Jesse Elliott's way more perfect union
Live rock ’n’ roll is a glorious, unpredictable, feral beast. Or at least it used to be.
There was a time when the Stones didn’t always start it up with “Start Me Up,” Pete Townshend wasn’t so affected during those windmill guitar antics and Bruce Springsteen actually played the four-hour marathon shows you hear about but never see anymore.
Recapturing rock’s spontaneous past, Washington, D.C.-based These United States has invited local bands along every tour stop to turn their core trio into everything from a quartet to an octet. At These United States’ gig at P.A.’s Lounge on Tuesday, the band will be joined by Pretty & Nice singer/guitarist Jeremy Mendicino and, well, anyone.
“We never really plan this more than a day or two in advance,” said TUS architect Jesse Elliott. “We’ve had one person join us and five people join us. Our numbers usually increase exponentially the day of the show as more people find out what’s going on.”
TUS’ debut, “A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden,” is perfect fodder for nightly improvisations.
“It’s very collage in nature,” said Elliott. “We don’t try to make anyone conform to the album. Which works, because in some places the people we play with know the album, in others we all just all make it up as we go.” Or, as Elliott sings on “Jenni Anne,” “Here’s the rules/There is no rules.”
“Some bands we’ve played with have actually charted our album,” said Elliott. “They’ll tell me, ‘Oh, actually, that’s a B flat there.’ But I don’t think Boston will be like that. Knowing Pretty & Nice, I imagine the show will be on the freewheeling side of things.”
In other words, expect a glorious, unpredictable, feral show.
These United States, Tuesday at P.A.’s Lounge, Somerville. Tickets: $7-$10; 617-776-1557.
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