Well, what to call it? To give an idea of what we're up against, the bandstand at Iota Monday night boasted a complement of keyboards, sequencers, an electric guitar, an acoustic guitar, a five-string bass and a drum kit with the smallest kick bass in captivity. And this was for a trio.

The Bad Livers, visiting from Austin and halfway through a tour promoting their Sugar Hill album "Blood and Mood," have mutated in the last decade from gospel to bluegrass to the current sound, which includes elements of power pop, psychobilly and, improbably but most importantly, hip-hop and electronica.

There were times in the show when guitarist and main madman Danny Barnes, singing through a filtered ...