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."