Since the beginning of time - or at least since the beginning of Classic Rock - bands have relied on a handy stable of cover versions to please the typical audience member.

Of course, I'm not your typical audience member. And Boss Diablo doesn't have your typical set list.

It's been many moons, for example, since I've heard anyone tackle Sonny Boy Williamson's "Help Me." Boss Diablo did it in style, with guitarist Chuck Beatty playing the signature riff through a menacing layer of reverb, while harp player Stanley J. Mikolajek, who's in his 20s but wails away like he's been hanging out with the spirit of Little Walter, put a genuine blues stamp on the 12-bar classic.

That was just the band's second song of the evening, and it had me clapping like a seal on Saturday night at Otto's Pub in Canonsburg.

The guys continued to trot out some tunes I really enjoy throughout the evening, and stuff you don't hear too many other people play: Wilbert Harrison's "Let's Work Together," Warren Zevon's "Carmelita" and Otis Rush's "Homework," to name a few.

Even their Rolling Stones selection steered away from the usual fare, with the Jagger-Richards composition "I'm Free" followed some tunes the Stones covered themselves: "Hitch Hike" (originally Marvin Gaye), "Crackin' Up" (Bo Diddley) and "The Hip Shake" (Slim Harpo). Plus Brian's singing and Stanley's harp made for a strong rendition of the disco-flavored "Miss You."

Throw in some country-flavored Buck Owens and Hank Sr. tunes, and some good old rock 'n' roll standards like Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild" and the Animals' "We Gotta Get Out of This Place," and it certainly made for one eclectic and rip-roaring night.

The band's repertoire may have been impressive, but Boss Diablo is a quartet of crack musicians. Veteran drummer Tom Hohn and bassist Brian Washington combine for a formidable rhythm section, and Stanley's harp adds plenty of depth to the sound while serving as a second lead instrument to Chuck's guitar.

Speaking of which, Chuck impressed me considerably by playing without a pick all night and by coming up with a wide array of tones to suit the band's variety of song styles. For example, during "Them Changes," a song recorded by Buddy Miles and Jimi Hendrix in the short-lived Band of Gypsys, Chuck struck up an inspired Jimi-type lead that jived perfectly with the fluid bass playing of Brian (who doesn't use a pick, either).

Tom, Chuck and Brian shared vocal duties throughout the evening, coming up with tight harmonies in combinations of two or three singers. Chuck gave a particularly effective reading of Tom Waits' gravelly voice for "Way Down in the Hole," as well as a heartfelt nod to Lowell George with a lengthy version of Little Feat's "Willin'."

So ... mark Oct. 28 on your calendar and check out Boss Diablo for yourself, if you like to hear stuff you don't usually hear. The guys will be at Auggie's Roadhose, right off Route 19 in South Strabane Township.