Sun Studio Sessions Launches with Grace Potter's "Mystery Train"

Welcome to the first installment of the Sun Studio Sessions, a new web video show featuring today's rising acts performing in the legendary recording studio in Memphis, Tennessee where Elvis Presely, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Howlin' Wolf and many other greats recorded their very first hits. Indeed, Sun Studio produced rock and roll's very first hits!To kick off this series we invited one of the most exciting live acts on the touring circuit today, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. Their latest record This Is Somewhere is critically acclaimed and the band has been touring the country since it's release last August, including stops on Jay Leno and Good Morning America. We were pleased they added Sun Studio to their list.  The band tracked seven songs, including one written that very night, that we'll post right here over the next month, intermingled with other great acts stopping by.

Each of our webisodes will feature some behind the scenes footage or interview and a song performance. Today Grace and the band tackle "Mystery Train" a song Junior Parker first recorded at Sun Studio in 1953. The song was later covered by Elvis and has been a favorite of other greats including Neil Young who also put out his own version.  In this clip, Grace talks the band through their approach to the song and then the band lays down an amazing run through the classic.  Just like the old days this track is overdub free and completely live, so you can really get a sense of the band's musicianship. One of my favorite moments in this clip is when guitarist Scott Tournet needs a moment to soak in the room's history right before tearing into a killer harp solo to kick off the song. You can view it right here on Blogcritics:

I'll be back Wednesday with a new installment, but will be checking in throughout the day to hear your comments and of course suggestions for bands to feature on what should shape up to be a fun and exciting series.

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