TAKE FIVE: VEGOOSE

Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2006 | 9:26 a.m.

Vegoose blows into Las Vegas this weekend with an eclectic lineup of improvised music, trailing a gaggle of jam-band aficionados.

They should be tickled by Sunday's lineup, which includes two Grateful Dead-Phish combos - one teaming Phil Lesh and Trey Anastasio plus the Rhythm Devils with Mickey Hart, Bill Kreutzman and Mike Gordon. (All that's missing is Bob Weir's Ratdog.) The day also includes Widespread Panic, Fiona Apple, Ben Folds and Galactic.

The Saturday bill features hometown heroes the Killers plus Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, the Black Crowes and Jurassic 5.

Sixteen bands perform each day during the festival at Sam Boyd Stadium. And that doesn't include the Vegoose at Night shows at various indoor venues.

Here are five other reasons to check out the festival:

The Roots

When two turntables and a microphone aren't enough, listen to this Philadelphia hip-hop group, which doesn't simply cannibalize others' beats but lays them down for itself. That's thanks to double-funky drummer ?uestlove (Ahmir Thompson). The rappers are clever lyricists, and the band keeps turning out great albums. On their eighth and latest, "Game Theory," their anger at the war and the state of the union bubble over.

Robert Randolph