The Doheny Blues Festival in May heralded <a href="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/2009/05/26/more-images-from-doheny-blues-by-adrien-broom/">a new look for the band</a>. Gone were the days of "well, jeans and t-shirts" and in was a new look of dress pants and shirts, sometimes accented with a sport coat or vest, for the guys. Grace and Cat entered a new era that I think I'll be calling "short and slinky". 

<img src="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/images/onelouder/GracePotter_024.jpg" alt="one louder photo" />

And sometimes in your face sexy.
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	<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chad-smith/3903866398/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2661/3903866398_7ebdddfee9.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a>
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	<span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chad-smith/3903866398/">Grace Potter 2009_1</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/chad-smith/">Thechadweb</a>.</span>
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	<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelsiszero/4187227568/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2598/4187227568_927e64d16e.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a>
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	<span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelsiszero/4187227568/">gptn_fillmore8</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/kelsiszero/">p.cooley</a>.</span>
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	<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/backstagegallery/3628760747/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2476/3628760747_854b083c92.jpg" class="flickr-photo" alt="" /></a>
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	<span class="flickr-caption"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/backstagegallery/3628760747/">061_grace_potter_guitarist</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/backstagegallery/">Backstage Gallery</a>.</span>
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<img src="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/images/onelouder/GracePotter_028.jpg" alt="one louder photo" />

<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4119440574_302bf666f4.jpg" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.thisissomewhere.com/images/davevann.jpg" width="480" alt="" />

While many accepted the new look as a step up in the showmanship area there were a few grumblings of those who wanted the band to stay true to their "jeans and a flannel shirt" Vermont roots. Either way you look at it the new vision certainly generated extra chatter on the interwebs which was, from my own reading, overwhelmingly positive. I've seen lots of bands who have a great "look" but simply can't play. On the same note, quite a few excellent musicians can't project the image that can help them take it to the next level. The next level is clearly where Grace Potter and the Nocturnals want to be and "The Look" is simply one piece of the puzzle to help them get there.

If I had to describe the new look I would call it "Tina Turner fronting The Band during the Last Waltz". Check out the video examples below.

The Band - "Up On Cripple Creek"
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Tina Turner 
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