You can take the rock star out of Raleigh but not Raleigh out of the rock star, and here we have proof: That's old Raleigh hand Robert Kearns onstage at Walnut Creek Friday night, rocking some Raleigh nightspot apparel.

The former Cry of Love/Sidewinder/Bottle Rockets bassist was playing with Lynyrd Skynyrd, which he joined earlier this year to replace the ailing Ean Evans (who died of cancer in May), on the Skynyrd/Kid Rock bill. Mindful of the promotional opportunities, Slim's Downtown Distillery proprietor Van Alston hooked Kearns up with a T-shirt -- and there it is.

When Lynyrd Skynyrd plays Raleigh this summer, there will be a familiar face in the band. Robert Kearns, veteran of long-ago Triangle bands including Cry of Love and Sidewinder, will be playing bass -- standing in for the ailing Ean Evans. Kearns had the inside track on getting the gig due to personal connections. Skynyrd's Ricky Medlocke is a longtime friend, going back to Medlocke's days fronting Blackfoot.

"In 1986, Sidewinder opened for Blackfoot in Myrtle Beach, and I've still got a photo of him and me from then," Kearns says. "When I showed that to him, he about hit the floor. Then Cry of Love opened for Blackfoot in 1993. He told me he'd been a big fan of Cry of Love, used to ride around listening to that first album all the time. We fell out of touch, but he asked around to find me. I did the audition and then a call-back, and they told me I'm on board until Ean is well enough to come back."

Skynyrd's Raleigh date is July 24 at Das Shed, on a bill with Kid Rock.

(Thanks, Bob.)

UPDATE: Looks like this might turn out to be more of a long-term gig for Kearns.