That’s what a friend of mine said upon first hearing about Hootie  & the Blowfish’s concert last Monday. For the past two years, we’ve watched the return of artists like Green Day, Pearl Jam, Fiona Apple, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Toadies and Goo Goo Dolls — musicians that defined our youth. We often wondered if today’s high schoolers would appreciate “our bands” as much as we did. Earlier generations must ask themselves the same thing when Madonna releases new material. Much to my surprise I have met 10-year-olds with more allegiance to Nirvana than most 30-year-olds.

I’m not sure Hootie & The Blowfish have that same appeal. What they lack in teenage angst, they fill in with a modern Southern rock perfect for breezy evenings with fireflies and cold beer.

H&TB took five years to get off the ground, from their college town in South Carolina, to the east coast, to Atlantic Records and to an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman during which Letterman exclaimed, “If you don’t have this album, there’s something wrong with you.” Their first album “Cracked Rear View” was released in 1994, six months before Letterman. The single “Hold My Hand”  earned the band an MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist (and defined the latter part of my junior year in high school), while “Let Her Cry” won the Grammy for Song of the Year  in 1996. At press time, this album ranked 12th among the best selling albums worldwide.

After a “Best Of” album and a few solo affairs, H&TB began their tour last Monday at Nashville’s Starwood Amphitheater. The openers were new country starlet Danielle Peck (who also performed prior to the Riverfront fireworks display Tuesday) and ‘Nawlins band Cowboy Mouth. Here’s a tip: if you’ve seen Cowboy Mouth once, you’ve seen them a thousand times.

H&TB members Darius Rucker, Mark Bryan, Dean Felber and Jim Sonefeld opened with two new songs from “Looking For Lucky” which was released last August. Singer Rucker and guitarist Bryan were like hyperactive children. They grinned ear-to-ear, bounced like pogosticks, ran around barefoot on the carpet covered stage and sang their big hearts out. By the third song the crowd was dancing and singing along to “I Go Blind,”  “Only Wanna Be With You,” “Tucker’s Town,”  “Desert Mountain Showdown” and Tom Waits’ “I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You” complete with songs from the new album in-between fan favorites.

Bryan then gave a shout-out to the 101st Airborne and the crowd went crazy with hollers and applause. Rucker said he loved playing in the South because of a certain country/western song, then began his version of David Allan Coe’s “You Never Even Called Me By My Name.” I wasn’t even aware I knew this song until this exact point in time. I think some country songs are embedded in a Southerner’s brain at a young age and remain there quiet until the opportunity comes for an eruption. This theory also includes many Alabama, Ronnie Milsap and Merle Haggard songs.

Like any respectable act with their popularity hinged on a handful of radio hits, they saved “Hold My Hand” and “Let Her Cry” for the end. Before the flood lights came on and signaled the end of the evening, we were treated with an impressive fireworks display.

If you are a certified long-time H&TB fan, I suggest you get a copy of “Looking for Lucky.” This album was recorded in Nashville with many special guest songwriters and musicians. For the not-so-huge-Hootie-fans, buy their 2003 greatest hits album, download the singles “Get Out Of My Mind” and “One Love”  — then decide if you need more. The new Hootie & The Blowfish doesn’t stray far from the old, but it is one of those dependable background albums for back porches, lakes and driving around with windows down.