Incredibly catchy tracks like “Satan Is My Motor,” from their recently released, Prolonging the Magic, were given the full jam-out treatment. What is three minutes and twelve seconds on the disc turned into twelve minutes and three seconds in concert! With an obvious background in jazz, or at least major improvisational chops, they were having a ball taking their music in new directions: going around the melodies a few times, traveling out on other tangents altogether, and then returning to the original melody to finish up.

“You Turn the Screws” was particularly memorable, as was their fine turn on “Sheep Go To Heaven,” a song with one of the strangest refrains the music world has ever seen. “Sheep go to heaven, goats go to hell...” sings lead vocalist John McRea on this confusing ditty. Whatever it means, the crowd’s voices echoed every word. Hopefully, someone out there understands it. I know I certainly don’t.

Older tracks like “Going the Distance” and “Daria” were pulled out of the bands collective sleeves and performed with the same gusto as the rest of their almost hour and a half set. McRea’s vocals and guitar work were more than capable and certainly enjoyable, as his singing voice is a unique one. Gabriel Nelson’s bass and Todd Roper’s percussion work certainly anchored the evening’s rhythyms, while the band’s intricate harmonies were another standout of the evening. A great night at what could be Long Island’s premier concert hall, if they could only fix the air conditioning system. Hint, hint.