. . . and I have to say it was a pretty decent show. Dude came out in a gold-lame windbreaker and turned out a two-hour set that was equally extravagant. He launched into many of his favorites ("Charlene," "Comin' from Where I'm From") as well as a couple of tracks from his upcoming album, "The Point of It All" (the title track is the best). He truly had the packed crowd riveted when he did an apropos cover of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come," which had him seguing into "Do You Feel Me," the best song of last year that came from a movie and didn't get nominated for an Oscar.

Yes, Mr. Hamilton turned it out here in Raleigh. For more accounts of Hamilton turning it out in other cities, go to his tour blog.