Guitarist Jeff Mattson founded The Zen Tricksters 24 years ago and is still touring under that name today. But his band is no joke.

"It's a pretty long history for a band; most don't last that long. Some quit, some decide to get 'normal' jobs," Mattson said. "There's a certain kind of person that really is a musician... and I've sort of been weeding out the people that aren't as serious about playing."

The Zen Tricksters will be performing a three-piece acoustic set tonight at The Brewery, 223 E. Beaver Ave. Currently, the other Tricksters consist of bassist Klyph Black and guitarist Tom Circosta, who also provide vocals along with Mattson.

The group is touring in support of its newest album, Shaking Off the Weirdness, but its history extends back to 1979, when Mattson first began using the name. Since that time, he has seen many band incarnations and many gigs.

Some of Mattson's earliest influences included Bob Dylan, Richard Thompson, and perhaps most strongly, The Grateful Dead, whose songs The Tricksters have always covered heavily.

Until the late 1990s, Mattson remained the only consistent member of the group, playing with many different musicians who often affected the group's sound in their own ways.

"The basic concept stays the same, but we're highly-improvisational, and because of that, it really reflects the personal style of the musicians," he said. "It really does change with different personalities."

Originally focused more on heavy touring like the Dead and Phish, The Tricksters didn't settle down to record until 1996, when the band released its first album, The Holy Fool. The disc also featured Black, drummer Joe Chirco, and keyboardist Rob Barraco, who now performs as part of former Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh's Phil and Friends project.

Barraco isn't the only Trickster that has performed with Phil and Friends, however. Mattson himself performed with Lesh in 1999; the bassist would go on to call the group "brilliant" in a radio interview.

Even today, however, the group's lineup is changing. With Barraco's departure and the group's current absence of a drummer, Mattson, Black and Circosta decided to take advantage of their experience playing together and the opportunity to perform some of their favorite songs -- originals and covers -- with an acoustic approach.

Mattson said the absence of a drummer does not have an impact on the group's dynamics and ability to entertain.

"We get a pretty full sound," he said. "People often come up to us and say, 'I didn't miss the drummer at all.'"

After so many years on the road, however, Mattson has mixed feelings about his group's progress.

"I'm happy to be making a living, but it's never been a stardom thing. But more success would make things more comfortable," he said with a laugh.

And often, coming to towns like State College add a unique, full-circle aspect to life on the road.

"I think I saw The Dead there once," Mattson said.

Tonight's show will also include a food drive hosted by the helpingMusic organization (http://www.helpingmusic.org). Fans that bring a non-perishable food item will get a free Zen Tricksters sticker. All food provided will go to the State College Area Food Bank.

The show begins at 9 p.m. and is for ages 21 and over. Tickets are $5.