GRACE POTTER - BOSTON, MA 1.20.24
Coverage by Maria A. Mata
Blues rock powerhouse Grace Potter recently lit up MGM Music Hall, on the Boston stop of her Mother Road Tour, joined by singer/songwriter Brittney Spencer. The snowy evening sat in stark contrast with the cozy venue, as the stage was decorated with neon signs that depicted a desert roadtrip.
The many fans that showed up earlier in the evening were treated to Brittney Spencer’s entrancing set. With beautiful guitars, a soothing voice and lots of charisma, Spencer captured the audience immediately. She’d share stories about herself and the songs, going on a longer tangent to tell the crowd how she actually met Grace Potter in a jacuzzi. A self proclaimed introvert, Brittney Spencer’s music and charm were more than enough to connect with the audience and leave them wanting more.
BRITTNEY SPENCER
After a short intermission, the lights went down and the neon signs lit up the room. As the band took their places, Grace Potter’s silhouette stood defiantly front and center. Kicking the show off with “Read Set Go” and “Ah Mary”, Grace’s explosive energy ignited the place right away. She was constantly interacting with the crowd, sharing candid stories with lots of charm and humor; early on, she’d hold a pair of red socks and throw them at the crowd, while also asking them to “not make it weird”. Potter’s powerful voice had many in the audience taken aback, both serenading and making her fans laugh with her quick wit.
Grace Potter would also invite Brittney Spencer back on stage for a duo performance of “Little Hitchhiker”, but not without a brief moment of hilarity as they tried to find Spencer and get her ready for the song. Once on stage, the chemistry between the two rockers was palpable, and the jacuzzi story returned, with the addition of ad libs and dolphin noises to make the tale even better. The duet was one of the highlights of the evening, but Potter still had plenty to give: from “Mother Road” to “Stop The Bus”, the songstress took her loving crowd on a roadtrip through the years, bringing in many tracks she performed with The Nocturnals.
“Lady Vagabond” kicked off the extended encore, and Potter would have the audience join in with their lit up phones for a compelling rendition of “Stars”. She took her time to introduce the last few songs, giving special attention to a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire”. As the set was coming to a close, Potter had one last request: if the fans wanted her back for one last song, they should actually boo as loud as possible. The crowd happily obliged, and the iconic “Paris (Oh Lala)” closed an unforgettable evening. Grace Potter and her band have the unique ability to turn a large venue into a cozy bar, connecting with every single person in the room. What a show.
GRACE POTTER
