Faster than you can say "Grace Potter & the Nocturnals," she went from granola girl to glamorous rocker, from Bonnaroo to "VH1 Divas," from an opening act to life in the fast lane.
"I've been gunning for the fast lane since I was 16," said Potter, 27, who performs Sunday at the Varsity Theater. "The fact that we built the band from the bottom up, we can enjoy the fast lane now that we're starting to get there."
The big shift came Dec. 5 when Potter performed on "VH1 Divas Salute the Troops" with Katy Perry, Jennifer Nettles, Nicki Minaj. Shortly thereafter, Potter got recognized on a New York City street even though she was wearing her glasses and her long blond hair was in a ponytail. "They recognized me even in my disguise, dude," she said. "That was bizarre and really exciting for me."
Potter will rock you, with Joplinesque thunder, Heart-like power and Tina Turner swagger. Her group's self-titled fourth album features blues-rock stomps, full-tilt rockers, girl-group pop, a touch of country, a slice of soul, and aching and yearning ballads that assert the deep emotionalism of her Southern-fried voice.
"A lot of people think I'm from Texas. It's got to do with this weird performance accent I put on," said Potter, who plays keyboards and a bit of guitar. "You wear your influences on your sleeve when you're performing and you can't politically correct your accent or your performance."
"Grace Potter & the Nocturnals" was not the album she intended to release in 2010. Potter recorded a solo project with Americana ace T Bone Burnett, but after Hollywood Records execs heard the revamped Nocturnals -- with a new, female bassist and a second guitarist -- perform at Bonnaroo in 2009, they ordered a new album with the entire band.
"We're looking for the right place and right time to put out the [Burnett] album," Potter promised. "I love that project."
Growing up in an artistic family with hippie parents, she has focused on creativity and accomplishment. She was so determined to be accepted for her writing skills that she dressed like a hippie chick to blend in with her all-male bandmates.