It was a Rhett Miller love-in at Summerfest tonight, with the Old 97's taking the stage just minutes after 8 p.m. for a totally immersed crowd.

For the first few songs I wasn't sure I would actually be able to see much of Miller and the rest of the band from where I was standing -- I basically had a view of sweaty backs and shaved necks -- but it was still a rush to hear the opening tune "Won't be home tonight" which triggered a non-stop dance explosion.

Before long, I found my way closer to the stage and, eventually, could see the alt-country band from Dallas in full swing. Unfortunately, I didn't see the infamous Miller "kick" or his "windmill" guitar strumming that a friend told me are signature stage movements for him. (However, Miller promised to return to Milwaukee next year, so perhaps I'll still get my chance.)

All the same, Miller looked fresh faced and boyish -- tonight he wore a green bandana as a headband and a black-and-white striped shirt -- but he sounded more mature than he appeared. The Old 97's are sometimes lumped with alt country bands like the Jayhawks because both bands emerged in the genre around the same time, but their driving songs and intense energy were more reminiscent of a Replacements' show. Even Miller's voice sounded like The Replacements' frontman Paul Westerberg at times.

The band ripped through a myriad of fan faves, including "West Texas Teardrops," "Jagged,"  "Barrier Reef," "Murder or a Heart Attack" and "Time Bomb." Although the sound was inconsistent for the first few songs, it improved early in the set.

The Old 97's formed in 1993 and took their name from a Johnny Cash song, "Wreck of the Old 97." The band has eight records and one greatest hits compilation, and Miller -- who also has solo CDs -- mentioned during the concert that the band is releasing another CD next year.

Despite predictions of commercial success from the press, the band was dropped from Elektra after the merger of Time Warner and America Online. But this meant nothing to the fans stuffed inside the Potowatomi stage on Saturday night, dancing, singing and screaming for an encore that never came.

It was one of those shows that reminded us why we love Summerfest -- great music and truly enthused fans on an evening that could have been sweltering, but included a refreshing lake breeze that occasionally blew through the arena, cooling down the fiery performance for a few seconds.