Music

Grace Potter Electrifies South Shore Music Circus, Cohasset, MA – 7/31/2024

Intimate Stage, Unstoppable Energy: A Night on the Mother Road

For the second time this year, I had the privilege of photographing Grace Potter and her spectacular band as they brought their ongoing Mother Road tour to the South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset, Massachusetts. This time, the experience was even more personal, set in a venue just a few miles from my hometown of Hanover—a local gem where every seat truly feels like the best in the house.

The South Shore Music Circus, with its unique revolving stage and intimate 2,300-seat configuration, offers a rare closeness between artist and audience. There’s something magical about watching the performers rotate gently, ensuring every fan catches a front-row moment. On this summer night, as dusk faded into a starlit sky, the anticipation in the air was electric.

Grace Potter took the stage accompanied first by her dynamic drummer, Jordan West, setting a warm and inviting tone. There was a sense of camaraderie and joy as the rest of the band joined in, and together they launched into a spirited setlist that balanced crowd-pleasing favorites and fresh offerings from the Mother Road album. The familiar pulse of “Empty Heart” had the audience clapping along, while new songs like “Lady Vagabond,” “Good Time,” “Little Hitch Hiker,” and the title track “Mother Road” showcased Grace’s ever-evolving artistry and the band’s tight chemistry.

One of the night’s true highlights was the selection of covers Potter and her band chose to honor. Their heartfelt rendition of “Angel from Montgomery” was both reverent and refreshingly original, while their take on “White Rabbit” conjured the psychedelic spirit of the classic with a modern edge. Perhaps the most exhilarating moment came with their funky, joy-filled spin on Billy Preston’s “Will It Go Round In Circles,” which seamlessly morphed into the band’s own “Ready Set Go.” The transitions felt organic, the energy only building as the set progressed.

Throughout the night, Potter’s stage presence was nothing short of magnetic. She commands attention—not just with her powerhouse vocals and fiery musicianship, but with an infectious energy that radiates to the farthest corners of the tent. Whether behind the keys or strutting across the stage, she invites the crowd to be part of the journey. For two hours, it truly felt less like a concert and more like a communal celebration of music, resilience, and joy.

As the evening drew to a close, the crowd buzzed with anticipation for the encore. With the Olympic Games happening just across the globe, it was only fitting that Grace capped the night with her rousing 2010 anthem, “Paris (Ooh La La).” The entire audience rose to their feet, singing every line in unison, the energy in the room boiling over in a final, euphoric burst. Even as the last notes faded, the feeling lingered—of having witnessed something unforgettable, of having been part of a night where everything just clicked.

Once again, I felt honored to capture Grace Potter’s performance through my lens, to document the non-stop magic that she and her outstanding band deliver at every show. Their energy never flagged, their musicianship never faltered. From the first beat to the final encore, this was a night of pure musical alchemy—a testament to the enduring power of live music and the singular brilliance of Grace Potter.