2009.07.25
At FloydFest, the kids wanna rock
I was going to get a post online about the Grace Potter and the Nocturnals post-power-outage show from last night, but with all the mayhem and mainsheet writing, I'm ditching that one. Besides, I already did a story and podcast with her. I'll just sum it up this way: If Potter isn't a big star this time next year, then I worry about the music-loving public.
Besides, this morning I heard the Community High School Performance Band playing at the children's stage. This band is young -- despite its age being skewed by teachers John McBroom (bass) and Mike Maycock (guitar) -- but they are already seasoned rockers taking advantage of some real, natural talent.
I was highly impressed by guitarist/keyboardist Ellis Byrd and singer Lindsey Willis. Byrd is 14 and already developing into a monster blues-rock players. Willis, 17, graduated this year but will continue working with the band while she attends Virginia Western Community College. Good thing, too, because she has so much potential as a singer, and her stage presence is full-on.
Among a bunch of cool covers, including a good version of the Grateful Dead's "Ramble On, Rose," the band covered Potter's "Big White Gate," which Potter and her band performed last night. Potter is one of young Lindseys' heroes, and she did a credible job on the tune.
Like Potter, Willis can hold her high notes long -- and I mean long -- and true. Like Potter, she comes up a little flat sometimes, but that's what happens when you're going for the stratosphere. Give her a few more years. She's only 17.
And Byrd is the same way on guitar. They have good mentors in Maycock and McBroom.
Look for a podcast with Byrd, Willis, McBroom and Maycock next week.
