Back in the Dance

"It's nice to be back," said Jakob Dylan Sunday night at the Somerville Theatre. It's nice to have him back. Although Dylan is now the sole original member of the Wallflowers, the reconstituted band sounded strong last night on their first tour in a couple of years.

(Bassist Greg Richling is the longest term 'flower appearing on everything from 1996's "Bringing Down the Horse" forward, followed by drummer Fred Eltringham who signed on for 2005's "Rebel Sweetheart" and guitarist Stuart Mathis joined up earlier this year.)

They ran through tunes from all five of their highly underrated albums. Dylan's voice is getting even more interesting as he ages, although weariness could've been a factor as well, and he put new rust on old gems like "Three Marlenas," the still cutting "Hand Me Down" and the truly rocking "Everybody Out of the Water." Keyboardist Rami Jaffee was missed (as was personal fave "Sleepwalker") but Dylan's current crew proved solid.

The normally reticent frontman also chatted a bit with the crowd, thanking them for coming considering Game 7 of the ALCS was happening as they played. (Many, many fans kept abreast of the doings at Fenway Park via cell phone and had the score at the ready when asked). He even joked after hearing that the Sox were ahead that "I have faith the Twins will pull through."

Now that they're back, how about a new album Jakob?