Due to a previous commitment (supposedly a gig singing at a friend's wedding) Kelley was unable to make it to the Cities, so The Kin were moved to the middle of the lineup and opening duties were awarded to local nu-funk specialists Roster McCabe who performed quite admirably. We arrived halfway through their set but were able to catch the impressive "See You Soon" and see this energetic sextet jam with abandon, setting the tone for the night as a free-for-all talent showcase.

McGee and the boys, with Chris Bashista on drums, hit the stage shortly after 9:30, leading off with "Guess We Were" from the new album These Days and diving into a pleasant mix of new material, older songs from the Revel/Shine era and the usual spate of covers. Most songs, with the exception of a couple of tracks from Save Me, received the extended treatment, with The Kind and parts of Kelley's band joining PMB on stage, notably for "Lost" and "Girl from Athens." Brian Fechino also had a chance to show off his chops, with some pretty sick riffs on "Elizabeth" and "Maybe It's Time." The band ended their incredible 100-minute set with a pretty stellar cover of Jackson Browne's "Runnin' On Empty," employing the six PMB'ers, the three members of The Kin and the four players from Kelley's band.

I've been to a lot of shows, and I've seen a lot of dudes perform. No matter how many times I go to a Pat McGee Band show though, I always find something new that makes me think, "Man, that really blew me away." I don't know if it's the same on the East Coast, where the band is much more popular, but I think the small but dedicated crowds here in the Cities really help to bring out the best in them. And that's why I will continue to see them. A

PS: The Kin, as a standalone act, blew a goat. That is all.