Grace Potter and the Nocturnals works night shift as Deep Roots headlining band

The sound of the music could be heard echoing through the streets of downtown Milledgeville this past Saturday night at the Deep Roots Festival. Students came to hear Grace Potter, Trampled by Turtles and The Legendary JC’s in concert.

“The Legendary JC’s have a unique presence on stage. It’s sexy and makes you want to move!” sophomore Amy Fine said.

Trampled by Turtles warmed up the crowd with a bluegrass feel, as they finished off the last night of their tour in Milledgeville. The band is all acoustic, bringing variety to the stage by incorporating some fiddle.

“We just wanted to go out and have fun,” Dave Simonett, guitarist for Trampled by Turtles, said. “Atlanta was our favorite venue to play. The crowds are great, and Milledgeville is a close second. You can tell the crowd is really enjoying themselves, and that’s what makes us enjoy it.”

The headlining band, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals played later in the evening and came back for an encore. Growing up in a town in Vermont that is smaller than Milledgeville, Potter had a real sense of home at the Deep Roots Festival.

“The town I grew up in was much smaller than this,” Potter said. “It doesn’t even have a stoplight. It just feels like everyone knows each other, you know? You can’t go anywhere without running into someone you know, like Uncle Willy or someone.”

Potter always had a dream of playing music. In college, Potter found her band members, and set out on a career in music.

“It was a much better way to make money than working in the local coffee shop,” Potter said. “I learned a lot since then though. It’s a lot of hard work, a lot. You really have to pursue this if you want to succeed.”

Potter’s music is more than just her career, its her passion.

“When I write I really put myself into the songs. One song in particular is about my grandmother, and her life, and ironically it has come to be about my own life too. That one is my favorite,” Potter said.

As the concert came to a close, students begged Potter and the Nocturnals for an encore. After much clapping and screaming from the crowd, Potter obliged.

“The concert was so much fun,” sophomore David Toler said. “The energy was great, and the best part was when the band all played the drums together. Deep Roots rocked this year.”

Students danced to the beat of Potter’s music, some even trying for an attempt at a mosh pit, but everyone was so centered on the music, that any efforts were quickly suppressed.

Students raved about the Deep Roots Festival concert with hope for similar quality of music next year.

“It just keeps getting better,” sophomore Kelsey Fosnaugh said. “It’s about time we got some good music in here, and there was a variety so everyone was happy. I can’t wait until next year!”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 30 2009. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry