Concert burnout can happen to the most music-crazy person after a while. That's when all the annoying factors of watching live music begin to boil over: the late start times; the guys more interested in balancing a pitcher of beer and screaming to their friends than in watching the show; the kids taking prime real estate at the front of the stage so they can body-slam with their back to the musicians.

Sometimes you just want to sit back and enjoy. That rare opportunity was presented Tuesday night by the award-winning Christian rock band Jars of Clay at Shea's Performing Arts Center.

On stage at a wonderfully early 8:30 pm, Jars of Clay enthralled its enthusiastic, screaming young audience with more than 20 passionate, acoustic- based songs that could rock out with fervor on demand. The crowd was having a blast hanging on to every word, watching every move and clapping along with the beat.

Jars of Clay is classified under Christian rock, but the band's sound carries a wide appeal for anyone interested in savoring a delightful taste of pure pop music. You don't need to hang on to the meaning behind songs detailing faith, love, and helping others (subjects also broached in "mainstream rock") to enjoy this music, but those thoughts will leave an impression.

Opening with "Weighed Down", one of the many songs performed off the recently released gold album "Much Afraid," the band quickly set a lovely, acoustic-based tone for the evening. The ethereal number, reminiscent of music from London's Manchester scene, utilized the lullaby-like vocals of Dan Haseltine perfectly. His all-American good looks had the girls squealing, and the mesmerizing tone of his soft voice made even the goofy "Good Coffee Strong Coffee" enchanting. Haseltine, guitarist Steve Mason and Rochester natives, Charlie Lowell and Matt Odmark brought along a couple of other musicians to flesh out the sound. They created lovely, delicate tapestries on "Overjoyed" that were carried through the sad urgings of "Tea and Sympathy" and the destructive nature of pride in "Worlds Apart."

The songs often kicked in with some of the catchiest hooks around on numbers including the recent single "Crazy Times" and the outstanding "Truce." The music was upbeat and rollicking on "Like a Child" and "Boy on a String," both off the band's self-title d double platinum debut. And there was a lighthearted feeling on a couple of appropriately titled cover songs, "God Only Knows" by the Beach Boys and Badfinger's "No Matter

What."

The group rocked hard on "Rose Colored Stained Glass Windows," from a 1996 Petra tribute album, and the new single "Five Candles," before letting loose on the No. 1 crossover hit "Flood."

Opening the show was the five-piece Nashville band Plumb, fronted by lovely vocalist Tiffany Arbuckle, whose smoky voice added character to the group's rock sound. The band had the crowd on its feet and clapping - a rare feat for an opening group.