FeliciaEvita: Grace Potter and the Nocturnals: Rock Goddess Reigns Supreme

I see a tiny light like a flashbulb sparkle in the night
I see a tiny light telling everyone to hold on tight

-– Grace Potter and the Nocturnals (“Tiny Light”)

Vermont's Grace Potter and the Nocturnals delivered up a healthy serving of Southern rock, blues, and soul at The Depot in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night. And they did so with unequaled passion. Backstopped by lead guitarist Scott Tournet, drummer Matt Burr, bassist Catherine Popper, and rhythm guitarist Benny Yurco, Potter's musical and theatrical intensity remained stratospheric for the entire set. Potter's vocals were sultry, soulful, and at times, teasing.

From the moment she walked on stage, it was clear that Grace Potter was different from any other musician or band I'd ever seen. Different and exceptionally exceptional. Besides her ability to sing, play guitar and keyboard, and command the stage, Grace and her blonde mane brought to the stage a shot of yin energy as she flipped and tossed her head for each song.

Grace and Catherine are the type of women that inspire other women to accentuate what makes them uniquely female: dress, hair, jewelry, shoes … all fearlessly and intoxicatingly feminine. She and Catherine wore flattering, thigh-revealing dresses that have become a trademark of their performances (follow Grace on twitter.com @gracepotter to track her concert outfits and set lists). What an escape from the pseudo male, business casual desert in which so many women live.

The capacity audience at The Depot was fixated on the stage for the entire show, which included a five-song encore. As we were mesmerized by each song, a group of us near the front were in awe that a performer could generate so much energy.

That good? Absolutely. Grace has been compared with some of the music industry's greatest names: Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Norah Jones, Bonnie Raitt, Melissa Etheridge, Etta James, to name a few. And for good reason. If you haven't seen Grace Potter yet, there's still time. She has the talent and charisma that will keep the craze about her band in motion for years to come. And Vermont's idyllic covered bridges and maple syrup finally have a rival for home state fame indeed.

Fanfare
“Loved it!! She was an amazing performer, so much energy and spunk! Paris and Medicine were also fav's. :)”
- Amy

“This was so awesome!”
- Karen

“That was the first time I've ever heard Grace Potter, too! Loved her!! The music was awesome; fun beat, great voice and I agree with Amy about the energy and spunk! I really enjoyed the last song she played, too...“
- Sheila