Tonight, one band will attempt to wow the audience with a show that singer Jesse Elliott dubs a "rock-and-roll-psychedelic-singer/songwriter-folky thing."

Elliott's band, These United States, will perform tonight's all-ages show at Dragon Chasers' Emporium, 209 Calder Way, along with fellow singer/songwriter group Paleo.

Elliott said the group has a lot of blues and rock 'n' roll mixed with random influences. These United States is described as psychedelic garage folk, Elliott said.

Elliott, originally from outside of Chicago, lists Beck and Paleo as two of his interests. Elliott said he grew up with David Andrew Strackany, the creative mind behind Paleo.

"It's hard not to be influenced by your close friends," Elliott said. He said he has been influenced with the various musicians he has played shows with him during his career. Some of those musicians help him play his songs when he is touring in certain parts of the country.

Although These United States' songs are entirely composed by Elliott, he said that Tom Hnatow, who will be playing with him tomorrow evening, is an important part of the group.

"Tom's a pretty crucial piece of the mix," Elliott said. "I kind of just provide the songs; the songs are just skeletons without flesh."

Hnatow is the man who fleshes out Elliott's "skeletons" by providing instrumentation on several instruments, including the glockenspiel.

Elliott said that These United States got its name because the group has different members depending on which part of the country it is playing in. People from Brooklyn, Chicago, parts of Kentucky and Washington, D.C., where Elliott currently resides, have all contributed to playing live These United States shows, he said.

"Sometimes These United States is just me," Elliott said. "But there've been about 10 different people who've been involved in actual live performances of it."

Previous These United States shows have featured members who have played instruments as unique as cellos and accordions, Elliott said.

A show scheduled for later this week will feature a percussionist. The instrumentation varies depending on the musicians that Elliott knows in the area where he is playing.

These United States is expecting to release an album sometime next year, Elliott said.

Abby Cain, manager and events coordinator for The Dragon Chasers' Emporium, said tonight's show is open for anyone who wants to come out. Admission is $5 for the all-ages performance.