Friday night.

Lights on.

A familiar face appears on the stage.

An introduction, as many other nights have started at the Opera House, by Cathy Sherrill. She sends her heartfelt thanks to the volunteers, and you know she means it.

The colors start and the band comes out with a familiar twang, which started with serious rockers from the ‘80s and ‘90s. The BoDeans don't come out and build up to a fan favorite song of American rock — they explode into it.

If you like rock, and remember songs like “Closer to Free,” you know this is not just a matter of guitars and amps; it's a melting pot of lyrics, rhythm and serious showmanship.

Kurt Neumann, the lead singer since the band’s beginning, comes out and gives a reverie of the BoDeans’ origins. Started in the early ‘80s by Neumann and former band member Sam Llanas, the band started with Milwaukee roots, under the name “Da BoDeans.” In 1985, the band’s name was shorted to the BoDeans. One rumor is that Llanas and Neumann garnered the name from the Beverly Hillbillies character, “Jethro Bodine.”

Ten-plus albums later, this the BoDeans continue to show why they are a working band that seems to flow behind the tidal waters to find bigger followings in small niches like the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor.

After the September 27 show, Neumann said Boothbay Harbor was the furthest north he has played in the United States. Having played Canada quite a bit, they were not done with their tour supporting their newest release, “Amped across America,” a two-disc CD collection of live work. 

The band features a number of veteran performers: Sam Hawksley (Llanis' replacement) on acoustic from Sidney, Australia, who had a discography of six albums; bassist Ryan Bowman, Stefano Intellisano on keyboards. All amazing artists who bring their own unique style to the band and, finally, a drummer who seamlessly does change ups from style to style in his playing. Kenny Aronoff who has played with greats from Joe Cocker, John Fogarty, John Cougar, Melissa Etheridge, Bon Jovi, Elton John, Bob Dylan, B.B. King, Bob Seger and the band Chickenfoot.

At the end of the evening, Aronoff said he had visited the area in his youth and talked about how much he loved it here. Aronoff grew up in Massachusetts and also vacationed in Bar Harbor and different points along the Maine coast.

The one thing the summer line-up at the Opera House has shown this writer is how Cathy Sherrill continues to bring world class entertainment to this gem of a venue. Thank you, Opera House!