Syracuse 12/9

[Johnny Mo]

Attended the show at the Westcott Theater last night. This was my second GPN concert and first opportunity to hear Blues and Lasers, which I enjoyed. This show was much different than the previous one I saw at Burlington Waterfront. Most notably there were more songs played from the first LP last night and more extended versions. Grace was also much more playful with the sold out crowd frequently conversing and otherwise joking around. I just have no idea where this band gets that kind of energy to put on these shows night after night. And to think most of the Nocs did double duty with B & L. Amazing. The Westcott is a small theater with the seats removed. Very intimate and overall sound was good not great. Reasonable prices for cocktails as well. I would attend at that venue again. Some personal highlights were Sweet Hands and one of my favorites, Treat Me Right. I suppose since I hadn't heard those ones in concert before. Still waiting on Mastermind but I'm determined. Opened with Ah, Mary and encore finale of Medicine had the place jumping. Awesome versions of NBTW and or course Paris and Apologies. Final highlight of the night was the kiss I received from a very attractive blonde woman who I let stand in front of me for the encore. Even my wife didn't fault me for that one. Happy Holidays.

[toofarnorth]

Thank you for reporting Johnny . . Mastermind was one of my first GPN favoites - miss it and hope it sneaks back into rotation sometime.

thanks also to typeokicks (whoever you are) for already posting the setlist on setlist.fm (http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/grace-potter-and-the-nocturnals-53d77b6d.html)

Ah Mary
Sweet Hands
Goodbye Kiss
One Short Night
That Phone
Apologies
Tiny Light
Ragged Company
Treat Me Right
Joey
Oasis
White Rabbit
Nothing But The Water I
Nothing But The Water II
Paris (Ooh La La)
////////
2:22
Medicine

[Karen]

I wasn’t going to go, but was overwhelmed with sadness yesterday afternoon at the thought of missing it - so just picked up and went. Arrived in the dark and spent about a half hour wandering around in the vicinity of the hotel before finding it, then got to the venue at around 7:45. Had two tickets reserved in case I wanted someone to go with me, and just left the confirmation sheet with the staff. Concert wasn’t sold out at that point, so considered cost of second ticket a contribution. Then I went back out to take a picture of the theater and overheard: “We’ve [or ‘they’ve’] only sold out once or twice before,” and noticed the Sold Out sign on the door. Went back in and asked if I could still use other ticket and they said to just bring someone in. Everyone outside was all set, so I waited for someone else to come along.

Two really nice young guys approached the theater a bit anxiously and I knew I had my mark. Thought they would have to flip for it, but one had a ticket and the other didn’t. They were so happy – said it made their night. (So three nights were made – mine and theirs.) When I wouldn’t let them pay for it, they said they’d buy me any drink I wanted. But I was sticking with water last night. Between B&L and GPN sets, I felt a hand on my shoulder - it was the ticket recipient. Said he wanted to thank me again; and “Wasn’t the opening band great? I loved them!” Bet he was surprised when most of them came back out on stage with Grace.

TFN beat me to the song list, but here’s mine anyway with some notes:
1. Ah Mary
2. Sweet Hands
3. Goodbye Kiss
4. One Short Night
5. That Phone
6. Apologies (Grace dedicated this to Sara, who had asked her to perform it: “May your broken heart heal very soon, my dear.”)
7. Tiny Light (Long outro with psychedelic vocalizations and guitars, then lyric change to “tiny light not going to shine, not going to shine, not going to shine . . . without a fight,” then slow drums out and final “not going to shine.”)
8. Ragged Company (Acoustic, with Benny and Scott on guitar)
9. Treat Me Right (Acoustic, with Benny, Grace and Scott on guitar)
10. Joey
11. Oasis (Grace remarked on concert being sold out. "Thank you guys so much for supporting live music.”)
12. White Rabbit
13. Nothing But The Water. (Crowd loved Grace’s a cappella part. When the band joined in, they danced more than with any other song. ) Flying V was brought out to Grace and band segued right into:
14. Paris
Encore
15. 2:22 (Grace chanelled Janis a little here – gestures and all. Mike stand got knocked over accidentally. When Grace moved to the organ she nodded to crew member to go out and fix it, which he did right in the middle of the song.)
16. Medicine

Since I already have all the Fall posters and don’t do T-shirts, I bought “Live in Skowhegan” CD with the Record Store Day sticker on it at the merchandise table, finally making up for my disappointment on that day last year.

[Dino Martini]

Thanks for ALL your reports. I love reading about other fan experiences and views. Karen, I have over 1,000 CD's and _Live In Skowhegan_ is in my top 3 ... no, it's not - it's in my top 1. If aliens ever show up asking me what music is, I'll give them my spare copy.

