There were bigger shows than Local Natives at the Big Gig on Friday night. (At one point, a band member even told the enthusiastic, well-sized gathering at the Generac Power Stage, "I'm just glad you like us more than Maroon 5.") And there were louder shows than Local Natives last night – at least judging by the intrusive musical roar occasionally erupting from the Miller Lite Oasis stage next door. (Country up-and-comer Paul Cauthen apparently throws one heck of a party.) But I don't think you could've found a better show on the grounds last night than the one from the California-born indie rock mainstays, gifting the Generac crowd an extended 90-minute session of dreamy layered harmonies and cathartic rock crescendos. 

Here are four reasons why last night's best Big Gig gig was found at the Generac Power Stage – and why you'll want to find yourself at their next Milwaukee gig, too:

1. Heavenly harmonies 

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Coming into Friday night's show, I was excited – but also admittedly a little concerned that Local Natives' often-gentler dream rock and delicately harmonious sound might get swallowed up by the raucous surroundings of Summerfest. Even with Cauthen's cocaine country loudly dancing next door, though, fans had nothing to fear at the Big Gig as the Orange County band's luscious harmonies and majestically layered sound not only survived but thrived last night – whether they came in the strutty "Coins," the gloriously smooth flows and rocking ebbs of "Past Lives" or the wonderful stompy march of "Airplanes." Song after song, Local Natives rocked with wall after wall of powerful festival-ready energetic sound that washed over the crowd and away any distractions – but all without losing the lush, gorgeously shimmering sound that has hypnotized fans since "Gorilla Manor."

2. Kelcey Ayer's voice, one more time 

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The harmonious, CSNY-inspired vocal interplay between lead singer/guitarist Taylor Rice and fellow singer/keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Kelcey Ayer always results in some out-of-body musical moments. That's particular the case, though, when Ayer's voice really gets to take over and take off in a song, both soaring and searing during "Past Lives," "Wide Eyes," "When Am I Gonna Lose You" or especially the final breakdown in "Airplanes," his sensitive soulful howl pulling your heart to the song's finish line.

His voice sounds great on the records and just as good live with the rest of his Local Natives bandmates. That's something, unfortunately, you might just have to trust me on from here on out, as Ayer announced earlier this spring that he's (amicably) leaving the band at the end of this current tour to fully pursue his own interests – making last night's Summerfest set even more of a can't-miss, giving Milwaukee fans potentially one last chance to hear Local Natives in their current classic form.

3. A "Sun Hands" adventure 

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After keeping the crowd interactions sincere but pretty short throughout most of the night, Rice really took the time to get personal with the crowd late in the set – up close and personal, turning one of the big finale numbers into an adventure.

Near the end of their show, Local Natives saddled up for the sunny and galloping "Sun Hands" – but during the song's dramatic building bridge, the lead singer casually bounced off the stage, ventured through the front-row pit area and down the middle aisle of the crowd for some greetings and high-fives. That was by no means the end of his adventure, though, as he then took a hard turn and bounded over the barricade into the actual audience, journeying deep out of sight amongst the thrilled fans on the bleachers to say hey and sing a little of the bridge before scampering back on stage for the song's big, vigorous, rocking finale. 

"Sun Hands" is always a favorite, but with Rice adding a little in-person electricity to the number, it became an even bigger highlight. Now if only the sun itself could take some hints and stop underwhelming this Summerfest ... 

4. A genuine encore 

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I've made it clear over the years: I hate encores. At least I hate the broken modern version of them, where everyone has to pretend the band's not going to play the rest of their set – including sometimes their biggest songs – without the audience paying some silly applause tax to bring them back out. It's all so cumbersome and contrived.

But when you get a real encore? A genuine moment where the mutual musical love between the crowd and the band inspires a truly unexpected bonus final bow? That's the stuff musical memories are made of – and that's what happened Friday night at Local Natives. 

After bursting through their established final two songs – the soaring combo of "Who Knows Who Cares" and When Am I Gonna Lose You" – the band left the Generac Power Stage crowd on a seemingly satisfying note. So satisfying, though, that the audience stuck around and kept cheering through the house lights, imploring for one more. And after a quick marveled peek out the back curtain, Rice and company responded in kind with a true bonus track for the Brew City faithful: "World News," a fairly deep cut off "Gorilla Manor" that, according to Setlist.fm, the band's rarely played live over the past decade (and, according to the actual paper setlist, wasn't on Friday night's docket).

Even though it apparently hasn't been played live since last summer, the song didn't have any rust on it – serving as the perfect unexpectedly special conclusion to a special show for fans.