The loud and enthusiastic audience reaction to Kevin Morby’s performance in Brooklyn should be viewed as validation of what’s been a hard-working sixteen month stretch of near-steady road-testing of two albums worth of material.

Baby’s All Right was packed late Sunday night and it wasn’t one of those crowds that was there to see somebody else and then go home. They were there primarily to see Morby. They knew the songs and voiced hearty approval when they began and ended. Morby’s confidence has risen for sure (as exhibited during his gyrations on the Amen jam). His hour-long set was a 50-50 mix of the two records. The addition of Meg Duffy alternating between guitar and bass makes this trio the far-and-away best incarnation of Morby’s stage show. Duffy blends in nicely. She adds much to the sound – especially on Parade when she bop-bopped on that vocal harmony – making that special number even more spectacular.

Duffy debuted in Morby’s band two months ago when she played with him at a Time Out NY session and then a gig at Bowery Ballroom. She was with Morby and drummer Justin Sullivan for both the west coast and east coast legs of the tour that ended Sunday night. Duffy is the primary force in the upstate band Hand Habits. She told her fans via Facebook that the chance to play in Morby’s band is s “literal dream come true” and that Hand Habits would go on hiatus for a while.

Morby, Sullivan (and presumably Duffy) head to Europe for a month’s worth of dates covering the second half of May and first half of June. The cornerstone of that tour is a coveted slot at the Primavera Sound Festival in Barcelona. The timing of Morby’s spring Euro-tour also guarantees he will miss Woodsist Fest for the first time in its history.

Dressed in all-white western wear, Morby did the main set’s final two numbers by himself. It appeared the show was over at that point but a ham-handed transition to an encore came when Morby, Duffy and Sullivan burst back into the room. “Is it alright if we do one more?” Morby asked. A few people yelled out for Parade and that’s what we got. Not sure if this was the plan all along but it was a really great rendition of that song.

Midway through the set, a fan complained to Morby about a pink stage light that was shining into the eyes of some audience members. It was quickly dimmed. Later Morby made a short merchandise pitch and quipped that fans could pay to smell his shirt (which he had worn several days in succession). The joke fell flat. “That didn’t go over too well. Carry on,” he said.

Admission (with the Ticketfly “service fee“) was $15.45. Pint glasses of Pacifico were seven bucks.

Among the former Morby bandmates in attendance were Brian Schleyer, Jarvis Taveniere, Jeremy Earl and John Andrews.

Here’s the setlist:

Baby’s All Right – Brooklyn, NY – March 15, 2015

running time: 62 minutes

The Dead They Don’t Come Back
Reign
Sucker in the Void
Harlem River (introduced by Morby as a “Song for New York”)
All of My Life
Motors Runnin
Amen
Miles, Miles, Miles
(Justin and Meg step out through side door to backstage)
My Name
If You Leave and If You Marry
(Kevin steps off and then back on with Justin and Meg)
Parade