Grace Potter and the Nocturnals get more cowbell with Mankind Mick Foley

If you haven’t heard by now, there’s a new star in the making: Grace Potter is rocking’ the planet with her soulful, signature sound, her backing band the Nocturnals helping her all the way. Since their first album release in 2005, Nothing But the Water, Grace and her band from tiny Waitsfield, Vermont, have attracted the attention of discriminating music fans with her rock, folk and heartfelt singer/songwriter songs.

Here’s a good “for instance” for the latter, “Apologies”, the smash hit via the TV show One Tree Hill, in an exquisite live version from RAVE-HD:

Now, that’s all well and good. We get it: Grace has a beautiful voice, writes amazing songs, and has a killer backing band. But we here at Starcasm have discovered the secret behind all this success: COWBELL! And not just any cowbell, but one wielded by professional wrestler Mankind!

Yes, none other than Mankind Mick Foley has gone all the way from “Hell in a Cell” to “Paris” with Grace, and for that, we say “Ooh la la!” Last night at the Plaza Theater in Orlando, Florida, Mick stepped up to the stage with cowbell and drumstick in hand and out-Ferrelled every cowbell player this side of Blue Öyster Cult. It was a real treat, as he cow-jammed on the song “Medicine,” for that quirky demographic of fans that combines their love of Grace Potter’s music with professional wrestling – certainly a tiny sliver, but one that presumably includes Ms. Potter herself!

That’s quite a nice drumstick Mick is wielding up there! Are you glad to see Grace? (She looks FANTASTIC, by the way!) All reports from the concert were glowing as usual. If you haven’t heard of Grace Potter yet, you will. Stay up all night with all four of her Nocturnals albums and bone up – just so you can say you’re keeping up with the hip music lovers among you!

Here are some photos from last night’s show in Orlando thanks to fan Kelley Kirk followed by a video clip of a live performance of “Paris (Oh La La)” from the show. No appearances by Mick here, but if we find pictures or video of his cacophonous cowbell accompaniment, we’ll post them!

UPDATE I – It seems Mick Foley’s new career as a rock-and-roll cowbeller suits him! He tweeted the following in the early AM this morning: “Playing cowbell on stage with @gracepotter was one of the best experiences of my life; GREAT lady, GREAT show!”

UPDATE II – Alright! Thanks to ace concert photographer Nanci Nutile McMenemy (spell that fast ten times!), we have some great pictures to share of our favorite wrestler Mankind banging his cowbell all night long – and giving a hug to Nocturnals bassist Catherine Popper!

Check out Nanci’s site for more great photos from the show!

This confluence has ignited a new life truth.  Every band is better with retired pro wrestlers playing cowbell!