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Fargo fans congregated in the Venue to experience the sultry, smooth voice of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals vibrated the room with retro rock-and-roll guitar riffs. Old and new fans braved the below-zero temperatures to attend the event.

Opening for Grace Potter, singer-songwriter Langhorne Slim turned up the tempo with his upbeat folk tunes. The self-taught guitarist kept the crowd moving with toe-tapping tracks from his latest album “The Way We Move.” Slowly but surely, the crowd began to break the ice from their hips listening to the irresistible banjo-ballad “Salvation.”

With a quick set change, it was time for the headliner. The crowd erupted into applause as the lights dimmed and the steady beat of “The Lion, The Beast, The Beat” reverberated from the stage. Throughout the show, Grace Potter illustrated her musical talent by taking turns on the piano, guitar and even the drums. Fargo fans absorbed Potter’s electric energy whether she was playing on her gold-dusted guitar or dancing with the Nocturnals.

“This just seems like a place where people want to get rowdy,” remarked Potter between songs. She went on to relate to her fellow northerners. Grace Potter and the Nocturnals formed in Vermont.

“Growing up in the place that was in the far north we didn’t get much live music. But let me just say that this venue is cool. And it’s not that far north. If you have a venue this cool then you are not in the middle of nowhere,” said Potter.

Mid-show, Potter reminded the freezing fans of a warmer season with “Hot Summer Night.” Potter’s Joplin-esque voice radiated during “Timekeeper.”

Ending the show Grace Potter and The Nocturnals’ took “Nothing but the Water” from its energetic, hip swaying beats to slow, sultry, campfire sing along as the band members clapped and left the stage.

Like all good rock and roll artists, the band returned to the stage for a double-encore including hits like “Paris, (Ooh La La)” pumping up the audience to break out their last hip-shaking moves. Lastly, Grace Potter reminded us of her superstardom illustrating her amazing vocal range in “Stars,” the current single off their 2012 album.

To get the feeling of the crowd at the concert, check out this video link: http://telly.com/1H818Z

PHOTOS AND STORY BY APRIL KNUTSON
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