Snowbirds experience at Ridgefield Playhouse 2-20-08

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals - Ridgefield Playhouse - February 20, 2008

My long awaited winter concert date finally arrived, and now it’s a fantastic memory of a rocking evening spent with dear old friends and meeting some most excellent new ones. Some of you out there have suffered through my griping about my winter job and the impossibility of getting to all the concerts that I’d like to. I just should have shut my yap and waited patiently for this evening because it was worth the wait, especially as my friend Carol was able to join me and yes, ring the cowbell, if only briefly. There were a few dark moments in December when it seemed this would not happen – but with a little positive help from my friends, and her strong spirit it did.

So, moving on. We arrive at the Playhouse and find a parking space way out back, and see the great big tour bus parked out that way too. Alright, it’s really happening! As we enter the theater, I see a familiar yellow t-shirt and a friendly smiling Corporal Cowboy arms full of yellow roses which he kindly welcomes my friends and I. Nice start to the evening – thanks for your thoughtfulness John! I pass on some stickers and business cards to him and he entrusts me with the Posse cowbell for the NBTW chorus. Okay, next come the ushers with the armbands for our “gold circle” meet and greet session and we find our way down to the second row center and take a seat . I see Chris and his girlfriend Nicole in the first row and introduce myself. Very soon the house lights dim and Lowell Thomas begins his very cool acoustic set. Oh – just before this the playhouse announcer is trying to do her thing up there, yadda, yadda, and who comes out to upstage her completely?? KICK!! Too funny.

Next up Grace and the boys take the stage and prepare to mainline us with a high energy evening of some old, some newer, a few covers, and a even couple brandy new tunes all perfectly segueing into the next with barely a breath in between.

Now, the stage is looking a bit different than I’ve ever seen it tonight. Grace is in her usual spot stage left with her B-3 and piano and directly opposite here stage right is Matt – he’s come out from backstage and it’s nice to see him highlighted there. The stage is plenty roomy enough to let Scott and Brian have stage center, with Grace joining them with the flying V when she’s ready to rock on. I liked the set up, but did feel that Brian could have used another mic on him to pick up the great back beat he always provides.

Some highlights were hearing Grace sound so happy to be the closest to home that she’s been in a while, just 4 hours away. Hearing the song Can’t See Though for the first time was another highlight. Grace introduced it a a new song they’ve only played 3 times or so, we were to be her guinea pigs, so she said, she also went on to say it’s a song about Saying Goodbye. It is one gorgeous song, in my humble opinion. Finally got to hear the other new song Sugar that they have been playing live since the recorded it down at Sun Studios just about a month or two ago. Smoking bluesy rock n roll, just the way I like it! Bringing out my older favorites Treat Me Right and Ragged company also made this girl happy, along with a super long jam on Over Again where Scott just RULED. That guitar did not gently weep – it soared and roared and just plain wailed under his expertise. Tasty covers of Jet Airliner and Getting in Tune rounded out my listening pleasure.

As the chillingly haunting, yet utterly lovely notes of Grace starting NBTW resound in the auditorium, we scramble to get the Posse Cowbell (by this time all decorum has gone out the door, we’ve all rushed the stage, and are dancing up front – this started somewhere around Sugar and Sweet Hands) and while I know John was wanting me to be ringing the bell during the a capella with Grace’s tambourine, I just had to hold out till the raucous part II before I let that happen. Grace acapella just give me chills, and I couldn’t diminish it with the cowbell. Sorry John, hope you understand. Now, Grace goes over to the B-3 and let me tell you that cow bell rang and rang and rang– and I was able to get Carol up front briefly to join me in ringing it, before I passed it of to Chris and John to carry on.

After the finale with Angel Band and Big White Gate, always wonderful, we milled about waiting for that meet and greet, and while I was doing so, was so very pleasantly surprised to be introduced to Peggy and Sparky Potter – what awesome parents, so pleasant and friendly, Sparky saw my Posse sticker, he asked about it, I explained and showed him the business card and his eyes just shone. He said, you guys are doing this for them, that is so awesome, he took a picture of me and my sticker and asked to keep the business card, of course I said yes! He was just so touched, it touched me too! Then it comes up that they need directions to where they are staying for the night in Fairfield, so I grab the little sis and we decide it’d be best to have them follow us to the merritt pkwy and give them written directions from there. Sure hope they made it! While working through this Sparky gets Carolyn and I behind the band members and snaps our photos! Yes! He’s promised to email them to us, sure hope my sister’s directions were correct!! Also met Justin (indie911) who notice the posse sticker, asked and I handed him a business card. He also was stoked and said hey this is great, can I keep this – well – YEAH, again I wasn’t gonna say no. He was glad we had mojo’s site on there too – in his words – It’s better than the band’s! Okay, I’m almost done here, but now the final highlight of the evening comes when Peggy is saying goodbye to Matt and he noticed my sticker and asks me about, I hand him the card and explain, and he is also stoked, and asks if he can keep it for the archives. I DID NOT SAY NO. What warm and genuine people I meet this evening. It’s no wonder I love this band, their music, their real life personalities it’s all so good. I better sign off now, hope I haven’t bored you all, and VTs – was it worth the wait????