Grace Potter & the Nocturnals at SOhO

Grace Potter & the Nocturnals performed at SOhO on this past Tuesday at one of the smallest venues on their current tour. A five-piece wall of sound, Potter & Co. are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the world of rock music. Rolling Stone included the band in its list of the Best New Bands of 2010. Lead vocalist and front woman, Grace Potter plays the Hammond B-3 organ, piano, and electric and acoustic guitars. Members of the Nocturnals are Scott Tournet (guitar/harmonica), Matthew Burr (drums), Benny Yurco (electric guitar/vocals), and Catherine Popper (bass guitar/vocals). The band has the presence of a well -experienced and confident group not to be messed with. Hailing from Vermont, the Nocturnals proved to us that rock and roll is not dead during their SOhO stint.

As the house lights dimmed, a sultry Grace, wearing a knockout black fringed top, came on stage playing a black and white Flying V. With her hair whipping in the stage lights, she wailed on her guitar to an anxious, packed crowd. The energy of her band shook the mortar out of the old red bricks of SOhO’s walls. Together, Grace & the Nocturnals possess the soul of the ‘60s and Janis Joplin and the blues of Bonnie Raitt, all wrapped up in a classic rock & roll package. By night’s end, the show proved one of the best SOhO has brought to Santa Barbara in recent months.

Chamberlin opened up the evening with a mix of folk blues and rock. They came on stage sporting well worn flannel shirts, hats, and jeans, and began to play, conjuring thoughts of log cabin living, whiskey drinking, and long mountain winters. It was a nice start to a great evening. Formed in the summer of 2010, Chamberlin recorded their debut album in Burlington, Vermont with producer Scott Tournet, who also plays guitar for the Nocturnals.