This ain't your daddy's Marshall Tucker Band. No really, it isn't -- only one sixth of the band is part of their original lineup from the '70s. Friday night this classic southern rock band, who you WZLX listeners will know from their hit "Can't You See," played a more than packed show at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, CT. I was one of many fans watching this energized lineup from outside the stage and seat area, among the airy electronic tunes of spinning 7's and the clinking of quarters. Even from outside the arena I got a great view of their lineup, which features Doug Gray on lead vocals and tambourine (the only original member), Tony Heatherly on bass, Chris Hicks on guitar, Stuart Swanlund on slide guitar, B.B. Borden on drums and phenom Clay Cook (nephew of Gray) on organ, keys, sax and flute.

Marshall Tucker's Band kicked off their show with two blazing guitar solos, the style popularized by one of the biggest classic southern rock bands of all time, The Allman Brothers Band. Both Hicks and Swanlund provided the main text of the show, which was embellished at times by Heatherly's funky bass licks and the Superman playing of Cook on flute, sax, keys, organ and kitchen sink. In fact, Cook laid down a tremendous flute solo during the jam of the opener.

Towards the end of the extended opener, Hicks and Cook engaged in an artistic duel, where the weapons were blues harp (harmonica) and saxophone respectively.

MTB next played some good old blues with Swanlund sliding away. They really perfected this sound, transforming the local slot jockey into a cowboy-hat-wearing Budweiser drinker at a roadhouse blues joint.

In between songs, Gray warmed the crowd, although in a somewhat pathetic manner. In fact, Gray was the weak link throughout the night. His tortured vocals were a frequent distracter from the music, lowlighted by his urging the crowd to repeatedly sing the refrain of "Can't You See" after he butchered it beyond recognition. I surmise that the only reason he is still with the band is because he is an original member; everyone would have had a more enjoyable musical experience if he had just stuck to the tambourine.

Swanlund provided his own worn, gravelly, yet warming voice on several songs. He, along with Heatherly, salvaged what they could with their own vocals on "Can't You See."

The highlight of the show was a marathon song that began with a hard driving, slow pace. Hicks played organ deliciously over the guitar, and then flew his flute over the bass.

They then transitioned to a slow, sweet bluesy sound and eventually brought it to a near halt, with Gray slowing his singing to a near halt. MTB then brought it back with an upbeat swing, and Swanlund gave us some nasty shredding. Heatherly and Cook concluded with a bass/sax duel with an intensity that epitomized the notion of stage presence.

Despite the lack of a seat and the less than stellar vocals at times, it was a solid show. MTB gave a taste (they played for a mere 80 minutes at most) of the ever-present evolution of southern rock. Cook's flute playing is what sets their sound apart from any other band of their style -- expect him to be around the music scene for a long time to come.