An Evening with The Floating Men

Guitarist Jeff Holmes and bassist Scot Evans’ partnership was born in a Furman jazz ensemble and it’s continued to blossomed from there. Originally a dogmatically acoustic, uncannily rocking trio, The Floating Men has increased in size and sophistication over the past 18 years. The septet long ago outgrew the alt-country tag, and at this point, even roots rock seems an ill-fit for their full-bodied sound. Their latest Pleasurado! ranges from florid country-rock odes to the Grim Reaper as a Bonneville-driving Lara Croft to bluesy-soul reminiscent of the E Street Band in its wild, innocent days to limber Latin funk featuring Holmes’ versatile vocals twisted into a Bowie-esque sneer. Their albums are just the icing on a career built in the trenches, hand to hand, person by person. Independent from the start, they’ve cultivated their audience, fertilizing it with sweaty, uncompromising two and a half hour sets and fine musicianship.
Sat., July 26, 9 p.m., 2008