Mile of Music
Sarah Potenza
Clip: Special | 25m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Blues artist Sarah Potenza brings bold vocals to the 2024 Mile of Music festival.
Powerhouse vocalist Sarah Potenza belts out the blues at the 2024 Mile of Music festival. Guitarist David Robert King accompanies Nashville-based Potenza. The set was recorded at the Lawrence University Memorial Chapel in Appleton, Wisconsin: “I Work for Me,” “Worthy,” “Their Loss,” “High Enough,” “Road to Rome” and “Keep on Holdin'.”
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Mile of Music is a local public television program presented by PBS Wisconsin
Mile of Music
Sarah Potenza
Clip: Special | 25m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Powerhouse vocalist Sarah Potenza belts out the blues at the 2024 Mile of Music festival. Guitarist David Robert King accompanies Nashville-based Potenza. The set was recorded at the Lawrence University Memorial Chapel in Appleton, Wisconsin: “I Work for Me,” “Worthy,” “Their Loss,” “High Enough,” “Road to Rome” and “Keep on Holdin'.”
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- Host: Please give a very warm Mile welcome to Sarah Potenza.
[audience applauding and cheering] - Sarah Potenza: Hey, hey, how y'all doing?
Oh, my goodness!
It's amazing to be back here, you guys.
I am so glad to be back with you guys.
So I don't even wanna waste any time.
Let's get down to it.
I just-- [audience cheering] I just got one thing to say.
["I Work for Me" by Sarah Potenza] ♪ I work for me ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ [audience member cheering] ♪ Said I work ♪ ♪ For me ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ One, two, three, four ♪ ♪ Whoah, ohh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoah, ohh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoah, ohh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoah, ohh ♪ ♪ They told me I was nothin' ♪ ♪ Told me I was trash, yes ♪ ♪ Told me I was too young ♪ ♪ To ever make it last ♪ ♪ They said, you gotta earn a living ♪ ♪ How are you gonna pay?
♪ [upbeat acoustic guitar music] ♪ I blew it off all around there ♪ ♪ And then I did it anyway ♪ ♪ I don't need your job, I got my own ♪ ♪ I got cat and nails and a glitter phone ♪ ♪ Bills roll in, TCB ♪ ♪ I got everything that works for me, yeah ♪ ♪ I work for me ♪ ♪ Oh, yes, I, yes, I do ♪ ♪ I work for me, yeah ♪ ♪ Whoah, ohh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoah, ohh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoah, ohh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoah, yeah ♪ ♪ Told me I was too much, babe ♪ ♪ I shouldn't even try it ♪ ♪ Said that I was too big ♪ ♪ Now that's right, yeah, I'm a giant ♪ ♪ They said to keep on dreaming, girl ♪ ♪ That's just what I did ♪ ♪ I've been collecting water from my well ♪ ♪ Ever since I was a kid, listen ♪ ♪ Sticks and stones may break my bones ♪ ♪ But names will hurt me more ♪ ♪ I'll turn your words into my swords ♪ ♪ And then I go to war ♪ ♪ I don't need no ballpoint ♪ ♪ I can run my own joint ♪ ♪ I've been signing my checks ♪ ♪ With my blood and my sweat ♪ ♪ 'Cause I work for me ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah, yeah, yes, I do ♪ ♪ I work for me ♪ ♪ I work for me ♪ ♪ I work for me ♪ [audience applauding and cheering] This is called "Worthy."
Doing two things at once is more complicated than it used to be for me.
[laughing] [gentle acoustic guitar music] She got the "Worthy" tattoo right there.
[audience cheering] You came all the way from, like, D.C. area, didn't you?
See, I remember.
- Audience Member: Whoo!
