By Dave Parsons
In the early morning hours of November 1, 2023, Grace Potter canceled her show at Stage AE in Pittsburgh with very short notice. It was cited that there was a ‘medical emergency in her touring family’. Speculation was covid as per usual, but the tour picked back up the next day and continued on to the end of the run.
Potter rescheduled the makeup date on the ‘Mother Road’ tour for Stage AE for January 17, 2024. With the previous show refunded, sub-zero temperatures and a winter storm headed that direction, it was such a relief to see a steady stream of people entering the doors. A desert themed stage set greeted them giving thought to the title of the tour and current CD.
After an extended recorded entrance, Potter emerged with a southern western themed jacket with roses and cactuses embroidered on it. Starting out with “Lady Vagabond”, Potter gave off such energy and passion, that the audience was on notice to buckle up for a wild ride. She changed jackets as often as she changed songs in the beginning, finally settling on a black beaded vest over what she later called her “bathing suit”. She tore through a setlist touching on previous CD releases including songs like “Medicine” and “Empty Heart”, while playing songs from the current CD, “Mother Road.” The title song and “Ready, Set, Go” blended in seamless with the older material. It may have been the extra time between when the new CD came out, and the rescheduled show date that gave the audience time to be more familiar with the newer material, and respond to it more enthusiastic than usual.
Throughout the 70-minute main set, Potter alluded to it doing her soul so much good to be in Pittsburgh, and thanked the audience multiple times for being there and supporting her. An acoustic turn on “Big Wide Gate” was staged as a turn off the “Mother Road”, as a member of her group came out with a detour sign, and the band walked off leaving her with just her drummer. Potter’s vocals were flawless on the performance, making it a highlight of the set.
Following a hard driving rendition of “The Lion The Beast The Beat”, Potter and crew took their bows as one, before settling back in for encores. Potter again thanked the crowd for being there, and then launched into an explanation for the cancellation in November. With her voice at times cracking, Potter explained that a new crew member was on his first day with the tour, headed for Pittsburgh, when he took ill. He was still adamant to press on, until it became clear he could not. In noticeable distress in retelling the story, Potter related that the tour member passed away that night leaving her and the rest of the group in grief and mourning, that they needed the day off to recoup, the best they could. The audience was in their own level of mourning a man they didn’t know, and giving their love to Potter in telling the story, that there was few dry eyes when Potter dedicated “Stop The Bus”, to their friend.
A heartful rendition of “Stars” followed as well as a raucous version of “Little Hitchhiker”. Thanking the audience again for their love, Potter took requests from the audience and then announced they would attempt to do a medley of “Release”, “Ragged Company” “Nothing But The Water II” and “Paris (Ooh La La)”. The band morphed one song into the next seamlessly and it was a sweet 10 minute ride to finish the show.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the evening’s opening act, Rett Madison. Taking the stage with just her guitar, with a full band act to follow, is daunting enough for anyone. The audience was sweet enough to listen to the songs, and Madison’s explanation behind the lyrics of her 8 song set. Pulling from her two CD releases, the 45 minute set seemed a lot shorter, and Madison held them in the palm of her hand until the end. I heard several folks say they wish she had a few more songs to do when the lights came up. Proof of her acceptance was a fairly long impromptu line set up at her merch table while the audience waited for Grace Potter.
Madison stated that the weather going across the country kept her full merch load from arriving, but she had some vinyl versions to sell and some cards to sign for anyone who wanted them. She took extended time with each fan who approached her and made for a standout opening act, instead of one that gets forgotten.
Rett Madison Setlist:
1 Pin Up Daddy
2 Flea Market
3 Fortune Teller
4 One For Jackie, One For Crystal
5 God Is A Woman
6 Skydiving
7 Mediums, Therapists, and Sheriffs
8 Shame Is A River
Grace Potter Setlist:
1 Lady Vagabond
2 Medicine
3 Ah, Mary
4 Empty Heart
5 Mother Road
6 Ready Set Go
7 Something I Want
8 Nothing But The Water
9 Acoustic: Big Wide Gate
10 The Lion, The Beast, The Beat
Encores
11 Stop the Bus
12 Stars
13 Little Hitchhiker
14 Medley Release/Ragged Company/Nothing But The Water/Paris (Ooh La La)
