Jambands comes through with a totally bad ass interview with Grace Potter, Scott Tournet, Matt Burr and Bryan Dondero.
Another misconception the band deals with stems from their origins at Goddard College in Vermont, a birthing ground they share with one of the mightiest jambands in recent times. Much like a teacher who unfairly expects the little brother to act like the older sibling she once taught, they struggle a bit with the jamband classification. “It’s a bit of a stigma,” explains Dondero. “It’s hard because we don’t want to reject anybody. You don’t want to be labeled as a jamband, but you also don’t want to reject it.” With humility Dondero acknowledges how welcoming the jamband world has been towards the band but also expresses concern in the way others can misinterpret the label. “Its only been the critics who put that label on us. I’ve never heard our fans call us a jamband. That’s a critic kind of thing. You would never call The Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin a jamband . . .” starts Dondero but Tournet finishes the thought. “. . . or Neil Young but yet they’ll do 15 minute jams.”
In parsing through some of the various attributes of jambands, some of which aptly apply to them (i.e. great live performances, exceptional improvisational skills), we get to discussing whether people come to a show to see a singer or band ply their craft or come to hear familiar songs. “I don’t want to reject the tradition of the jambands like The Allman Brothers, but, wouldn’t it be cool where you could walk away with both: the experience and the songs?” reasons Tournet. “I think that’s what we’re shooting for; tap into all these different things and extract the best out of them.”
Oh, that encore they talk about? I guess I only sort of fucked up because here it is.
Plus - I think someone who reads this blog was at this show . . .
GraceGivesGoodGuitarHair.
Now isn’t this delightful. I think Grace et al. are so off the scale good and transcend so many genres. It makes me thrilled to read a good solid piece like this. I don’t know how anyone can watch/hear those guys and not be blown way, way away. I hope some of us here at PC Tourettes madhouse will get to hit the CD promo show in Aug.
..and the clips — are making my day.
Love “the encore”….heh. I mean, it was Austin, right? And they were trying to shut them down….c’mon. Nocturnal means night lover, baby.
I would so love to go to The Troubadour…wadn’t me. However, if you would like me to be your paid correspondent for the CD promo tour, I’m happy to oblige.
Great…..definitely Janis Joplin reborn; “whisky inspired” vs. drug induced. They’re definitely already on their way to the Pop Culture Hall of Fame. Makes me feel really left out down here in Paradise. Seems the greats only get their start down here, i.e., James Brown, Ray Charles, Jimmy Buffet, Tom Petty. Oh well, I’ll settle for living vicariously through you, shouter.
Those damn camera phones just won’t wear out their welcome; so out of place. And yes, it was here in Paradise that Beyonce had to plead and have her record company remove all those videos of her face first fall down the stairs last week. You know it wasn’t me at Grace’s performance, shouter!!
I beg to differ regarding the Janis comparison.
First, why is it every female rock singer is the next Janis Joplin? Not that there’s anything wrong with Janis, but it’s my opinion that it takes something away from the talent of the singer in question by saying they are the “next Janis Joplin.”
Second, Grace is a dynamite guitar player. Janis, wasn’t.
Third, Grace Gives Good Guitar Hair. Janis, not so much.
I’ve heard Joss Stone is the next Janis. Beth Heart is the next Janis. Now Grace is the next Janis, yet Joss, Beth and Grace really sound nothing alike.
I have seen Grace and her band live. I was at the Troubadour, thanks to a phone call from a good friend, and I can say that Grace’s talent - singing, keyboards and guitar - stand on their own merits.
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals are a great rock band, period.
Tell us how you really feel, Gcubed.
Let me give my 2 pennies…NOBODY will be the next Janis. Totally original, never duplicated. IMO, there has been NO female rocker to even come close to Janis’ total (albeit eccentric) style and talent. The only girl rocker that intrigued me as much as Janis was Pat Benatar, even though Pat was very different than Janis.I am very hopeful with the recent crop of girl rockahs, however.
Gcubed– I is jellis that you frequent The Troubadour. It’s on my “life list” of to do’s along with St. Andrew’s and the Cliffs of Normandy.