The Joint Chiefs of Staff want Milwaukee to check out their unique style of music, have a fun time and simply "boogie with your woogie!"

College of Communication sophomore Jack Jostes and his band mates are bringing their eclectic mix of funk, reggae, classical rock, folk, bluegrass and jazz to the Rave Bar Friday, Feb. 10, when they play the 7 p.m. pre-show party for jam band Umphrey's McGee.

"When we played at the Rave last time, it was one of our best shows," Jostes said. "The audience was really into it."

The distinctive mix of styles played by the Joint Chiefs of Staff has led their fans to dub their sound as "jam grass rock."

"We have real grass root influences: blues, folk, real rock 'n roll," Jostes said, who does vocals and plays lead guitar, mandolin and fiddle for the band. "We all love the Grateful Dead. That is probably our biggest influence. Other influences of the band include the Doors, Pink Floyd and Sublime."

The band takes inspiration for its lyrics from those around them.

"A lot of our songs tell stories," Jostes said. "We like to reflect on what's happening in the suburbs. We do a lot of character songs; we take our friends and turn them into characters. We celebrate their idiosyncrasies."

Jostes and rhythm guitarist/vocalist Frank Pulice began creating music together while attending Prospect High School in Arlington Heights, Ill.

"Frank and I have been friends since we were six and sophomore year we got really into music and started playing together," Jostes said. "Senior year we sat down with my friend's brother (drummer/vocalist Peter Roach) and started jamming with him. We had never played with a drummer before Pete."

Bassist Mike Cantella was added and the band recorded its first EP in the summer of 2004, titled The Joint Chiefs of Staff Ate My Sandwich.

"We recorded that EP with an aspiring sound engineer and played a lot of graduation parties," Jostes said. "Surprisingly, we grew the most after I left for Marquette (in fall 2004). We've learned how to play our instruments really well in the past year."

Percussionist Alex Blackshere was added in the summer of 2005, and the band recorded its latest CD, Boogie With Your Woogie.

"The CD was recorded at a professional sound studio with Joshua Avila, who owns DubVox Studios in Arlington Heights," Jostes said. "Josh is great. He was really enthusiastic about creating a fun place to be. We weren't just working, we were having fun and making art."

Jostes said the biggest difference between the two discs is that Boogie With Your Woogie grows and feels alive.

"We did most things in one take," Jostes said. "We never play a song the same way. We're trying to take our music in a more complex direction without taking ourselves too seriously and not having fun."

With the recent addition of keyboardist Geoff Lindsell to complete the band's sound, the Joint Chiefs of Staff hope to give Milwaukee a great musical experience.

"When we play live, we kind of feed off the audience, and it grows from there," Jostes said. "If they're dancing, we're dancing. If they're having fun, we're having fun. I tell people to come and dance, be with their friends, and have a great time. You can even shout things if you're happy."

More information and downloads of the band's music can be found on their Web site, www.myspace.com/thejointchiefsofstaff