The multi-instrumentalist and singer closed out the weekend with a rocking, energetic return to Meijer Gardens, a show boosted by opener May Erlewine. The review and photos at Local Spins.
Stage Presence and On-Stage Passion: Grace Potter at Meijer Gardens. (Photo/Paul Jendrasiak)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERY, SET LIST
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It’s truly a thing of rare beauty to watch someone who’s so comfortable and radiant on stage that it can mean only that they were born with star-power charisma coursing through their veins.
Of course, it helps when that said person also commands a powerhouse voice, multi-instrumental flair and a trove of well-crafted, ear-pleasing songs to match that engaging stage presence.
Such has long been the case with Grace Potter, so her return Sunday night to rock Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park was nothing less than a master class and exhibition flaunting all of the above.
That Michigan’s own shining example of singing and songwriting prowess, May Erlewine, opened the night simply added an uplifting exclamation point to a weekend-ending showcase of female-driven excellence.
Rock Spectacle: Potter and band on stage. (Local Spins/Fan Photo)
Potter, of course, stole the show in varied ways — from frolicking across the stage on blistering rock gems such as “Medicine,” “The Lion The Beast The Beat” and “Empty,” to unleashing her soaring, full-throttled voice on “Stars” and “Nothing But the Water,” to alternating seamlessly between electric guitar and Hammond B3 organ.
In between, she bantered merrily with the audience, marveling at the “amazing night” and insisting she owes a “debt of gratitude to this amazing city” where the band spent a couple of days before the Meijer Gardens show.
But from the spaghetti Western opening of “Lady Vagabond” to the final notes of “Paris (Ooh La La)” that closed out the evening, it was actually the lion’s share of attendees at the near-capacity concert who showed their gratitude to Potter and her band (the perfect assemblage of musicians for Potter’s come-to-meeting, traveling rock salvation show) for the nearly two-hour set enhanced by smart lighting and enticing soft-loud dynamics.
BEAUTIFUL SET, BEAUTIFUL NIGHT, BEAUTIFUL OPENER
At one point, a lengthy, psychedelic and jam-filled rendition of “Treat Me Right” (which Potter wrote at age 17) even gave a nod to Fleetwood Mac, with Potter taking off her shoes to romp barefoot and launching into part of “Gold Dust Woman” to the delight of fans.
With a striking voice that recalls the likes of Sheryl Crow and Brandi Carlile with hints of Bonnie Raitt, Joan Osborne and Janis Joplin to boot, Potter grabbed hold of her most devoted fans and never let go and never took her foot off the gas, even on slower ballads.
May Erlewine (Photo/Paul Jendrasiak)
“Think how beautiful it is that we all get to do this,” she remarked near the end of her set.
That communal, musical beauty began with Erlewine’s upbeat, folk-propelled set that featured guitarists Eric O’Daly and Theo Katzman at different junctures, selections that showcased Erlewine’s fetching voice and her accompanists’ sweet harmonies
And at one particularly magical moment, immediately after Erlewine uttered the line “the sun is breaking through” from “Be In Love,” the sun did just that, peeking through the clouds that had previously blanketed the amphitheater/ It earned wild applause from the audience, which later gave her a standing ovation and produced the longest line ever seen at the merch table for an opening act.
Up Next at Meijer Gardens: Fitz & The Tantrums — with DJ Logic — perform at Meijer Gardens at 7 p.m. Thursday. The concert is sold out. May Erlwine and her band, meanwhile, play the “Listening Lawn” series at Studio Park in downtown Grand Rapids at 7 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $25-$35 and available online at themidtowngr.com.
PHOTO GALLERY: Grace Potter, May Erlewine at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Paul Jendrasiak
SET LIST: Grace Potter at Meijer Gardens
1. Lady Vagabond
2. Ah Mary
3. Medicine
4. Empty Heart
5. Mother Road
6. Something That I Want
7. Rose-Colored Rearview
8. Treat Me Right (Gold Dust Woman)
9. Good Time
10. Nothing But the Water (I)
11. Big White Gate
12. The Lion The Beast The Beat
13. You and Tequila
14. Stars
15. Paris (Ooh La La)
VIDEO: Grace Potter at Meijer Gardens
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