It's a far cry from playing in front of 15,000 screaming fans, but yesterday Hootie & the Blowfish thrilled their Bermuda fans with an impromptu jam at a local pub.

The world famous rock and roll band that swept from a college circuit background in South Carolina to dizzying heights of fame in less than a year, returned to Bermuda this week.

The four-man band say they are revisiting their roots by scaling down from concerts averaging 15,000 to the friendly, informality of playing in bars. The band visited Bermuda for the first time in May but is already back to take time out and practise songs to be recorded next month in San Francisco for the band's second album. Their first album was released last summer and shot up to the top of the charts.

Band members Jim (Soni) Sonefeld, Dean Felber, Mark Bryan and Darius Rucker are leaving on Thursday after just over a week on the Island. They say Bermuda is a refreshing stop after the hectic pace of touring and the strain of being instantly recognisable.

"It has turned out to be a good situation,'' says drummer Soni. "It's not overwhelming here. It is very comfortable for us.'' The band played last night at an informal jam session at the Robin Hood Pub where they performed alongside other local groups. Although the bar was packed with Hootie fans, the band members moved easily among the Bermudian audience, recognising and greeting acquaintances from their last visit.

"We aren't into the things people think. We like our families, our girlfriends, our dogs,'' laughs Soni.

Hootie & The Blowfish