Do You Like 'Cox'?

The packed, boisterous crowd inside Stubb's Friday night (Dec. 7) was appeased as a super-charged Dewey Cox (a.k.a. John C. Reilly) burst on stage to the intro by his band, the Hard Walkers, and darted around kissing swooning girls hard on the lips. This free show, comprised of mostly concertgoers who attended the screening for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story earlier that day, was one of seven dates on the Cox Across America Tour, a mini-jaunt supporting the forthcoming Judd Apatow-produced comedy. And as many people remarked afterward, it was one of the greatest rock shows they had seen in a long time.

Cox's brash persona won everyone over with wild dancing and obnoxiously charming comic banter between high-intensity rock songs. He'd yell 'Fuck Nashville!' or 'Do you like Cox?' before pulling a handkerchief from his crotch and tossing it to a girl. Then, he jumped into a song in the style of Buddy Holly, Johnny Cash or Roy Orbison while his impeccable backing band kept up with plenty of stomp and twang. He played "A Life Without You (Is No Life at All)" in all its Orbison-esque glory as he raised his hand in a grand gesture to the balcony and hit a few impressive high notes. Cox and crew also fired off a number of stylized covers like a jittery version of J.J. Cale's "Cocaine" and Amy Winehouse's "Rehab."

Cox closed out the set with the title track of the film, "Walk Hard," with a deep-throated, Cash-style swagger as he strummed along on his signature acoustic guitar. After a brief encore, he leaped off the stage and through the crowd, leaving only a shallow puddle of perspiration and a fallen microphone on the stage.

Now Watch This: John C. Reilly chats 'Dewey Cox, plus live footage!

We asked: Do you think John C. Reilly has what it takes to grab a band and start touring as a full-time musician?