On October 30, I tried to be an early bird at the Music Mill for the Blues Traveler concert. I was supposed to be an hour early, and I was only 45 minutes early. I missed the early bird, and besides, the restaurant was packed.

Instead, I trotted over to Barnes & Noble for a coffee and some quiet time. At 7:30, I went back to the Mill. The doors were open, and I entered the large oblong room. It's quite the contrast to the restaurant's bright, art-deco feel. With a dark, hard floor, no seating what-so-ever, and a bar to quench the thirst, the atmosphere feels more like a cave.

I spent the hour and a half prior to the concert talking to my sister on the phone, and staking out a spot by the pole in front of the stage.

When an announcement came on that the concert would be recorded and CDs could be purchased ahead of time, I dashed over to pay for and sign up for my copy.

When I returned, my spot at the pole was taken. With nothing and no one to lean on, I stood center stage, and watched as one gentleman swayed and stumbled so much he had to be escorted from the premises. Poor guy didn't even get to see the opening act.

On the whole, the crowd was kind. Polite, good-natured, responsible drinkers and non-drinkers stood on all sides, waiting patiently for the band to take the stage.

The concert did not disappoint. Blues Traveler opened with a revised version of Carolina Blues. As a matter of fact, the whole night was filled with revised, re-worked versions of songs their fans love, promoting the album release of Cover Yourself.

Blues Traveler hasn't gotten the reputation of being a jam band for no good reason. They took each and every opportunity to allow the instruments to bridge the verses and chorus of each and every song.

Lead singer John Popper's voice was another instrument contributing to the jam session, which lasted from 9:30 to midnight.

The music danced across the crowd. It swirled between each person, lingered over our heads like smoke in a seedy bar, spun like an industrial fan clearing the air for a fresh take on an old song.

The move from one song to the next was seamless, recognizable, and unique; and the band's energy was intoxicating.

If you have the opportunity, pick up a copy of Cover Yourself, and when Blues Traveler comes into to town again, purchase a ticket. You won't be disappointed.