Grace Potter and the Nocturnals sizzle at Venue

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the best bands of 2010, played a sold out show at Venue on Saturday night, slamming blues, rock and soul into a menagerie of wild sound.

Potter’s voice ignites a fire like Janis Joplin’s and soothes like Bonnie Raitt’s. A scream never sounded so sinfully delightful.

Draped in blonde, flowing hair from the flower child era, and wearing a sheer long black shirt, Potter dazzled the crowd with her perfectly pitched screams, soulful moans and shiny undies.

“I’ve just been informed that you can see my underwear under these lights,” she said sounding shocked but not embarrassed.

With a sexy nonchalance, she continued to dance around the stage and rock out as comfortably as if she were in her own living room.

And the crowd adored her for it.

Purple and blue lights bathed the band for bluesy songs such as “Joey” and “Low Road,” while strobing beams of white, red and yellow lights bombarded everyone’s senses during the Jefferson Airplane cover “White Rabbit.”

Glimpses of a toy tiger could be seen chilling in the background on stage.

Originally from Vermont, this band has somehow picked up an undeniable southern vibe. They’ve been steadily gaining popularity across the U.S. since their third album, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, peaked at number five on iTunes when it was released in 2010. The opening track “Paris (Ooh La La)” made the Top 40 on iTunes Rock Songs Chart.

Potter’s confidence and ease in unleashing her powerful sound compelled attention as she shifted between playing the organ, shimmying the tambourine and swirling her hands seductively. Meanwhile, guitarist Benny Yurco, created fierce sounds on a double neck electric guitar.

The show ended with all the band members simultaneously pounding out the heart of rock ‘n’ roll together on the drums, before giving the crowd what they’d all been waiting for: a chance to go, “Ooh La La.”