music

For once, the family-oriented vibe inside the Basilica of St. Mary church stretched outside to the stages at the 15th annual Basilica Block Party.

Opening night of the three-day festival featured a warm comeback by Twin Cities alt-country pioneers the Jayhawks, which came off like a true family reunion. Meanwhile, famous -- and infamously feudal -- rock siblings Chris and Rich Robinson found harmony again playing with their throwback band the Black Crowes.

A fundraiser and open-house event for the historic Basilica, this year's party started with an average-sized crowd of about 10,000 fans. The audience skewed a little older than usual, though.

"They geared the bands more our way this year," quipped Rick Graham, 45, of Minnetonka, attending the party for the first time.

Graham and his friend Andrew Kasid were unhappy the Crowes and the 'Hawks performed on separate stages at nearly the same time. Said Kasid, "We're going to split up and run between them."

It looked like more fans went for the rarer set: It was the Jayhawks first local show with original co-vocalist Mark Olson since the year the Basilica party debuted, 1995. They stuck to songs from that era, starting with "Wichita" and "I'd Run Away" and peaking with the radio hit "Blue."

Olson also made a shout out to "the good folks" who run the building as the band raised the old gospel nugget "Up Above My Head." That good gesture might have offset the head-turning F-bomb that opening singer Serena Ryder unthinkingly dropped an hour earlier.

The Basilica party continues today at 5 p.m. with performances by Twin Cities-rooted, New York-based barroom-rock heroes the Hold Steady, local indie favorites Tapes 'N Tapes and a headlining set by "Mr. Jones" hitmakers Counting Crows. Tickets should be available at the gates for $40.

A free, family-friendly Basilica party also takes place Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the cathedral choir, Irish folk band the Sweet Colleens, the Minnesota Police Pipe Band, the Oakee Dokee Brothers and more.

Chris Riemenschneider • 612-673-4658