File Under: GPN-Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival

After a good night's sleep, September 13 arrived and it was time to hit the road for another Grace Potter and the Nocturnals show. We packed up the kids and headed back home, where we would drop them off with a babysitter, grab Matt and Tom (2nd show). The trip to Fredericton was uneventful, though we did listen to Blues and Lasers, Jen Crowell and the Woods Vehicle and of course GPN.

A quick stop at the hotel to drop off the bags and then to downtown Fredericton for some din-din and music. We had dinner at "Mojo's Pub," which some of you may see as humorous. The food was very good, the house beer was tasty, and I recommend it to anyone going to Freddy.

It was time to head for the Bud Light Blues Tent for the "State of Grace" sets. Upon arrival we found, my mother and her friends already enjoying themselves. The first act was Shirley Jackson & Her Good Rockin Daddys. They were a 7 piece band, 2 tenor saxs, barri sax, trumpet, guitarist, upright bass and drums. Their concise playing was a thrill. Especially amazing, was that fact that Shirely was playing with a broken arm. A fact that none of us noticed until she mentioned it, she was that good. (Tom later chatted with her and found out how she broke her arm, she tripped on an instrument on stage, she finished that show).

The next act was Charlie A'Court (please ignore the back up singers). He was in a trio with a bassist and a drummer. This left Charlie playing his own rhythm and lead, and play it he did. Holy shit that guy is good. I highly recommend you take any chance to see him live.

What can I say about the Grace Potter set? Hmm, let me think. Oh yeah, it was fuckin awesome! They were in the rockin zone. Bryan was definitely feeling it, to the point where Ellyn was commenting on it (a later conversation with Scott would confirm Bryan's groove). Between snapping pics and noting the set list, I enjoyed a hell of a show. Oh yeah, the setlist:

Treat Me Right
Ain’t No Time
Mystery Train
Sweet Hands
Stop the Bus
Here’s to the Meantime
Ah Mary
Pain in My Heart
Joey
Sugar
Paint it Black
If I Was From Paris
Watchin You
Angel Band
Big White Gate
———
Down by the River

The place went ape shit when they did Paint it Black and Down by the River.

Some of my impressions of the event are as follows:
1. Canadian, drunk, frat boys are just as annoying as American, drunk, frat boys.
2.That many people in a tent, talking all at once, sounds like a brooding shed.
3. Women who carry overly large bags into a festival environment should be beaten with them.

Other than that, a good time was had by all.

For more pics, visit my flickr page.