Foxy Shazam, The A.K.A.s, Dr. Manhattan and Bachelor Party Weekend are all acts that refuse to be pigeonholed into any one genre. All of these bands came together at The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Highway, Thursday night.

Foxy Shazam played an energetic and bizarre set. Foxy is a band of facial hair aficionados that performs like they are playing to an arena of thousands.

Vocalist Eric Nally, along with his fancy moustache, commanded the stage with a presence reminiscent of Freddy Mercury. Pianist Sky White stood on his keyboard during one point of the set, and his massive sweaty beard glistened in the stage lights. Between songs, Nally told make-believe stories about being in movies with Owen Wilson. Those in attendance who have never seen or heard of the band looked on in a half-confused/half-amazed stupor as the band played their own brand of soul-glam-punk-piano-rock.

Foxy made the crowd move like no band I have ever seen at the House has ever done. The band harnessed the crowd’s energy during the chorus of “The Rocketeer” by counting down “Five, four, three, two, one/Blast-off.” The band put on one of the best live shows I have ever seen in my 21 years of existence.

Dr. Manhattan, a band from Wauconda, always brings it, no matter how many people are in attendance. They have the most energy you may ever see in a band live. Dr. Manhattan broke-up their set by playing the beginning of the classic song “Tequila” by The Champs three times.

Every band that played Thursday defies explanation and needs to be heard to be believed. I recommend checking all of them out.