Playing his last of four shows with Booker T. & the MGs at the Dakota on Wednesday night -- which was their third stand there in four years -- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitar legend Steve Cropper made it clear he and the boys will be happy returning to the high-end Minneapolis supper club sooner than later. "It's our favorite room," he said (not "one of our favorite," mind you). He also raved, "They really take good care of us." Proof of this came mid-show when Cropper was out front jamming, and a wine bottle mysteriously appeared through the curtain at the back of the stage to top off the glass of red wine that was sitting up on Cropper's amp head, then vanished just as quick after a healthy pour.

Cropper, Booker T. Jones, Donald "Duck" Dunn and Steve Potts -- who don't tour a whole lot -- treated the Dakota well, too. This was the best of the band's three shows I've seen there. The familiarity with the venue seemed to encourage them to stretch out in versions of "Hang 'Em High," "Hip-Hug-Her" and, best of all, "Time Is Tight." As Jon Bream noted after the opening set Tuesday, a crescendoing version of Gershwin's "Summertime" has become their central showpiece, while "Green Onions" was played straight and to-the-point. The set took more of a showy turn when Eddie Floyd came out. He wasn't in as strong a voice as he was two years ago with the band, but "Knock on Wood," "Soul Man" and "634-5789" -- all Stax staples the MGs wrote and played on -- still roused the crowd. An Otis song or two would've been nice, but there's always next time.