Well fellas, it was a HELL of a show!
Though Terry Adams is the sole remaining original member (playing electric piano, clavichord, and organ, singing, and banging on various percussion instruments), the band sounded almost exactly the same as they did in the early/mid-90's, the last time I saw them live! Terry is obviously the hub of the NRBQ wheel. The club was packed, and the band got a very enthusiastic response from the audience, who demanded two encores.
They played a full two hour set, the opening band The Minus 5---a deliberately Garage-style band (if you know what I mean ;-) ---an hour. The best 25 bucks I've ever spent! The couple I was standing next to (the club moved the tables off the floor for this rockin' show) had driven to Portland from Boise Idaho, and people were singing along with the chorus on a number of songs. I do believe NRBQ has a dedicated cult-level audience, as well as peer admirers, whose members include Bonnie Raitt, Keith Richards, John Hiatt, Richard Thompson, Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, and Elvis Costello. And you? ;-)
And oh yeah, on the road with the two bands, and joining both for parts of each bands sets, was Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, blowing baritone and bass sax. Awesome! If NRBQ are coming to your area, if I were you I'd go see 'em. It may change your life!