["Worthy" by Mary Gauthier] ♪ It took a mighty blow ♪ ♪ To crack me to the core ♪ ♪ Finally come to know ♪ ♪ That I could ask for more ♪ ♪ I've wondered all my life ♪ ♪ Why I felt so alone ♪ ♪ Trying to survive ♪ ♪ How could I ♪ ♪ How could I have known ♪ ♪ Worthy ♪ ♪ Worthy ♪ ♪ What a thing to claim ♪ ♪ Worthy, baby, worthy ♪ ♪ Ashes into flames ♪ ♪ Worthy, baby ♪ ♪ I left and I was stumblin' in the dark ♪ ♪ You see, I had to go within ♪ ♪ So I traced my scars ♪ ♪ Way on back to where I been ♪ ♪ A diamond in the dirt ♪ ♪ How was I so, how was I so perfectly concealed?
♪ ♪ Down beneath all the hurt inside ♪ ♪ It's been so hard, and I didn't know that I could feel ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ ♪ Worthy ♪ ♪ Worthy ♪ ♪ What a thing, what a thing to claim ♪ ♪ Worthy, baby, so worthy ♪ ♪ I said ashes into flames ♪ ♪ I walked through a ring of fire ♪ ♪ I left behind the only life I knew ♪ ♪ Ain't no way back, no place to hide ♪ ♪ Then this little ol' voice came through ♪ ♪ It said, "Worthy" ♪ ♪ Said, "You are worthy" ♪ ♪ What a thing for anyone to claim ♪ ♪ It said, "Worthy, baby" ♪ ♪ It said, "Worthy" ♪ ♪ I said, "Ashes into flames" ♪ ♪ It said, "You are worthy, worthy" ♪ ♪ What a thing to claim ♪ ♪ It said, "Worthy, baby, so worthy" ♪ ♪ Ashes into flames ♪ ♪ Worthy ♪ ♪ Worthy, baby, baby ♪ ♪ It said "Worthy" ♪ ♪ Worthy ♪ ♪ What a thing to claim ♪ [audience applauding and cheering] Oh, man, thank y'all so much.
Thank you so, so very much, thank you.
This is called "Their Loss," and it's one of the newer songs that I wrote.
There's a version of it out on Spotify with my friend, Melody Walker, who wrote this with me.
We were just goofing around during the pandemic, and I was expressing my feelings about something.
And, I don't know, I was whining about something that... And she said, "Well, it's their loss, you know."
And we just started shootin' and talkin' and we just, we sat down and we wrote this one.
I really like the way it came out, so let's hear how it sounds for the very first time here in Wisconsin on guitar.
[audience applauding and cheering] ["Their Loss" by Sarah Potenza] [steady acoustic guitar music] ♪ So, they didn't wanna know ya ♪ ♪ No, they never really could ♪ ♪ So, they said that it was over ♪ ♪ So what?
♪ ♪ So good ♪ ♪ Every day that goes by, it gets easier in time ♪ ♪ Soon, you won't remember why you even cried ♪ ♪ Just tell yourself it's their loss ♪ ♪ Even if you don't believe it yet ♪ ♪ Their loss ♪ ♪ A new beginning in each end ♪ ♪ Their loss ♪ ♪ If you're thinkin' 'bout what might have been ♪ ♪ Just remember it was their loss and your win ♪ ♪ Laid your heart out on the table ♪ ♪ Loud for everyone to hear ♪ ♪ Oh, you made them feel some kind of way, though ♪ ♪ Well, too bad, 'cause you're still here ♪ ♪ When they're so out of touch ♪ ♪ They'll tell you that you're too much ♪ ♪ But the truth always was ♪ ♪ They're not enough ♪ ♪ Just tell yourself it's their loss ♪ ♪ Even if you don't believe it yet ♪ ♪ Their loss ♪ ♪ A new beginning in each end ♪ ♪ Their loss ♪ ♪ If you're thinkin' 'bout what might have been ♪ ♪ Just remember it was their loss and your win ♪ ♪ Now if you could see what I see ♪ ♪ If you'd been where I've been ♪ ♪ Given the chance, you would do it all over again ♪ ♪ So burn down the shame ♪ ♪ And pop the champagne ♪ ♪ And drink to the haters and failures ♪ ♪ That paved your way ♪ ♪ It's their loss ♪ ♪ Even if you don't believe it yet ♪ ♪ Their loss ♪ ♪ A new beginning in each end ♪ ♪ Their loss ♪ ♪ If you're thinkin' 'bout what might have been ♪ ♪ Just remember it was their loss and your win ♪ ♪ Just remember it was their loss and your win ♪ ♪ Just remember it was their loss and your win, baby ♪ [audience applauding and cheering] This is called "High Enough," and it's not about drugs.
