On September 24th, Scott Tournet took to the historic stage at The Bitter End in New York City with nothing more than his voice, three instruments, and a pedal set up. Performing songs from his new solo record Home, along with favorites spanning from his Nocturnal days and solo catalog. Tournet gave the intimate room a kind of performance that only can come from decades on the road. Known as a founding member of Grace Potter & The Nocturnal, as well as his more recent projects with Elektric Voodoo. Tournet has always had a knack for blending roots, rock and soul into something that’s so personable and magical. At The Bitter End a venue that has hosted legends like Bob Dylan to Lady Gaga the strip down setting fits perfectly with the raw honesty of his performance.

From the opening number, Lonely Road, Tournet’s captivating vocals filled the brick walled club, immediately creating an atmosphere of connection and reflection. Between songs, he invited the audience into his world with personal stories, like the last time he played the venue and the tale behind The Circle.

A particularly moving moment came with When We Were Young, written during the pandemic when everyone was secluded and searching for comfort. Inviting you to reminisce about easier, different times. Slower and sweet, it carried a nostalgic tenderness that deepened the night’s mood. Sylvia, with its bluegrass undertones, followed with a rustic, earthy energy that showcased Tournet’s folk sensibilities and tied directly into the spirit of Home.

Highlights included 8654321, a song born from the heartbeat of his second child in the womb. He quickly went home and transformed it into a rock song at 142 bpm. Rather than writing a cliché lullaby, Tournet tapped into the perspective of a new life about to begin. Imagine the baby floating in her mother’s belly, curious and preparing for the world outside, with lyrics that reflect how he and his family are as individuals. It felt like he was letting the audience glimpse the private, magical anticipation of parenthood, turning something deeply personal into a universal celebration of family and new beginnings.

He also dug into his Nocturnals catalog, unleashing Medicine with a fiery jam that showed just how much sound one musician could create. It was a reminder of the raw, electrifying energy that fueled his earlier career. In contrast, Left Behind, from the Nocturnals’ 2005 debut Nothing But the Water, slowed things down with reflective beauty.

The emotional peak came with Home, the title track of his new solo record. Tournet delivered it like a confession under the lights, tracing 20 years of highs and lows on the road, the toll of addiction, and the sacrifices made for music. One lyric hit especially hard: “I missed my sister’s wedding, to play to ten people in Idaho.” It was the kind of gut-punch honesty that had the whole room holding its breath.

Tournet closed off the night with Hold Your Head Up High, from his 2023 release Rock & Roll Stories, dedicated to his mom as it is her favorite song. By the middle of the song, he invited the crowd to clap along, and the rhythm carried beautifully to the very last note, sending the night off in true celebration.

At The Bitter End, Scott Tournet proved that his songs do not need stadium lights or big production to resonate with just his voice guitar and stories. He gave the audience a night that was equal parts intimate, emotional, and powerful, and a reminder of why his music continues to matter.

Setlist – The Bitter End, NYC (9/24/25):

1. Lonely Road

2. The Circle

3. When We Were Young

4. 8654321

5. Next Lover

6. Sylvia

7. Medicine (Grace Potter & The Nocturnals)

8. Left Behind (Grace Potter & The Nocturnals)

9. Glory (Blues and Lasers)

10. Home

11. Hold Your Head Up High