Lauderdale, featuring Niles Lee on vocals/guitar, Patrick McDonald on drums, Daniel Stoddard on guitar/steel/vocals, Chris James on bass, and Ben Tanner on keys/vocals), hail from Muscle Shoals, Ala., and brought their interesting take on the alt-country sound to the Independent Saturday Night.

Lauderdale’s sound stresses both lead singer Niles Lee’s scratchy vocals (vaguely reminiscent of Ryan Adams at his most hungover and John Rzeznik from the Goo Goo Dolls at his least sentimental) and Daniel Stoddard’s standout work on the steel guitar. Their set alternated between slower, sadder, down tempo numbers about heartbreak and loss and whiskey, familiar territory for the genre, and more upbeat tunes about big city lights and stars falling on Alabama.

When they rocked out, they rocked out good and proper with Patrick McDonald’s impressive dynamic changes in drumming, and when they slowed it down, they focused on highlighting particular band members talents and sticking to tried and true formulas as opposed to getting self indulgent with the jamming and improvisation.

The hooks are plentiful enough to keep the ear interested without having to analyze too much, and while familiarity is definitely their biggest weakness right now, they have showmanship and their performance is finely tuned, making for an excellent accidental discovery. One minute you’re deep in conversation, and the next you find yourself wondering, “who ARE these guys?” Lauderdale seems to be a promising heir to the Muscle Shoals legacy.

Check them out next time they play Auburn, or visit them on the web at myspace.com/lauderdalemusic.