As far as the members of Pittsburgh's prized Rusted Root go, Mike Glabicki is about as "rusted" as they come.

Lead singer, guitarist, songwriter and one of the founding members of the eclectic ensemble, Glabicki will bring his solo talent Tuesday to the Crowbar stage, 420 E. College Ave.

Glabicki first broached the path to his professional music career when he left college in 1988 to devote time to the development of his songwriting and guitar-playing abilities.

He soon teamed up with high school friend, singer and songwriter Liz Berlin, and the two began collaborating on the sounds and rhythms that would later serve as the framework for Rusted Root's singular style.

Rusted Root made its official debut in Pittsburgh in 1990.

The band, with its notorious live performances and diverse array of cultural influences, has built up a local, national, and international following ever since.

In its early days, the line-up was nearly identical to its present form, with -- in addition to Glabicki and Berlin -- Jim Donovan on drums, Patrick Norman on guitar, and John Buynak serving as both a multi-instrumentalist and as a visual artist.

Jim DiSpirito, percussionist, added a new dimension to the band with his joining in 1993.

The band soon became known for its energetic and unique live shows, often complete with improvisational drum circle-type jam sessions, quickly earning them an enthusiastic underground following.

The group lays claim to, among other accomplishments, opening gigs for the Grateful Dead, Santana and Dave Matthews.

Rusted Root signed to Mercury Records. Several of the band's albums, one of which, titled When I Woke and released in 1994, eventually achieved platinum success.

Glabicki has recently independently booked a few shows in the northeastern United States, including his appearance at Crowbar.

He will shed the rest of Rusted Root for an evening and will showcase his versatility as a solo artist in Tuesday's performance.

"There's no doubt it's an excellent show," said David Wells, owner of Crowbar. "Not only will he be playing new material, but my understanding is he'll also be playing old Rusted Root material that he penned.

"I know with finals the timing is rough," Wells added, "but if people can get out for an hour or an hour and a half it's definitely well worth it."

Tickets for the all-ages show are $6 in advance and $8 at the door, making it a relatively cheap escape from finals stress for fans of the type of multi-dimensional live music Glabicki is famed for.