Some people mocked Christopher Owens’ new album cover when it was revealed. But why was that? It’s an assortment of people of different genders, races, and ages standing and smiling. It’s a cover with the same earnestness and sincerity that Owens was once praised for in his first band Girls. Those people in the A New Testament artwork are the very crew who crafted the new album, and many of them helped on the music that made Father, Son, Holy Ghost our favorite album of 2011. On the Sutro stage Saturday afternoon, we heard “My Ma,” a volcanic rendition of “Forgiveness,” and a full band “Jamie Marie” that began with Owens alone on stage. When he finished playing “Stephen” the deeply moving eulogy to his brother, Owens wiped a few tears from his eyes and thanked the audience for being there. He’s still one of the greatest songwriters of this generation, and if it feels like he went away, don’t worry, because he’s come back with a whole new band that reminds us he never left. -Miles