Eels, the alternative-indie-progressive-country-folk-rock group made of up Mark Oliver Everett (also known as Mr. E) and myriad rotating musicians, brought An Evening with Eels to Minneapolis’ landmark Pantages Theater Monday, April 7.

The evening opened with a screening of “Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives,” a BBC documentary about the Everett family — specifically Mr. Hugh Everett III, who first proposed the many-worlds/parallel universe interpretation of quantum physics that, while unappreciated in the science community, has greatly expanded the science fiction genre’s imagination and breadth.

Judging by the commentary in the bar lines, the movie was a surprised to the casual Eels fan who came to hear “Novocaine For the Soul.” But I greatly enjoyed the film, which was both humorous and enlightening, and after the brief intermission, proved to be powerful background into Mr. E’s poignant, personal lyrics.

The evening kicked off with E on the stage saying, “I know you’re all here because I’m the son of a world-famous physicist,” admitting he had just woken up, introducing “The Chet” — a utility musician master — and then asking the crowd, “Are you ready to soft rock, Minneapolis?” Hilarious and heart-warming.

What transpired over the next 90 minutes was a collection of 20+ musical thoughts, as E and Chet traded instruments, riffs and harmonies for the enraptured crowd.

Favorite tracks included “Your Lucky Day in Hell,” “I Love Birds,” “Souljacker” and Zeppelin’s “Good Times, Bad Times,” featuring E on drums and Chet on the mic. There were also readings of fan mail and even better, Chet reading passages from E’s autobiography, Things The Grandchildren Should Know.

And as we sat in the dark warmth of the Pantages’ 50 year-old theater seats listening to a perfect acoustical mix of piano and reverbed drums on “Jeannie’s Diary,” the audience may have been channeled into a different place and time. perhaps they never bought Eels tickets, left the comfort of their homes and traveled to the concert. Or perhaps we were sitting in E’s living room on a breezy Sunday afternoon as we share a glass of Virginian iced tea and listen to this brilliant maestro tinkling on his Baldwin upright.

At one point, I swear I could sense Hugh Everett III smiling down on the venue, toasting a glass of sherry somewhere up in his parallel universe.

On the drive home from the show, my car blew up. The engine totally fried while I was driving 70 mph on the interstate. By God’s grace I was able to coast to an off-ramp in a safe neighborhood to await a tow truck at midnight on a Monday night.

Yesterday my mechanic told me there was a huge hole in the engine. I just laughed. Maybe in a parallel universe, my car is living on. In the here and now, it’s on its way to the junkyard.

Gee — reminds me of a song:

Novocaine for the soul
You’d better give me something to fill the hole
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out
Before I sputter out

Eels are touring to promote a best-of set, Meet the Eels Vol.1: Essential Eels, and B-sides collection, Useless Trinkets.