In some circles, “jam” can seem like a dirty word that conjures up visions of excessive noodling, overindulgent solos and the accompanying aging hippies that have been following every note for twenty years, man. The more impressive moments of such extended instrumentalism and improvisation are those moments when both the virtuosity of the musicians and their inter-band chemistry reaches electric levels. As such, White Denim proved that there is still magic in jamming, especially when it doesn’t overstay its welcome.

The four piece from Austin came on quietly, picking up their instruments and playing without fanfare, initially making it difficult for the audience to know whether the sound check had indeed finished. But once they had moved into the rousing “Say What You Want,” from their underappreciated 2009 album Fits, and singer James Petralli opened up his lungs, it was clear that the show was underway.

The most staggering thing about White Denim’s set was their endurance. They bled one song into another, dispensing with introductions and playing for twenty straight minutes at a time before stopping for a breather. What’s more: many of those minutes were extraordinarily lively. Bassist Steve Trebecki laid down funky, complex bass lines that Petralli and guitarist Austin Jenkins swirled around with the psychedelic guitar riffs that recalled The Who as much as Lynyrd Skynyrd. It was a little like watching My Morning Jacket stripped of their dramatic flair and ballads, but adding some punk energy into the fray.

Although White Denim is touring off of last month’s D, their three releases in just as many years meant that they had more than enough material to fill a 75-minute set, and therefore jumped around between albums. In fact, one of the show’s most intense moments came from a bonus track. Every member of the band shouted along to “Shake Shake Shake”, regardless of whether they were miked. Yet, the moment during which they showed the most dimension was during “Keys”, an audience request that finished their first set. The slow burner from D showcased Petralli’s vocal similrity to Jeff Buckley before building to a rollicking conclusion. “I feel like we just got up here!” quipped Petralli before starting “Keys” — therein lies what White Denim does better than their predecessors: they leave the audience wanting more.