Family Mystic

Back before the pandemic, I used to scan the live music listings in the Portland Mercury every single week. It didn’t take me long to notice that I was noticeably and naturally intrigued by bills consisting of three bands with unfamiliar but interesting (and/or good) names.

There’s something about the possibility of such a night. Surely you’ll find a new band to like, right?

Volcanic Theatre Pub will host that kind of bill Saturday night, when the PBJam Fest tour comes to town.

Some Central Oregonians may be familiar with one, two or all three of these bands, but I am not. So let’s dig in!

Swindler: Based in Seattle and a past performer at the local 4 Peaks festival, this band’s sound is a particularly vintage-feeling blend of funk and jazz, with a heavy emphasis on deep grooves.

Cytrus: Also from Seattle, this eight-piece group (complete with saxophone!) is a bona fide dance-floor-filler. Their music is a fast-paced fusion of electro-funk, disco and kaleidoscopic jams.

Family Mystic: They sound like a cult, but this Portland-based band is actually just four guys playing what they call “feel good music” built from psychedelic soul, effervescent grooves and beautiful vocal harmonies.

Verdict: There are thousands of people in Bend who would love this show and should be there Saturday night. If you know one of them, let them know!

PBJam Fest tour with Swindler, Cytrus and Family Mystic: 8 p.m. Saturday, $15, Volcanic Theatre Pub, 70 SW Century Drive, Bend, volcanictheatrepub.com.