CALGARY -- To compare the audience at last night's Matthew Good Band concert to packed sardines would be grossly inaccurate.

 Sardines have more room.

 Thousands of people crammed into the space surrounding the Stampede's Coca-Cola Stage to watch one of Canada's most popular rock acts.

 It was by far the largest crowd for any Coca-Cola Stage act in recent memory.

 Nearby flower beds were completely trampled because people had nowhere else to go.

 And when the band hit the stage at 8:30 p.m. -- with members of the crowd thrusting their hands in the air, flashing the three-fingered rock-on salute -- it was mosh-pit mayhem.

 The Matthew Good Band seemed to feed off the energy.

 Clad in a red white-fringed cowboy shirt and matching cowboy hat -- which he quickly discarded -- Good looked more relaxed than he has during some of his prior Calgary appearances.

 The band launched into Giant from their third and latest record, Beautiful Midnight. It was an impressive display of orchestrated intensity.

 But they didn't hit their stride until Hello Time Bomb a few songs later.

 It was also after this song that Good shed the cowboy shirt because it was "just too hot."

 The band's set was nicely divided between Good's faster material -- well, in his case, slightly faster than mid-tempo -- and his heartfelt ballads, including Apparitions.

 Good's hypnotic, tremulous vocals were in fine form, especially during a revved-up version of Load Me Up.

 Good has said in interviews that bands should set things on fire while onstage.

 Well, he stood behind his belief, treating the crowd to what he called "Survivor Burn."

 He tied a stuffed toy pig on a stick, ignited it with a lighter and used it as a torch.

 That's showbiz!