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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Tame Impala sets bar "high" at first of two Hollywood Forever shows

Tame Impala sets bar "high" at first of two Hollywood Forever shows
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
August 7, 2015

After seeing them play at a handful of festivals this year, I was convinced: Tame Impala was meant to be seen outdoors. Thursday night, the Australian psych-rockers headlined their first of two nights at the renowned Hollywood Forever Cemetery and it couldn’t have gone much better.

A sheet hung in front of the stage and a green light bounced around the front of it as the intro to their set began to play. A steady build of anticipation began to mount and when the sheet came down in time for an extended version of “Let It Happen,” the packed lawn was ready.

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Shaky Knees wraps up with psychedelic performances from Tame Impala, Spiritualized

Shaky Knees wraps up with psychedelic performances from Tame Impala, Spiritualized
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
May 11, 2015

The final day of Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta was a departure from the punk and angst of the previous two days. The music seemed to fit the mood of people winding down their weekend, mellowing out in the shade of the many trees that occupied the park.

Most of the angst of the day came in the form of SoCal band The Mowgli’s in the Buford Highway tent. They’re a bit GROUPLOVE meets Dashboard Confessional — and they knew how to get the crowd into their show. Singer Colin Dieden found himself in the crowd for the set-closing “San Francisco,” and though the sound was rough at times (as it was all weekend in the tent), they overcame it with unbridled charisma.

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Shaky Knees Festival out to prove rock 'n' roll isn't dead

Shaky Knees Festival out to prove rock 'n' roll isn't dead
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
May 6, 2015


Grimy Goods contributor Mark E. Ortega is embarking on a six-week music festival tour around the United States. That all begins with Shaky Knees Music Festival this weekend in Atlanta, and Mark has a preview of the festival below.

Let’s face it: there are an insane amount of music festivals these days. After seeing the level of success festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo have obtained, festivals have sprouted up all over the States, attempting to position themselves as one of the top-tier music festivals in the country. So the question is: what makes Shaky Knees special?

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Tame Impala give fans the ultimate "trip" at Coachella

Tame Impala give fans the ultimate "trip" at Coachella
Mark E. Ortega
GrimyGoods.com
April 11, 2015

Aussie rockers Tame Impala blew away the main stage crowd at Coachella on Friday with their psychedelic set.

Their music is powerful enough to make you feel like you’re on drugs — even when you aren’t. Lead man Kevin Parker and company have really begun to peak as performers, and Friday’s strong showing could help take them to new heights after performing in Indio just two Coachellas ago.

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Tame Impala don't let Shrine technical difficulties deconstruct their set

Tame Impala don't let Shrine technical difficulties deconstruct their set

Mark E. Ortega

GrimyGoods.com

November 14, 2014

Australia’s Tame Impala are so psychedelic that when you see them live, you feel as though you’re on drugs — even when you’re not.

Wednesday night at The Shrine Auditorium, they showed that the jammy and acidy sounds of Cream and other super bands of the ’70’s are still much sought after. Except for the very top, The Shrine was packed tight with a crowd that was mostly twentysomething or younger.

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