[Snowbird]

i just love reading reviews and comments on show like this. Especially when I'm working hard in the winter with little chance of a getting to see live music, especially the nocturnal kind. Karen- good for you for getting out there and catching what looks to have been a great show with a setlist combining the old and the new. Live in Skowhegan will always be a special show for me, the trip was a birthday trip and my rottie girl Heidi came along for the ride and meet the posse and a wonderful memory was made. The sound that night was scorchingly hot, and sticky and Grace and the boys played that card to the max. My autographed copy dedicated to Heidi - who also came for the ride to record store day in Scarborough is absolutely one of my very favorite CD's.

[Karen]

Thanks for ALL your reports. I love reading about other fan experiences and views. Karen, I have over 1,000 CD's and _Live In Skowhegan_ is in my top 3 ... no, it's not - it's in my top 1. If aliens ever show up asking me what music is, I'll give them my spare copy.

Lol, Dino. Trouble is I don't want to open my one and only copy. But I think I downloaded it in mp3 back when.

I struggled with a new camera at the concert. It's one of those Ashton Kutcher ones, but I'm no A.K. with it. Finally figured out how to upload pics without using Nikon software. Put a few that weren't too bad here - GPN - Syracuse - 12/9/10 (http://4kiki.posterous.com/pages/gpn-syracuse) . I don't like the presentation, but you can click on them to make them a little larger.

[Karen]

i just love reading reviews and comments on show like this. Especially when I'm working hard in the winter with little chance of a getting to see live music, especially the nocturnal kind. Karen- good for you for getting out there and catching what looks to have been a great show with a setlist combining the old and the new. Live in Skowhegan will always be a special show for me, the trip was a birthday trip and my rottie girl Heidi came along for the ride and meet the posse and a wonderful memory was made. The sound that night was scorchingly hot, and sticky and Grace and the boys played that card to the max. My autographed copy dedicated to Heidi - who also came for the ride to record store day in Scarborough is absolutely one of my very favorite CD's.

Am I safe in assuming that Heidi is a doggie? I was at dinner with a group of people recently that included husband, wife and teenage son I had just met. It was one of those Chinese restaurants where everyone shares their food. These people were packing some of the leftovers to take home and husband said: "[Can't remember the name, but it was Latino and sounded puppyish] will eat anything." I asked "Is [?] your dog?" Turned out it was their other son at home. Fortunately, they thought it was funny.

About the concert - I tweeted TFN earlier today: "It was the happiest I've ever been at any concert ever."

[Snowbird]

Am I safe in assuming that Heidi is a doggie?

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v216/59/64/1043532648/n1043532648_550740_1548.jpg

About the concert - I tweeted TFN earlier today: "It was the happiest I've ever been at any concert ever."

Heidi is indeed a doggie - she's a rottweiler . . . and a part of our family.

Record store day. Nancy caught Grace giving Heidi hugs:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs370.snc3/23770_1424956861044_1146425335_1272738_872859_n.jp g

that is one wonderful sentiment - happiest ever at a concert!

[toofarnorth]

Dino Martini . . "aliens" made me laugh out loud

Snowbird . . I'm so sad to find you were here posting when you should have been in NoHo tonight.
I'll always remember meeting Heidi at the motel in Skowhegan, and her allergy induced coughing fit :)
(I'm not being insensitive folks - you had to be there)


Karen . . I'm so glad you went . . and a setlist with notes is always the best one.

Neat photo with the blue "streaks" from the light boards. We saw those in Fredericton and wondered if they belonged to the festival especially since they hadn't been used the night before in Ellsworth. Question answered.

Obviously you made a good choice as to who got the free ticket . . “Wasn’t the opening band great? I loved them!”

Agree that it is fun to gift tickets .. my favorite so far happened last summer. I offered one to the people at the hotel's front desk and the young man who ended up with it turned out to be the valet. When he got my car he told me he was a huge fan of GPN, but couldn't afford to go to the show because he needed to buy books for fall semester. Really loved how that one worked out !

[joester]

thanks to all for the reviews - all of them, not just this show.
so glad to hear the band is breaking out a more varied set list as the touring continues -
fun for them too :)

[JT/NY]

http://www.archive.org/details/gpn2010-12-09.Syracuse

http://www.archive.org/details/bl2010-12-09.Syracuse

Went to Buffalo the Night Before, The sound may have been a little crisper in Buffalo but these guys took it to another level in Syracuse. Catherine was out, John Ragone sat in for her again. Not to my surprise, Blues and Lasers Came out and got the crowd dancing right away. This was a very energetic night, Blues And Lasers Ended With W.N.W.G.D with the crowd singing back at them. Then GPN came out and The 5 of them proceeded to blow the roof off the place. I enjoyed Graces Ragged Company Very Much, The acoustic sections their doing are fantastic. Really enjoyed Aint No Time acoustic in Buffalo. Oasis has really grown on me too, 1st Graces Vocals and Then the guitar jams throughout the song. The band has really brought this song to a new level for me.

Anyway, Well worth the travel, Recordings came out Great. Wanted to say "Thanks to both bands for alllowing live recording" Looking forward to Higher Ground!