CARI LEE AND the Saddle-ites know how to put on a great show – they have a combination of talented musicians, heartfelt songwriting, and outstanding vocals. But above all else, they have a genuine love for what they do, and that feeling courses through every note they pick, strum, and sing when they perform their take on country, western swing, and rockabilly.

During the Saddle-ites' gig at a sparsely attended Sunday-evening show at 12 Galaxies (a recent and most welcome addition to the San Francisco music scene), the band played like they were in front of a packed house. They generated an electric energy that – in such an intimate setting – gave the show the feel of a very special private performance, where Cari Lee Merritt joked and bantered with the audience and encouraged people to dance.

Cari Lee Merritt sounded and looked like she had just arrived at the club via a time warp from the 1950s – and she is every bit like the real deal. Her voice and stage presence are up there with the legends of the genre – at one point she set down her guitar and sang "Don't Ever Leave Me Again," a Patsy Cline song that was chillingly close to the original.

As swinging and twirling couples danced near the stage, Cari Lee shared smiles with them and with her bandmates, who exchanged grins with one another during changes or solos in the songs, many of which were off of the Saddle-ites' latest album, The Road Less Traveled, out on El Toro Records. From the hillbilly romp of "Tennessee Avenue" to the sweet and lovelorn "My San Antonio Baby," each tune showcased the band's musical prowess and Cari Lee's singing talents.

Steve Merritt's sometimes dazzling guitar and Arias Beardslee's fiery fiddle soared above the rockin' foundation laid down by Rick Quisol on drums and Brendan Gluek on double bass. The foursome, all wearing matching western suits, provided solid support for Cari Lee, and they were comfortable in the spotlight when it was their turn to shine.