I stumbled upon Grace and the nocturnals in a side tent at 2 in the afternoon at Austin City Limits in 2007. it was 100 degrees. Fans blasting on the stage. She was wearing denim cutoffs and a white v neck t shirt. Playing her B3 perpendicular to the crowd - facing the guitarists with the drum kit to her left. She had the drop jawed - rapt attention of every person in the tent, male and female....all 200 of us.....that was BEFORE she took a oversized plastic beer stein full of water....you know the type....commemorative "souvenirs" of events like that.....took the beer stein of water, while seated at the organ.....exagerratedly arched her back, put her face to the sky and poured it, not slowly, but not a dump either, poured it on her forehead.
did I mention white v neck t shirt and denim cutoffs?
played one more song at the organ, THEN took her place behind the mic with her flying V.
Oh, and they Rocked, too.
Needless to say, I'm a big fan.
Now before you write me off as a creep....I've seen hundreds and hundreds of shows. I've NEVER experienced the energy she has as a performer. She commands full attention....truly exceptional. And, the woman has pipes you can't believe, holds her own with Raitt, Tedeschi, Adele, Winehouse.....as a guitarist....that's a bit of a prop. That V is their primarily as a phallic symbol. She keeps it tuned to open G and simply bars various frets. But that's FINE. She's adding to the sonic landscape and she is performing in every sense of the word.
About six months later I saw her perform with Gov't Mule (still 2007) Nocturnals were the opening band, and then Grace did several encore numbers along side Warren. I've seen her another 4 times I think since. Last time was at the House of Blues in Chicago. I have to tell you I was a bit disappointed. Stilettos and a barely there white sequined cocktail dress, a very very slick production. It wasn't the raw sexual rock n roll energy of the sweaty Texas tent revival, or the Blues rock vibe with mule, or the small club barely containing the rising star. Suddenly it was corporate/ego/$$$$ production. Don't know how that can be avoided. I hope she can keep it real like Tedeschi and Raitt have. She's amazing.