As soon as the Heart concert ended last night, we hustled across the Summerfest grounds to see Robert Randolph & The Family Band absolutely tear it up on the Rock Stage.

Robert’s pedal steel guitar drives this funk & soul band and they once again knocked us out with their energetic groove.

These cats are a total freakin’ party and a huge favorite of my beloved jam band community, who came out in droves to witness the magic. Robert is unquestionably the reigning master of the steel guitar, and this time around he injected a few Michael Jackson tunes into his set, including an intensely satisfying “Billie Jean.”

The Bo Diddley riff plays a prominent role in Robert’s repertoire, as evidenced in his rabid version of “Who Do You Love?,” which included the hilarious refrain of “Gilligan get off the island.”

Robert brought down the house as he always does, and we boogied all the way home!