Carbondale and the surrounding area has witnessed a local musical amalgamation that has come together from previous incarnations and experimentations that spans a period of more than two years.

The Bourbon Knights, who perform at 10 p.m. Friday with The Plus at Hangar 9, play a mixture of styles that singer Patrick Rollinson feels can best be described as "pirate swing." The Bourbon Knights also include elements of bluegrass, Cab Calloway-esque music, traditional sea chanties and even unique takes on such classics as AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" and Ozzy's "Crazy Train."

The group, made up of Rollinson on lead vocals, Mortimer Bustos on guitar and vocals, Malcolm Robertson and Sean Born on vocals and percussion, Billy "Bollman" Bollinger and Steve "Big Dog" Ward on guitars, Josh Zippy on mandolin, Matt Dierker on banjo, Greg Edwards on bass and Mike "Taz" Kartje on drums.

According to Rollinson, Bourbon Knights began as the third incarnation of a band that was started in Chicago by members Patrick Rollinson and Mortimer Bustos back in 1994.

Rollinson and Bustos started the band Ticklepenny in 1994 after meeting each other through various acquaintances. Even though the two were involved with other projects, the duo took to Ticklepenny with full force.

According to Rollinson, the group's sound was not so much Irish-sounding as it was pub music.

"It was a new thing because I don't think anyone was doing anything like that," Rollinson said. That same enduring sound has been carried over into the Bourbon Knights' current repertoire.

Later on, Rollinson moved to Carbondale, after which Bustos eventually followed and proposed that he and Rollinson do another Ticklepenny-like band. The group Sleipnir was formed and played music in a similar fashion while Rollinson was in another local band, Hippie Repellant, with Robertson and Edwards. At the time, Bustos was in the Dammit Boys.

But as fate might have it, Sleipnir ceased to be when Bustos moved to Texas. After a short period, Bustos returned to the scene and Rollinson and Bustos once again decided to get together on creating the music they shared so much enthusiasm over. The Bourbon Knights were born.

"It was a much different band back then," Bourbon Knights drummer Mike Kartje said. "It was a lot more disorganized, and had a lot more members."

According to Kartje, the band has had as many as 14 members, but has dwindled down to the current 10 members due to conflicting schedules, or the members not feeling that it was working for them personally.

Patrick Rollinson refers to the large number of original members as his all being part of his "minuteman scheme." The idea behind this was to have different people who could fill in a position in case another member couldn't make a show.

Many of the group's earlier shows were booked somewhat spontaneously but soon became increasingly planned out and coordinated as the band discovered it was sitting on something original and fresh.

Since then, the group has been going strong with playing what will be its third St. Patrick's Day celebration together at 9:30 p.m. March 17 at Hangar 9. Rollinson is confident that the group will be able to successfully complete all three of its 10-song sets over the course of the evening.

The Bourbon Knights has gathered a large following of people who attend the shows to get involved with the action and liveliness that's all part of a BK show.

"We've been very lucky," Kartje said. "We have a lot of friends in Carbondale. Many of them know all of our previous bands and just like to hang out. As for people I don't really know, I've been told we're a lot of fun and are entertaining. The music isn't half bad either."

The group has finished recording 20 songs, 14 of which will be featured on the Bourbon Knights' debut studio album. All that remains are some final touches in the mixing and mastering process, and it will be all set for release.

Rollinson said it's possible that the CD will be ready in time for the St. Patrick's Day show at Hangar 9, but it seems rather unlikely due to the amount of time it takes conflicting with work schedules and other facts of life. Another task that seems somewhat daunting is actually selecting a name for the album.

"Just imagine what decision-making is like when you have 10 people involved," Kartje said.

According to Kartje, this period the Bourbon Knights are going through right now is one of its most productive and certainly one of its busiest.

"It's a lot of fun," Kartje said. "We've really branched off with the band and started doing things."

The Bourbon Knights will be playing at 10 p.m. Friday with The Plus at Hangar 9. The group will also be playing three sets of music starting at 9:30 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day, also at Hangar 9.