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By Janie Franz
Her live shows reflect the variety in her latest album, Nothing But the Water. Her vocals echo the best of blues women from many generations. She has the driving rasp of Janis Joplin on the rock tunes, the knowing wryness of Bonnie Raitt on the blues tunes, the thoughtful crooning of Nora Jones on the soft melodies, and even a young Aretha Franklin on an a cappella gospel number from which the album takes its title.
There is a flavor there of all of these women and more, but no outright mimicry. Potter merely interprets this collection of original and traditional tunes, and it comes out pure Potter. Much like what was said of Jonny Lang when he started singing blues: audiences just don't expect that big, road-weary voice to come out of such a young, tender throat.
Just 23, Potter is learning the trials and tribulations of touring as she travels with her four-piece band, the Nocturnals, which played at Central Park on July 20. A band is something new to Potter. She started out as a folk singer, crooning Celtic tunes. "It was a totally different kind of music, kind of earthy and hippy," she said.
At one of these gigs, when she was 19, she met drummer Matt Burr. "He heard me playing some really mellow stuff at an open mike and he said, 'You need a drummer,'" she recalls, though she wasn't convinced. Burr persisted and picked up a bass player. Suddenly, she had a jazz trio that expanded into a rock and roll band.
Potter's movement from one musical genre to another has contributed to all of the color in her voice. "When I started out, I was more mellow. It was more like Nora Jones or Shawn Colvin or some of early Bonnie Raitt," she said. "It's sort of evolved into the Rolling Stones, the Allman Brothers and Janis Joplin."
In addition to her gangbuster delivery and her organ, piano and resonator bass stylings, Potter has written lyrics that are sure to become blues standards. Her Toothbrush and My Table is a modern twist on the blues break-up song. Not only funny, it is right on the money. Even if you never broke up with anybody, you just can't help singing the chorus with Potter as loudly as you can because it affirms the strength of one gutsy woman, much like Potter herself.
Nothing But the Water was recorded live in a barn without the glitz of studio wizardry. It captures her live concerts, which fans had wanted to have on a permanent recording. But, seeing her live is an event not to be missed.
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Perpetual Toxins © 2006-2007 - All Rights Reserved |
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verywhere Grace Potter goes she wows audiences. It is obvious that she has crafted her voice to wail or whisper whatever the song requires, but she has taken that skill one giant step further.
