So, what was the deal with the extended soundcheck?

It took a little while to get the room prepared for the double bill of the Social Coyotes and Doodis at Cozumel in Shadyside the other night. That was no big deal, once the music started. And it all paid off about midway through the show.

Let's start with the opener. I missed the Social Coyotes' set at LumberJam II and looked forward to going on what the band describes as a "sonic journey full of powerful lyrics, catchy medodies, and danceable rhythms." Yeah, that was pretty much the case. Driven by Jeff Radosevich's five-string Warwick bass, the Coyotes launched into groove after groove, with Matt Enos and Shane Lieberman trading some smoking guitar riffs. (Shane was a guest, actually, in town from Boulder, Colo. Great job of filling in. I'll have to check out a show with regular guitarist Pat Heavens.)

After a spell, Doodis guitarist Jesse Cronce and Aaron Bennett, who plays keyboards for Patchwork Blu, climbed onto the stage for a long jam with Matt singin' about partyin' up a storm. Then they went into a wrapup jam, and after a while, Doodis bass player Jason Mitchell plugged in to take Jeff's place. Then Doodis drummer Shane McGraw hopped up to seamlessly slide into the drummer's chair, supplanting Chad Friedman. And no one lost a beat in the process.

So, that explained the lengthy soundcheck! They had to prepare for the ol' Switcheroo.

Once in place, Doodis played with a bit of a heavier sound than last I'd seen them and concentrated more fully on original material, including a tune called "New Tune," featuring a catchy, harmony-laden chorus.

Aaron sat in with the guys from the start, and Shane (Lieberman, that is) jumped up onstage after a while, and I suspect the rest of the Social Coyotes got into the act again by the end of the night. (It was getting past my bedtime.)

Just goes to show the cooperative spirit that exists in Pittsburgh's jamband community.

PHOTOS

1) Jeff and Matt of the Social Coyotes

2) Mitch and Jesse of Doodis

3) Shane keeps the beat

4) The other Shane flashes his chops