Perpetual Groove returned to Athens, GA’s Georgia Theatre on Friday night. The sold out show was significant for several reasons: Perpetual Groove was supposed to headline the lauded venue the day it burned down in 2009 and Friday’s show featured the return of keyboardist Matt McDonald. As previously reported, McDonald will join the band for an extended portion of their shows at Atlanta’s Center Stage on December 30 and 31 and officially replace keyboardist John Hruby in 2012.

McDonald took the stage with the current Perpetual Groove lineup at the end of their first set for “Bobblehead Funk.” He then sat in with the band throughout their second set, including first time covers of The Raconteurs’ “Consoler of the Lonely” and Rage Against the Machine’s “Sleep Now in the Fire” as well as Faith No More’s “Epic.” As he mentioned in a recent site interview, McDonald plans to play some guitar when he returns to Perpetual Groove fulltime and he showed off his axe skills on the appropriate Rage cover. Damien Perry, the brother of Perpetual Groove’s Adam Perry who usually joins the group during their Amberland festival, also sat in for a few songs throughout the set.

For their encore, Perpetual Groove invited McDonald back to the stage for a debut cover of Receiving End Of Sirens’ “Epilogue” that featured special guest Karolyn Troupe of Venus is Sinking. He also returned at the end of the show for a fitting take on Talking Heads’ “Naive Melody.” Given the show’s festive feel, Perpetual Groove described the night as “Amberland Indoors.”

Here’s a look at Friday’s setlist

I. Devil May Care, hRobot Waltz, Holy Ship, Cairo w/ Cave Lyrics, Lemurs, Bobblehead Funk*

II: Speed Queen**>Consoler of the Lonely***>Epic^>Speed Queen**, Three Weeks>Mr. Transistor>Sweet Oblivious Antidote*>Mr. Transistor, TTFPJ*, Sleep Now in the Fire^^ …
E: Epilogue^^^, Teakwood Betz, Naive Melody%

(*)Matt McDonald on Keys
(**)With Damien Perry on Guitar, with Matt McDonald
(***) The Raconteurs Cover, 1st Time Played, with Damien Perry, with Matt McDonald
(^) Faith No More Cover, with Damien Perry, with Matt McDonald
(^^) Rage Against The Machine, 1st Time Played, with Brock on Vox, Hruby on Keys, Matt on Guitar
(^^^) Receiving End Of Sirens cover, 1st Time Played, with Karolyn Troupe of Venus is Sinking, Brock, Matt and John on Vox
(%)Talking Heads Cover