I have to say the Pittsford-Sutherland High School Jazz Band didn't sound like a high-school jazz band at all during its set on the Gibbs Street stage. High-school ensembles -- you know, the ones with the meandering time signature and one or two players loudly opting for the sour rather than the sweet? Well that wasn't what was going on here. From standards to Steely Dan, these kids nailed it.

Filthy Funk, though a well-dressed, well-oiled machine, was a funky footnote as vocalist in residence and Black August belter, Danielle Ponder, took the stage. In no time flat this turban-wearing queen had the entire crowd wrapped around her finger until we all looked like sprung springs. So there we were on Gibbs Street, boppin' around to Filthy Funk's cool groove as Ponder rained soul down upon us, much like the clouds did soon after the set. Frankly, I think Ponder busted those clouds wide open.

Ken Mo' proved that less is mo' as his guitar gently wept. Considered by most to be a bluesman (with recordings, especially his first three, to back that up), Mo' is more of a storyteller whose lyrics intertwined with the ones his finger-style-driven notes produced. His show at Kodak Hall was mellow affair.

That was the polar opposite to The Blaggards, who wreaked havoc with their self-described "stout Irish rock" at Abilene at the end of the night. The Houston, Texas band were as much cowpunk --- and metal, thanks to the kick-plate-covered, radical body Dean guitar, man I haven't seen one of those in years --- as it was Celtic. Flogging Molly with six shooters and a bottle. The Irish aspect, besides the fiddle and head-banging front man Patrick Devlin, was the endless calls for toasts and the hoisting, and the frequent downing of drinks. The crowd was lapping up the sauce and the band's frenetic boogie, jumping up like a bunch of drunken 4-year-olds. Erin go nuts.

Sunday I'm checking out Christine Ohlmen & Rebel Montez at Abilene and the Jack Allen Big Band at the Big Tent.