion The Beast The Beat back in December of 2012)<\/p>\n

So after years of being a fan I finally got to see these talented Vermont rockers in Toronto last weekend at the Danforth Music Hall.\u00a0 First off, what a cool venue.\u00a0 It is an old 1920 theatre that was converted to a live music venue some years ago.\u00a0 Unfortunately I was late in getting tickets and was relegated to the balcony.\u00a0 That’s okay because I got to sit as the floor was general admission for this show and I’m to old\/lazy to stand at shows if I can help it.\u00a0 I have to say though, the balcony seats were fantastic!\u00a0 Great view, great sound.<\/p>\n

The opening act was a band from Austin Texas called Saints of Valory.\u00a0 They have an enjoyable early U2 kind of sound which I really dug.\u00a0 They were a great opening act.\u00a0 I bought their self-titled EP and am looking forward to the upcoming album.<\/p>\n

GPN took the stage at 9pm and I pretty much knew what to expect as I have a large collection of GPN concert recordings.\u00a0 Every recording I’ve heard of them playing live is a balls to the wall rock and roll show.\u00a0 I just didn’t expect them to be as good as they were.\u00a0 The records simply do not do them justice.\u00a0 Without a doubt they absolutely blew me away.\u00a0 The show had a nice build to it.\u00a0 They began with “Medicine” and “Stop The Bus” and gradually gained energy over the next two hours playing songs from all four of their studio albums (I wished they had done their “White Rabbit” cover).\u00a0 They gained volume too.\u00a0 I’ve been to a lot of shows and this was by far the loudest.\u00a0 After the one hour mark I actually had to make impromptu ear plugs from a kleenex in my pocket (it was unused, no boogers).<\/p>\n

About halfway through the show after playing “One Short Night” Grace handed her acoustic guitar to bass player Michael Libermento as the rest of the band including drummer Matt Burr joined her center stage to perform “Mystery Train”\u00a0 It was very cool but kuddos to Michael for playing Grace’s guitar.\u00a0 He’s a lefty, she’s not.\u00a0 That means he had to play it upside down.\u00a0 It was a fun number as you can see in the video below.<\/p>\n