Any performer will admit that the audience makes the show. A quiet and reserved audience will not see the same production as will a pumped, energetic and vocal crowd.

Whether it’s theatre, concert, dance or sports, excitement from sidelines, front row or balcony seats can certainly transfer to the performers.

In that vein, the band Wet Willie recorded their first live album since 1977 at an outdoor park in Woodstock, Ga. That labor of love will be released to Baldwin residents during a show at Moe’s Original Bar B Que in Daphne on Aug. 11. Music Matters Entertainment and Moe's Original Bar B Que will bring "Miles of Smiles" and the seven members of Wet Willie out to play at 9 p.m. at 6423 Bayfront Park Drive.

One of the founding members, Jack Hall, the group’s bassist and harmony vocalist, shared a behind-the-band drive to convey the beauty of live music.

“The sound is 'live', with the ambiance of an outdoor show, warts and all—like occasional feedback, etc.,” he began.

“However, we're all pleased with the great final mixes we got—you can hear every voice and instrument clearly.”

“We've wanted to record another live album since we got back together in the '90s—just haven't had the planets align—and everyone's schedules to align—to make it happen till now.

“When we met Joe Bell, with Hittin' the Note Records in Atlanta last year, we knew we had the right person and label to do another live recording.”

Terry Reeves, president of Music Matters Entertainment, explained the sound of the new album.

“Recorded in August 2011, this album is full of high-octane music and captures the essence of a Wet Willie performance,” she said. “The family-oriented group now consists of Jimmy on lead vocals, sax and harp, brother Jack on bass and sister Donna Hall-Foster on vocals,” Reeves said.

Joining them are long-time guitarist and vocalist Ric Seymour, with T.K. Lively on drums, Ricky Chancey on guitar and keyboardist Bobby Mobley.

“Miles of Smiles” includes some Wet Willie favorites, including “Street Corner Serenade,” “Grits Ain't Groceries,” “Country Side of Life,” “Easy Street,” “Lucy Was in Trouble” and “Keep on Smiling,” among other Wet Willie favorites and a few songs from Jimmy Hall's solo career.

Jack divulged where the sounds came from and what they mean.

“There are several songs on ‘Miles of Smiles’ that haven't been on previous Wet Willie albums—my favorite, though, is probably 'Same Ole Moon,' a beautiful ballad that Jimmy wrote, recalling advice our dad gave when we moved away from home for the first time, to start our recording career in Macon, Ga,” he recalled.

The band performed "Same Ole Moon" song at their father's funeral a few years ago.

“Music has been an integral part of our family since we were young kids—Mama Hall has played the piano and sang in her church choir since she was young, and she's been our main musical inspiration all along,” Jack said.

He remembers his and his brothers’ early love of music and how it has shaped their lives.

“Jimmy and I both started playing in junior high band, on sax and clarinet, respectively—so we've played music for close to 50 years now,” his words resounded like distant notes. “As we got to high school and then college in Mobile, Jimmy learned the harmonica, though his voice is his main instrument; I focused on the bass after a concert in Mobile by Chuck Berry, where I could really hear what his bassist was doing.”

“I had taught myself some guitar previously, but switched to bass when we needed a bass player in the first little rock band we put together," he said. “I really connect with the bass because, with the drums, the bass forms the foundation the rest of the instruments build on—there's a song with a refrain that says, ‘Their eyes might be on the star, but their butts are shakin' to the bass guitar.’"

From the long ago strings of the bass guitar to their newest live CD, audience members at the band’s release party in Daphne can expect toe tapping entertainment, Reeves said.

“Wet Willie released ‘Miles of Smiles,’ the new, live album, on Hittin' the Note Records, in January 2012—their first live album since 1977's ‘Left Coast Live,’” she explained. “Although they usually are associated with the Southern rock scene in Macon, Ga during the '70s, Wet Willie was always about R&B, funk, soul and greasy blues."

They were a band best experienced in a live setting: front man Jimmy Hall was who Mick Jagger really wanted to be, and the group played with a fire that could burn down any venue.

“After a string of successful albums, Wet Willie called it quits in 1982, but now, they are back and better than ever, as ‘Miles of Smiles’ proves,” Reeves said.

Jack said people can expect to have big fun at a Wet Willie show in the south Alabama area—they'll hear their favorite Wet Willie tunes, plus some songs they might not have heard before. The band plans to perform the entire 'Miles of Smiles' CD, plus other surprises.

Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 day of show, and are available at Moe's Original Bar B Que in Daphne from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, by calling 625-7427 or by visiting etix.com.