[audience laughing] ["High Enough" by Sarah Potenza] [steady acoustic guitar music] ♪ It was a Tuesday, I packed my things ♪ ♪ Black bag, yellow strings ♪ ♪ Left a letter on the kitchen floor ♪ ♪ Hugged the dog and slammed the door ♪ ♪ You called me, I felt bad ♪ ♪ I love you, babe, what we had ♪ ♪ Turns me into a crazy girl ♪ ♪ Too heavy for this whole damn world ♪ ♪ For your dark side, there was nothin' I could do, yeah ♪ ♪ I carry burdens over mountains just for you ♪ ♪ Oh oh, your love don't reach high enough ♪ ♪ Your love don't reach high enough ♪ ♪ Your love don't reach high enough ♪ ♪ Your love don't reach high enough, baby ♪ ♪ Now frankly, babe, I'm not surprised ♪ ♪ We've been livin' separate lives for a long time ♪ ♪ You've been stuck inside your head ♪ ♪ And all the things I should've said ♪ ♪ They're just playin' in my mind ♪ ♪ For my dark side ♪ ♪ There wasn't nothin', nothin', nothin' you could do ♪ ♪ Carry burdens over mountains just for you ♪ ♪ Oh, your love don't reach high enough ♪ ♪ Your love don't reach high enough ♪ ♪ Your love don't reach high enough ♪ ♪ I said your love, your love don't reach high enough, no ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Your love, baby ♪ ♪ It don't reach high enough, mmm hmm hmm ♪ ♪ Mmm hmm hmm ♪ ♪ It don't reach high enough ♪ [audience applauding and cheering] Thank you so much.
["Road to Rome" by Sarah Potenza] ♪ I don't know how I forgot you ♪ [gentle piano music] ♪ I don't know why I was gone so long ♪ ♪ Fear is a liar ♪ ♪ And I've been a fool ♪ ♪ But I'm free now and I can hear my song ♪ ♪ I know I was wrong not to trust you ♪ ♪ But right here, right now I've got to move on ♪ ♪ Shame is a drug and I was a user ♪ ♪ But I'm free now and I can hear my song, baby ♪ ♪ Ain't no cryin', ain't no worry ♪ ♪ Can't nobody do me harm ♪ ♪ I'm gonna rise up ♪ ♪ I'll be singing on ♪ ♪ On this road I walk to Rome ♪ ♪ All of this time, I didn't know you were waiting ♪ ♪ So quietly now, under the war ♪ ♪ I'm ready, baby, I wanna be with you ♪ ♪ They just can't mess with me no more ♪ ♪ Ain't no cryin', ain't no worry ♪ ♪ Can't nobody do me any harm ♪ ♪ Watch me rise up ♪ ♪ Watch me singing, baby ♪ ♪ On this road I walk to Rome ♪ ♪ They almost had me completely fooled ♪ ♪ I almost lost my faith in you ♪ ♪ All these people were so damn loud ♪ ♪ I could not hear my own self ♪ ♪ So quietly I waited ♪ ♪ All the noise had faded ♪ ♪ And I don't know how I forgot you ♪ ♪ I don't know why I was gone so long ♪ ♪ 'Cause there ain't no cryin', ain't no worry ♪ ♪ Can't nobody do me any harm ♪ ♪ Watch me rise up ♪ ♪ I'll be singing, singing ♪ ♪ On this road I walk to Rome ♪ ♪ On this road I walk to Rome ♪ ♪ On this road I walk to Rome ♪ [audience applauding and cheering] A little piano action.
