A multitalented fusion of quirky characters, supremely unique style, and highly intelligent songwriting, it is a mystery to me as to how Dusty Rhodes and the River Band have not yet skyrocketed into the mainstream music scene. However, with the release of their second full length album, Palace and Stage, in May and their second appearance at the High Sierra Music Festival last week, there is no doubt in my mind that they are well on their way to rock stardom.

This six-piece band pulls elements from indie and progressive rock, folk, soul, and zydeco to create an individualistic sound that is truly its own. The majority of the members play two or more instruments while alternating between lead and background vocal parts, depending upon the particular song. Instead of diluting their sound, this just makes them that much more powerful and stimulating on stage.

In the lead we have Dustin Apodaca, who is bubbling with so much boisterous charisma and eccentricity that seeing him on stage both Saturday and Sunday at High Sierra was enough to make me forget about the scorching heat and instantaneously put me in a great mood. Donning a baby blue disco jumpsuit (with matching neck kerchief) and a head full of bouncing curls, this man’s stage presence is off the charts. He hoisted his keyboard onto his back in the style of Jimi Hendrix and played it backwards just like a true rock star. He made a running start from the side of the stage and then a flying leap into the air at its center to dramatically bang a tambourine at the climax of a song. He played his accordion with exuberant enthusiasm and sang with infectious energy, always leading the band into a glorious crescendo.

The rest of the band proves to be just as interesting. Violinist and mandolin player Andrea Babinski, dressed in a blue and white polka-dotted dress and colorful sunglasses, played with awe-inspiring ease and grace. She plucked out echoing pizzicato intros and slid seamlessly from one octave to the next while fiddling through melody lines. Guitarists Kyle Divine and Edson Choi took turns leading, filling, and singing on either side of Dustin. Lastly, Eric Chirco helped carry the band’s rhythmically complex changes while a seemingly spacey Brad Babinski laid down a flawlessly present bass line.

Perhaps still above and beyond the aforementioned fabulousness, the song structure and composition of the tracks go to show you that Dusty Rhodes and the River Band is a force to be reckoned with on yet another level. The verses, bridges, and choruses are often written in completely different time signatures and set to entirely different rhythms, and are separated by pauses that leave the audience holding its breath. However, when the entire band simultaneously launches back into the music, they are in perfect harmony.

This year they played all my favorites from their 2007 release, First You Live, as well as their new releases which I am not yet (but soon to be) familiar with. The bottom line here is that their music is ridiculously fun to listen to. “Dear Honey” was a perfect anthem for the festival, with its chant, “I drank away all my money,” as I’m sure I’m just one of the many who could relate to that. Then there was “Keys to the Truck,” whose repetitive lines of “And I can’t wait to be free, no I can’t wait to be free” had everyone in the crowd shaking their hands high in the air, dancing the ho-down, and singing along. Finally, there was “Street Fighter,” a song with a hard rock edge about the classic video game. Others may disagree, but as far as I’m concerned, any song written about Chun Li and Ryu is overwhelmingly and undeniably awesome.