The boss is coming to DeKalb.

No, not the Boss. This boss is much more large and in charge than Bruce Springsteen.

Miss Claudette will bring the band that bears her namesake to DeKalb at 8 p.m. Thursday at the House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway.

The Claudettes are a piano and drum duo made up of Johnny “Ig” Iguana and Mike Caskey (formerly of Chicago’s oh my god,) and play a psychedelic jazz sound reminiscent of Ray Charles, the Meat Puppets and the Minutemen.

Though playing no music, Miss Claudette takes control of the stage, ordering around the band and demanding that patrons purchase beers and cocktails.

The group has an interesting back story – Iguana and Caskey were members of the house band at Claudette’s – a now-defunct bar in Oglesby. Though Miss Claudette lost her license, the band remained under contract and took their act on the road.

During performances, Miss Claudette has been known to stop the musicians to take cell phone calls and is more concerned with selling drinks than showing off her talented band.

“Hopefully people will be buying beers,” Iguana joked.

Iguana said the group plays an eclectic mix of composed and improvised music.

“Our songs have themes,” Iguana said. “They start and go back into themes throughout the music, but there are sections that are improvised.”

Iguana said because the group does not have a bass player, he and Caskey have only each other to feed off of while improvising.

“Sometimes when I’m doing something more complex, he can only play something simple behind it,” he said. “Other times, I let him take the lead.”

The cost of the show is $7 and alternative act Mutts will open.