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By Dave Miller

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Touring can make or break a band. In the case of Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes, the former has quickly proven true.

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In just a handful of months, Ellsworth and his band have turned into a live act not to be missed. After being wowed by the four-member group when I first stumbled upon them in November at Beat Kitchen, I saw the Nashville-based band in January at Subterranean. It improved greatly in those two months, going from a band not only playing music, but also feeling it in the moment as they took their impressive debut album, Civilized Man, to higher ground. As much as Ellsworth's crew improved from that November show to the January one is how big of a step it took once again when it returned to Subterranean Friday.

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Watching Ellsworth and the band play an exuberant, 50-minute set packed with thrills was reminiscent of seeing Wilco play an explosive headling homecoming behind Being There at the Riviera Theatre in 1997. Both bands went for it while discovering the potential of their performance powers. This is Americana pop that rocks. Ellsworth makes the music unique with a keyboard that sounds like it's played by a wizard. Guitarist Timon Lance provides grit with grace, bassist Marshall Skinner adds sweet harmonies and a solid foundation, and drummer Joel Wren keeps it alive and moving forward with crackling beats. Like any great band, this one is greater than the sum of its parts.

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"Front Line," which made its live debut in the band's last Subterranean stop, remained in the set. "Only One For Me" made its first Chicago appearance and featured big keys and guitar. "Follow Me Home" was epic and, on this night, even topped the band's irrepressible signature song, "Shoe Fits," which placed No. 7 on Amazon's Top Songs of 2011. Stops and starts on a dime, silence and  dissonance were used to great effect. After a half dozen songs, Ellsworth asked for a time check. "How we doin' one time, Mr. Soundman?" the bespectabled keyboard inquired. "One more?" "Ten more," a girl near me answered to herself. I know what she meant. Ellsworth didn't want to stop, either. "We'll play two more," he said. The band closed with "Tradewinds" and "Wolf Is Me." I could have listend to them all night.

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Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes setlist:

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Bleeding Tongue

Front Line

Only One For Me

Follow Me Home

Take Your Tiime

Shoe Fits

Tradewinds

Wolf Is Me

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Start: 10:31 p.m./Finish: 11:21 p.m.

Totals: Eight songs, 50 minutes

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Opener Michele McGuire was a revelation. The 23-year-old South Sider reminded me of a young Loretta Lynn. It was arresting to see someone from here look like she was from Appalachia dressed in a sun dress with no heels singing in a pure voice like it hailed from the hills.

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McGuire revealed herself to be an old soul. Her originals featured a classic country sound and she played a couple surprising covers, Levon Helm's "Sweet Peach Georgia Wine" and "My Rifle, My Pony and Me," a song from John Wayne's "Rio Bravo" that she cutely, matter-of-factly introduced to the young crowd as being "an older one." McGuire, who alternately played an acoustic and electric guitar, has the talent to play in Nashville's honky tonks on Lower Broadway right now. An issue for her will be bringing her accompaniment up to her level. Steve McNamee did his part, playing drums and mandolin, sometimes simultaneously. He even broke out a baby accordion.

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Michele McGuire setlist:

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Ramble

Well Sister

Everlyn Claims

Sweet Peach Georgia Wine

One Too Many

For Love

My Rifle, My Pony and Me

Little Bitta Delta

Chance With You

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Start: 9:38 p.m./Finish: 10:14 p.m.

Totals: Nine songs, 36 minutes

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Derek Nelson & The Musicians closed the night in uneven but interesting fashion. A rocky start caused by Nelson's guitar problems threatened to sink the set, but the band eventually found its footing and built momentum late with "Storm Coming" and "Die, Darlin'."

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There's a lot going on with this band with seven musicians onstage including three guitarists and violinist Cathy Starr. Nelson's intense devotion to the music was the dominant force above all else, so much so that the performance seemed almost insular at times. Nelson gave away one of his influences by ending with a cover of "Dancing in the Dark" done in the leaner, harder-driving way Springsteen has performed it on recent tours. It connected all the way to the back of the room. A challenge for Nelson is to make such a connection with his music and passion to concertgoers throughout the night.

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Derek Nelson & The Musicians setlist:

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Modern War

Jesus (in a Phone Booth)

Come and Wait

This Time Around

Same As Always

Saya Sayonara

Storm Coming

Die, Darlin'

Ghosts

Dancing in the Dark

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Start: 11:36 p.m./Finish: 12:36 a.m.

Totals: 10 songs, one hour

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Show poster

March 12, 2012 @ Subterranean

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Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes

March 16, 2012 @ Subterranean

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Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes

March 16, 2012 @ Subterranean

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