It was Pepsi Jammin' on Main: The Next Generation, as Cincinnati's biggest all-music street festival returned Friday night after last year's post-riot cancellation.

        A small group of sign-carrying boycott supporters at the south Main Street entrance couldn't keep the crowds — or hip-hop headliner the Roots — away from the first night of Jammin'.

        It was a younger crowd that came for younger acts. Of the first night's lineup, only Greg Schaber & High Street were old-time Jammers, hearkening back to the event's blues-rocking roots.

        But the high school and college kids came out for a bumper crop of young local bands (and national headliners the Roots and singer/songwriter John Mayer). The Ryan Adcock Band started the show with a 45-minute set of tight originals. A few minutes later, the Watusi Tribe opened the largest of the four stages, the Speedway Stage, with a rowdy hip-hop party in which the local nine-member group chanted and rapped together like a chaotic choir.

        The red-hot StarDevils were a standout, as the quartet proved itself to be the best-ever local rockabilly revival outfit.

        There was also some '60s garage-band flavor in Thee Shams' Riverbend Stage performance, while Opi Yum Yum opened the Kroger Stage on Central Parkway with a dark, '80s-tinged show. Local modern pop-rockers Promenade and Lazy Rocket providing energetic shows.

        The Harlem Gospel Choir, which Wednesday canceled its performance in support of the boycott, would have added a different dimension to the evening, but there was plenty of diversity with sounds ranging from rap to bluegrass.

        The night's biggest draw was Mr. Mayer, whose Kroger Stage performance had a crowd backed down Central Parkway almost to the Roots audience. Jammin' spokeswoman Morrella Raleigh estimated Friday's attendance at 25,000.

        Tonight's Jammin' lineup, anchored by '80s arena kings Journey, is expected to bring in an older crowd.

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