“Nobody” can rock it like Robert Randolph and the Family Band did Tuesday night at the Duke Ellington Ballroom.

These chants could be heard echoing throughout the ballroom during the song “Nobody,” despite the lack of people that showed up to hear the band.

The small crowd that did show came to dance, as the extra space provided ample territory for students to shake it to the sounds of the band led by a pedal steel guitar.

The show began with a short performance by the Los Lonely Boys. This “Texican rock ’n’ roll” trio, as described by drummer Ringo Garza, started the crowd with a mash of Southern rock, blues and just a dash of mariachi on top. Their walking bluesy riffs and searing guitar solos got the small crowd ready for the main event.

When the Family Band took the stage, the crowd showed its appreciation for the band whose followers are growing with every show, said CAB Concerts Coordinator John Benson.

“If you’ve seen these guys, then you’re a fan. If you haven’t, you will be,” Benson said.

The band combined tracks from its first album, “Live at the Wetlands,” and its newly released album “Unclassified.”

During the show, the band showed the crowd why it has its name. The band appeared to be loose and seemed to have a tremendous amount of fun on stage.

Robert showed his enthusiasm by jumping and dancing around the stage numerous times, engaging the crowd in different dances including a dance during a song called “The March.”

The bassist, Robert’s cousin Danyl Morgan, and Robert even traded instruments and danced around the stage in an engulfing jam that left the crowd wanting more.

“The show was awesome,” junior management major Andy Mistretta said. “Especially when they switched instruments and had fun.”

The band carried the high energy throughout the show, which could be seen by watching the students twirling around in the open spaces of the half-filled ballroom.

The band finished its set with a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile,” which the crowd belted out with Robert as the show climaxed to a close.

The band wasn’t done there, though, it returned for an encore performance, during which the band called for the crowd to “shake your hips, baby,” which prompted several students to get on stage and shake it with the Family.

It was best summed up by senior music performance major Dan Meehan who said, “NIU needs to support live music, because they missed a real good show.”