Animal Empty opened the raucous evening at the Firebird with a gothic set of tunes helmed by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, Ali Ruby. The four-piece band slid from heavy post-rock verses to jams that featured a light Latin influence, which Ruby accentuated with nice trumpet work.

Just like the storms that ended shortly before the show, there was plenty of rumbling filling the air of the Firebird Friday night as An Under Cover Weekend kicked off its sixth year.

Nicole Atkins brought her bigger than life voice and easy to move to rock to the crowd at the Firebird who allowed themselves the little pleasure of more than a few gyrations.