Thank you guys so much.
This is, this is called "Keep on Holdin'."
And thank you all so much for being here, supporting Mile of Music.
You know how much we love you.
The artists are crazy for this town.
Cuckoo bananas for it.
And I'll see you guys over at the merch table after the set.
[audience applauding and cheering] ["Keep on Holdin'" by Sarah Potenza] [gentle acoustic guitar music] ♪ I've been runnin' down these roads ♪ ♪ For decades at a time, baby ♪ ♪ Like a misfit, a runaway ♪ ♪ I thought I might find ♪ ♪ Path that led me to my dreams ♪ ♪ But I was wrong again ♪ ♪ These roads go in circles ♪ ♪ The beginning is the end ♪ ♪ Stickers on the soundboard ♪ ♪ Some bands you recognize ♪ ♪ Some you never heard of ♪ ♪ And some you idolize ♪ ♪ Makes you think, maybe ♪ ♪ If they played here, too ♪ ♪ Maybe there's a chance ♪ ♪ That they were once like you ♪ ♪ So keep on holdin' on to your heart ♪ ♪ It's a long road ♪ ♪ Honey, it's a long shot ♪ ♪ Keep on holdin' on to your heart ♪ ♪ It's a long road, but we got a good start ♪ ♪ Start the show a little late ♪ ♪ Let the place fill in ♪ ♪ The way the waitress looks at you ♪ ♪ You know the crowd is thin ♪ ♪ There's a couple in the front row ♪ ♪ They know all your songs ♪ ♪ They don't know how much it means ♪ ♪ Just to watch 'em sing along ♪ ♪ So keep on holdin' on to your heart ♪ ♪ It's a long road ♪ ♪ Honey, it's a long shot ♪ ♪ Keep on holdin' on to your heart ♪ ♪ It's a long road, but we got a good start ♪ ♪ There were nights I sang so hot ♪ ♪ I thought, "Lord, am I on fire?"
♪ ♪ Felt so good, I said, "Oh, my God ♪ ♪ I might never die" ♪ ♪ There were nights I want to give up ♪ ♪ Unplug this mic and walk away ♪ ♪ Lord, this life is like a tattoo ♪ ♪ I'll wear until my dying day ♪ ♪ So keep on holdin' on to your heart ♪ ♪ It's a long road ♪ ♪ Honey, it's a long shot ♪ ♪ Keep on holdin' on to your heart ♪ ♪ It's a long road, but we got a good start ♪ ♪ Keep on holdin' on to your heart ♪ ♪ It's a long road ♪ ♪ Honey, it's a long shot ♪ ♪ Mm mm, yeah ♪ [audience applauding and cheering] Thank you so much, I'm Sarah Potenza.
Thank you so much, this is Mr. David Robert King.
Y'all are so kind.
Thank you so much, you guys, thank you.
