The first time Mayer Hawthorne and his backing band, The County, rode in to town a year ago, there was some buzz surrounding him. Checking in on the Ann Arbor, Michigan native Thursday night at the Black Cat, it was obvious the buzz had been amplified a few notches: there was a larger venue, a larger crowd and a series of sponsored multimedia displays that reminded you who you were here to see.

What can be attributed to the raised profile? There’s been a definite fondness for early Motown-sounding recording artists in certain circles over the past few years (e.g. Amy Winehouse and Quadron) as well as celebrity endorsements. But going back to the sound, Hawthorne and his band do a good job replicating the upbeat tone found on many of the tracks blessed by The Funk Brothers. Thrown into this mix is a fondness for Philly slow jams by the likes of Blue Magic, with a touch of the Detroit area hip-hop sensibilities Hawthorne was exposed to, namely, the late J-Dilla. Lest we forget, numerous miles logged touring the globe have helped Hawthorne hone an energetic live performance in which he from time to time plays keys or the tambourine, in addition to singing.