Familiar to Freightgoers from his appearances with numerous superlative groups, virtuosic cello monster Rushad Eggleston returns to our stage for an evening of revelry with the butt-wizards, also known as keyboardist Nico Georis and percussionist Gabriel Cazes. Anyone who has seen (or heard) Rushad play with Darol Anger's Republic of Strings or Grammy-nominated Fiddlers 4, or with his own groups Crooked Still and Wild Band of Snee, will remember his unique, powerful playing, full of brooding energy and irresistible grooves — not to mention his Suessian wardrobe. From this new band, whose list of influences stretches from DEVO to Prokofiev, only three things can be expected: a rockin good time, absolute unexpectedness, and fabulous hats!

A much-in-demand improvising cellist, Rushad's keen, inventive skill at adapting driving fiddle styles for the cello is nothing short of revolutionary. He recently graduated from the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he was the first string player to be awarded a full scholarship; he has also become a prime mover among the younger generation of musicians who are taking cello playing in new and unexpected directions. In Rushad's own words, he is "known for inventing new styles of cello playing, having found the old ones to be not the right sort of clothes for the occasion . . . Would YOU want to wear a fancy Italian suit for a rumble with some badgers in the mud? I don't think so."