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Clip: Special | 12m 49s | Americana musician Abby Posner performs three songs at the 2024 Mile of Music festival. (12m 49s)
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Clip: Special | 3m 33s | "Love in the Underground" by Bandits on the Run at the Mile of Music festival in Appleton. (3m 33s)
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Clip: Special | 8m 1s | Barnaby Bright performs alt-Americana live at Appleton's Mile of Music festival. (8m 1s)
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Clip: Special | 12m 39s | Bella's Bartok performs live theatrical indie rock at Appleton's Mile of Music festival. (12m 39s)
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Clip: Special | 5m 6s | Ben Mulwana and The Village perform Afro-soul rock, "Levitate," at Mile of Music 2024. (5m 6s)
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Clip: Special | 18m 43s | Mile of Music festival performance by six-piece modern folk/Americana band Buffalo Rose. (18m 43s)
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Clip: Special | 7m 43s | Milwaukee native and folk artist Cassie Boettcher makes her Mile of Music festival debut. (7m 43s)
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Clip: Special | 7m 42s | Folk singer-songwriter Christopher Gold shares two songs at Mile of Music 2024. (7m 42s)
Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons
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Clip: Special | 3m 38s | Grammy-nominated Cory Chisel brings Americana roots to Mile of Music 2024. (3m 38s)
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Clip: Special | 28m 11s | Minneapolis-based Dan Rodriguez plays live Americana music at the Mile of Music festival. (28m 11s)
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Clip: Special | 3m 51s | David Robert King plays "Cold-Hearted Woman" during a live acoustic set at Mile of Music. (3m 51s)
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Clip: Special | 6m 32s | Garage-style rock band Diet Lite from Milwaukee performs at the Mile of Music festival. (6m 32s)
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Clip: Special | 26m 35s | NYC supergroup Fantastic Cat performs live pop/rock at Appleton's Mile of Music festival. (26m 35s)
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Clip: Special | 20m 31s | Grammy-nominated Appleton native Hillary Reynolds performs live at Mile of Music 2024. (20m 31s)
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Clip: Special | 11m 1s | Illiterate Light, an indie rock duo, performs live at Appleton's Mile of Music festival. (11m 1s)
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Clip: Special | 14m 29s | Jeremie Albino and The Rosehall Band blend Americana and blues at Mile of Music 2024. (14m 29s)
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Clip: Special | 21m 56s | Americana singer-songwriter Joy Clark performs live at Appleton's Mile of Music festival. (21m 56s)
Leon Timbo and The Family Band
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Clip: Special | 9m 4s | Atlanta's Leon Timbo and The Family Band perform live country-soul at Mile of Music 2024. (9m 4s)
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Clip: Special | 28m 14s | Chicago's indie rock band Marina City performs at the 2024 Mile of Music festival. (28m 14s)
Mile of Music performers share 'A Song Before We Go'
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Clip: Special | 21m 37s | Mile of Music artists perform closing songs at the 2024 festival finale. (21m 37s)
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Clip: Special | 12m 55s | Australian folk duo Minor Gold performs live at Mile of Music 2024. (12m 55s)
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Clip: Special | 27m 44s | Chicago's Nathan Graham blends blues and Americana at the 2024 Mile of Music festival. (27m 44s)
Preview: Special | 1m | This concert documentary offers a front row seat to Appleton's community music festival. (1m)
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Clip: Special | 21m 59s | California’s Rainbow Girls blend folk and rock at the 2024 Mile of Music festival. (21m 59s)
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Clip: Special | 7m 57s | Scott H. Biram merges blues, country and punk at the 2024 Mile of Music festival. (7m 57s)
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Clip: Special | 11m 22s | Banjo innovator Tall Tall Trees plays psychedelic rock at the 2024 Mile of Music festival. (11m 22s)
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Clip: Special | 26m 59s | Singer-songwriter Tommy Prine performs live to a packed house during Mile of Music 2024. (26m 59s)
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Clip: Special | 9m 48s | The Oshkosh band rocks Houdini Plaza at the 2024 Mile of Music festival. (9m 48s)
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Clip: Special | 3m 18s | Milwaukee hip-hop artist Twan Mack performs one of his final sets at Mile of Music 2024. (3m 18s)
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Clip: Special | 15m 49s | Folk trio Valley Fox plays live at Mile of Music 2024 with mandolin, bass and guitar. (15m 49s)
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Clip: Special | 15m 47s | Folk singer Willi Carlisle plays banjo, fiddle and guitar at the Mile of Music festival. (15m 47s)
Writer's Round: High Tea, Jamie Kent and South for Winter
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Clip: Special | 49m 49s | Folk rock and Americana songwriters perform in-the-round live at Mile of Music 2024. (49m 49s)
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