An interview with Grace Potter: giving pop music its much needed 'kick in the ass' with new record

An interview with Grace Potter: giving pop music its much needed 'kick in the ass' with new record
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
August 12, 2015

When I caught up with Grace Potter via telephone last Friday, she was in Santa Fe, “the best location ever and the best mood ever, just really good vibes,” she said. Over the course of our interview, we talked about her Thursday and Friday shows at the Fonda Theatre, her upcoming album Midnight that drops on August 14, as well as how Los Angeles and California helped inform the more poppy-feel to the album compared to her previous records as Grace Potter & the Nocturnals.

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Brian Fest honors hits, deep cuts from Brian Wilson's catalog

Brian Fest honors hits, deep cuts from Brian Wilson's catalog
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
March 31, 2015


Monday night, a bevy of talented musicians joined together to honor Brian Wilson at the Fonda Theatre in an effort to raise money for the charity Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. This has become a yearly tradition sponsored by Jameson Irish whiskey, having previously honored the likes of The Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, and George Harrison.

Brian Fest showcased talent both on their way up to the top as well as long-established acts. As the show grew longer, the names got bigger. Some of the early performers were handed a more difficult task of covering some of the more obscure covers from Wilson’s illustrious career.

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Life is Beautiful day two ruled by rap, balanced by Lionel Richie, and blown away by Flaming Lips

Life is Beautiful day two ruled by rap, balanced by Lionel Richie, and blown away by Flaming Lips
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
October 26, 2014


Outkast hadn’t played Las Vegas in more than a decade when they headlined Saturday’s Life is Beautiful smorgasbord on the second day of the downtown Las Vegas festival.

Outkast had made the festival rounds on their reunion this year, to mixed results. Their week one Coachella set was knocked for being a bit shaky, but their Saturday set in Las Vegas showed them at their best. The Atlanta duo went through their large array of hits without breaking off time for the weird Andre 3000 solo stuff that stunted their Coachella set.

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