It’s gettin’ hot in here: Jug Free America rocked out at the Cat in the Cream last Friday night.

“It’s foggin’ up in here — it’s gonna rain!” This was not in regard to a rainforest exhibit at a nearby natural history museum but to the Cat in the Cream last Friday night. In fact, a member of Jug Free America, the band performing at the Cat, was the one who predicted this miracle of rainfall that evening. And, indeed, with all the sweat that was flying, it might as well have been raining.

Jug Free America’s easy-going, toe-tapping rhythms and melodies made for a little dance party on the right-hand side of the Cat. During the first three songs, people were trying awkwardly to find a place to put themselves. The floor was crowded and you could barely get through the door. However, after the third song, some smart person decided to just stand up and dance. They stacked the chairs off to one side and everyone stood up. They danced around as only Obies do: shoes were off, shirts were pulled up over bras and people were literally dripping.

Everyone was so ecstatic because Jug Free America, the beloved jug band of Oberlin, had returned. The band sadly graduated this past May, but after a whirlwind tour of Europe this summer, they decided it was time for a little trip to the hometown. Jug Free’s members, all Obies of some sort, are mostly male. Nansamba Ssensalo, often the jug and tub bass player, is the lone female in the group and uses her musicianship to hold the band together (after all, without a jug player, there wouldn’t be much of a jug band). With Nansamba as a solid foundation, the guys jump on board with their guitars, mandolin, banjo, trumpet, wooden flute, washboard, maracas, drums, tub bass and kazoo. The combination of these instruments may seem rather unlikely, but Jug Free America’s musical versatility provides for many different sounds and styles.

The band began with a reggae rhythm, complete with shakers and drums. They continued with some bluegrass traditionals, some original songs and a couple of blues songs ,including “Big River Blues,” a song that was played by the Grateful Dead. “Concord Girl,” an original, was written by guitarist Jacob Groopman about a girl he met in Concord, N.H. His introduction was simple and well put.

Here, I must interject that communication with the audience during a performance or concert of any kind is rather tricky. The performer shouldn’t talk too much, but he also feels pressure to be funny and not make a fool out of himself. There is a fine line between talking too much and not quite enough. Although Jug Free mostly played, their stories and little comments about pieces were hilarious, appropriate and amazingly good-natured considering the fact that sweat was running down their bodies.

For example, apparently, while they were on tour in Europe, they stopped in a town and got out their instruments. They started playing away and a crowd gathered. I’m assuming people even gave them some money. They deserve it. However, during one of their songs, the local policemen came over and told them that it was illegal to play in the streets without a permit. So they had to pack up. But as one of the band members said, “At least they were nice enough to let us finish the song.” The audience laughed.

Lech Wierzynski and Harry Barquero Bolles did most of the vocals and, while they clearly improved over the summer, it was still difficult to understand most of their lyrics. The audience didn’t help, as they were dancing and having a good ol’ loud time, but that is the way with such concerts. And, as a fellow audience member pointed out, the lyrics don’t really matter anyway: it’s the feeling of the music itself that is important.

Jug Free America certainly succeeded in transmitting the music to the audience. When looking around the room, there wasn’t a single person who wasn’t moving in time with the music, either by tapping a hand or foot or by going crazy on the dance floor. Despite the heat, it was an extremely successful visit. As one friend said to me during the intermission, “I’m really excited that they came back. I thought they were gone for good.” And though they will be frolicking elsewhere in the world the majority of the time, everyone needs a trip home once in a while. After all, how could they possibly resist our warm welcome? They will certainly be back again.