Grace Potter and her band of gypsies, the Nocturnals, channel the ’70s like they have a psychic on retainer. And yet, they’re not slavish retro revivalists with no sense of identity to accompany their sonic inspiration. The Nocturnals’ first two self-released albums hinted at their direction, but last year’s This is Somewhere (on Hollywood, who also reissued the band’s second disc) delivered on that potential with the soulful intensity of a Dylan-and-the-Band/Crazy Horse jam. Keyboardist Potter accepts the vocal comparisons she regularly receives — Lucinda Williams, Sheryl Crow, Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt — with equal measures of astonishment and humility.
Perhaps as a consequence of Potter’s relative youth (she’s 26) and boundless energy, roadwork has inspired her muse, resulting in a batch of new songs the band hopes to record next year. Although none are ready for public consumption by her standards, she and the Nocturnals may just haul out a little rarity called “Piss on Your Hand,” which they originally wanted to record with labelmate Hilary Duff for This is Somewhere.
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