Bob Seger took those old records off the shelf Friday night at EnergySolutions Arena, but he certainly didn’t have to enjoy them by himself as a near-capacity crowd reveled in his signature brand of old time rock ‘n’ roll.

Backed by the 14-member Silver Bullet Band, Seger hit most of the major high points of his lengthy career, from his first hit through a trio of songs from his current album, “Ride Out,” as fans reminisced about the days of old by dancing in the aisles and enthusiastically shouting choruses back to the venerable rocker when prompted.

Taking the stage to the wink-and-a-nod intro music of John Fogerty’s “The Old Man Down the Road,” Seger, 69, captivated the crowd throughout his 1-hour, 50-minute performance. Dressed simply in blue jeans, a black button-up shirt and a headband, Seger was energetic — frequently moving around and pumping his arms in the air to accentuate the beat of the drums — yet also retrospective when he needed to be, such as the half-dozen songs he commanded center stage simply sitting on a stool playing acoustic guitar.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been here,” Seger said after the show-opening “Roll Me Away.” “It’s good to be back.”

Seger wasn’t exaggerating — his last Salt Lake appearance was in 1980. What’s 35 years between friends?

The show was expertly paced as Seger and Co. worked the crowd into a frenzy one minute with fiery renditions of “Old Time Rock & Roll” and “Her Strut” only to balance things out with the beautiful simplicity of a ballad like “Mainstreet” and “Like a Rock.”

The Silver Bullet Band — with its full complement of backup singers and horn section — was also a sight and sound to behold in a live setting. While lead guitarist Rob McNelley and sax player Alto Reed were prominently showcased throughout the night, it seems like most members enjoyed time in the spotlight at one point or another. It took Seger several minutes late in the show just to introduce everyone.

The Silver Bullet Band also proved versatile and multifaceted, with many members playing more than one instrument and trading off as needed for each particular song. Between songs, roadies often swarmed the stage like a flash mob as everyone changed instruments.

Of the new material, “Hey Gypsy” was a standout. Seger introduced the song by saying he wrote it with guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan in mind. Seger recalled attending an Eric Clapton concert where Vaughan was called out to join the famous guitarist on stage.

“They were trading guitar solos back and forth,” Seger said, “and I’ve got to tell you people, it was the greatest guitar hero moment I’ve ever witnessed.”

Vaughan died shortly after that show in a helicopter crash.

Seger sat down at the grand piano for two songs near the end of the main set — “We’ve Got Tonight” and “Turn the Page.”

“I like to play this song every night because it’s my mother’s favorite song that I ever wrote,” he said before “We’ve Got Tonight.” “That’s reason enough for me to play it every night.”

It’s hard to imagine a more signature sax moment at the beginning of a rock anthem, but Reed’s immediately recognizable segment at the beginning of “Turn the Page” received raucous applause. The slow-burning ode to a day in the life of a rock band on the road was a definite standout on this night.

Seger, whose signature rasp was in fine voice all night, doubled down on encores, playing two songs each in a pair of reappearances. The four songs featured some of his biggest hits, including “Against the Wind,” “Hollywood Nights,” “Night Moves” and “Rock and Roll Never Forgets.”

Seger may be pushing 70 and sporting gray hair, but if his Salt Lake City performance proved one thing, it’s that his kind of music still soothes the soul.

Seger’s effort may have been a reaffirmation — but opening act Clare Dunn’s coming-out party was a flat-out revelation. Despite being a complete unknown entity to probably 99 percent of the audience — myself included — Dunn took the stage like she owned it, busting out eight songs in a high-spirited 35-minute set.

Dunn’s bio may list her as a country artist, but what came blasting out of her guitar Friday night was still rock and roll to me. Yes, her guitar. It was immediately apparent that Dunn isn’t the kind of front woman who just straps on a guitar for window dressing — no, she wears her Fender Telecaster like an appendage and plays it like a rock star, firing off riffs and blistering guitar solos like nobody’s business.

Her enthusiasm and talent made me wonder if this little old farmgirl from eastern Colorado — as she described herself — somehow had experienced a “Freaky Friday” transformation with Bonnie Raitt. She was that good.

Dunn previously had released a few singles independently, but recently signed a record deal, she noted, in large part because of the exposure she’s receiving on the Seger tour. It’s easy to see why.

In addition to her own songs, including standouts “Misery,” “Get Out” and “Cowboy Side of You,” Dunn and her three-piece backing band also delivered inspiring covers of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” and Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll.”

That latter song not only closed her set, but brought the house down with a standing ovation. I can now say that I have seen that song performed live by the likes of Page and Plant, Van Halen and Heart, among others. And believe me when I say, Dunn’s version did not suffer by comparison.

It’s a rare occurrence these days when an opening act can come so completely out of nowhere and yet so convincingly win an audience over. Well played, Dunn. Well played.

BOB SEGER AND THE SILVER BULLET BAND

EnergySolutions Arena

March 13, 2015

Roll Me Away

Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You

The Fire Down Below

It’s Your World

Mainstreet

Old Time Rock & Roll

The Fireman’s Talkin’

Come to Poppa

Her Strut

Like a Rock

Travelin’ Man

Beautiful Loser

California Stars

Hey Gypsy

We’ve Got Tonight

Turn the Page

Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man

Encore

Against the Wind

Hollywood Nights

Encore II

Night Moves

Rock & Roll Never Forgets

Performance time: 1 hour, 50 minutes