SAN FRANCISCO -- Mark Eitzel's unannounced opening gig for Clodhopper at

Hotel Utah Wednesday turned into an impromptu American Music Club reunion, as fans

and bystanders were wowed with a short set of classic AMC tunes and new songs from

Eitzel's forthcoming solo album.

On a dimly lit stage, Eitzel's down-beat acoustic folk-rock was augmented by former AMC

pedal-steel guitarist Bruce Kaphan's moody underpinnings. AMC's drummer Tim Mooney

and bassist Dan Pearson provided a loose backbeat. The smallish audience, packed under

the Hotel Utah's low ceiling, stood quietly engaged while Eitzel, head back, howled and

emoted.

Only longtime AMC guitarist Vudi was missing, but he arrived at the venue after Eitzel's

set was over.

The AMC reunion was the first time the musicians have played together onstage since the

band broke up in 1995. "It wasn't planned," said Kaphan, although it was made more

likely because Pearson and Mooney are members of Clodhopper.

"It had been talked about," said Kaphan. "Tonight is Danny's [and Tim's] show, and Mark

offered to open for it. I was going to play with Mark, and then Danny sat in, and so did

Tim."

"Mark phoned me with a number of tunes," Kaphan added. "And we didn't play most of

them. So I was prepared for anything, which is typical [of] Mark."

The new Eitzel tunes performed during the set consisted of "The Magical Sweep Of Human

History" and "Highway 40," a couple of songs from his forthcoming record, unofficially

titled I'm Afraid of Rainclouds, I'm Afraid Of Rain, I'm Gonna Live Forever. As

far as old AMC material, the assembled band members played "Apology For An Accident"

from their Mercury album and the fan-favorite ballad "Firefly" from the

California CD.

"Tim Mooney?" asked Eitzel, after essaying a few tunes from his most recent release,

1997's Caught In A Trap And I Can't Back Out Because I Love You Too Much

Baby. "Do you want to play on this one?" Eitzel was referring to "Magical Sweep."

Pearson, who had been sitting on the floor behind Eitzel and Kaphan, strapped on his bass

and joined in. Suddenly, American Music Club were playing to a crowd of 50 or 60

people.

Monday night, during his solo set at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall, Eitzel

announced that he would be taking a year off from playing music. But Kaphan was

dismissive of that claim. "I wouldn't take anything that any artist said without a grain of

salt," Kaphan said. "I do know he intends to work on a record, and he just finished a tour

of the world. I think he really wants to make a killer record, and I can't say as I blame

him."

"I have a studio, and we've done 20 or so demos," Kaphan added. "We've talked about me

being involved in some capacity, and I'm really excited about that possibility."