Vandello swinging’ through the eras at CSPS in Cedar Rapids

Vandello’s sound runs the gamut.

The Swisher-based band, which will return Saturday night to the CSPS Hall in Cedar Rapids, has explored retro soul and rhythm and blues and the throwback jazz sounds of the roaring ’20s. The band’s forthcoming music is more of the former than the latter.

“Vandello fans will notice an evolution toward more Amy Winehouse-style tunes and less of an acoustic ’20s speakeasy jazz style,” vocalist Meghan Adam said. “We’ve been exploring our evolution into newer sounds. We still love that throwback vibe, and our music will probably always reflect that, but we are working on new music for release in 2025 — and yes, we will be playing and previewing some of our upcoming songs.”

The CSPS show is the starting point for the band, which will be performing throughout the country in the new year.

“Family and friends keep us planted here,” Adam said while calling from Swisher. “But we’ve set the band up to travel well, which allows us to play farther out as needed. We’ve been as far east as Nashville and as far west as Boise.”

Created a decade ago, Vandello initially was about appealing to an audience, but that changed quickly.

“When we formed the group, we decided to stop playing music to please a crowd and instead to play stuff we liked to listen to,” Adam said. “It turns out that all of us were really drawn to old, pre-war jazz, hot club, gypsy jazz and a bit of rockabilly and James Bond vibes, too. Put it all in a pot, stir clockwise three times and you have Vandello.”

Vandello members — which also includes guitarist Jared Adam, who is Meghan’s husband, bassist Darrick Chadima, saxophonist Saul Lubaroff and drummer Rob Davis — don’t just have a good time while performing in front of an audience, but also during practice sessions.

“Honestly we all just love getting together to play music,” Adam said. “Our rehearsals are an absolute blast, usually involving cocktails and inappropriate outtakes. But all of us have our own hobbies and professions, as well.”

Meghan Adam is a published romance author, Davis enjoys woodworking and photography, Lubaroff is passionate about his radio show on KCCK (88.3 FM), and Jared Adam and Chadima truly love nothing more than getting together and playing music for hours.

After playing at myriad venues around the country, the band still favors performing at CSPS Hall, because of the vibe and acoustics.

“CSPS is a fantastic venue, easily our favorite place to play,” Adam said. “The hospitality is unmatched. The sound is also excellent. Many of our fans agree it’s the best place to hear Vandello because they can actually hear us. We love a rockin’ party, but there is something special about a venue where the intent is to hear the music.”

Shortly after playing CSPS, the band will work on its next project.

“Our first order of business is to get our studio work done for our third album and release it hopefully during the spring of 2025. Once that’s done, we hope to branch out into new markets like Des Moines, Omaha, Davenport and Madison.”

The group plans to reprise its “Boozy Bus Tour.” Fans board a party vehicle, which stops at Iowa City watering holes. The initial voyage commenced in April, with Vandello performing on the bus during the commute between bars around the Corridor.

“Wild, zany, and totally unlike anything else,” Adam said when describing the unconventional experience. “The last time, we filled a 45-seat party bus and went barhopping. We played live music on the bus between stops with the band scrunched in the back around a portable PA (public address system). Everyone wore commemorative T-shirts; bottles were passed around; people danced in the aisles; and the band did all they could to stay upright as we rolled down the road.

“People flew in from out of state just to ride the Boozy Bus.”

However, Adam’s take on the next vehicle is reminiscent of the classic line from the iconic film “Jaws,” uttered by Chief Brody after catching a glimpse of the shark up close for the first time.

“Next time, we’re gonna need a bigger bus,” Adam said.