“There’s no point in being coy. We’re not a coy band”
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
It’s probably fair to warn you now that if you’re scared of a little sex, and a whole lotta lovin’, then Grace Potter and the Nocturnals might not be the band for you.
On the verge of releasing their self-titled debut UK album, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are a five piece travellin’ band of classic rock loving gypsies with flowers in their hair, high grade whiskey in their hip flasks and buckets of soul in their sonics.
Scoring the accolade of Best Jam Band in Rolling Stone’s Best New Bands of 2010 countdown, the group are in thrall to the sounds of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fleetwood Mac and Jefferson Airplane yet top off their vintage influences with a deliciously modern bent.
Almost constantly touring the USA for the past few years, the band are headed up by one woman whirlwind Grace Potter. A born front-woman, her impressive lungs recall the blues and bourbon soaked wails of Bonnie Raitt, Janis Joplin and Tina Turner.
Looking as if she’s just stepped off the set of ‘Almost Famous’, Grace is all thrift shop furs, blonde feathered hair and fabulously faded sequins, a glorious collision of Stevie Nicks sass and the kicking back country glamour of Emmylou Harris that demands not just to be looked at, but listened to as well.
The Vermont based band, who formed at New York liberal arts college St Lawrence, have recently had their ranks augmented by Catherine Popper – former bassist with Ryan Adams & the Cardinals – as well as rhythm guitarist Benny Yurco.
Their first UK single, the slow burning anthem ‘Tiny Light’ is due to cast it’s warm glow on June 6 and will be followed by the nice’n’sleazy ‘Paris (Ooh La La)’ on July 26. Their Mark Batson (Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay-Z) produced album ‘Grace Potter & the Nocturnals’ then touches down on August 2. Expect this summer to be hot one, whatever the weather.
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are: Grace Potter (vocals/keys), Scott Tournet (lead guitar), Benny Yurco (rhythm guitar), Catherine Popper (bassist) and Matt Burr (drums).