L-R: Adam Swan (Truckasauras), P Smoov and Rik Rude (Fresh Espresso)

It was a weird idea for a concert, but Head Like an Espresso Truck went off successfully Friday night at Neumos.

Three local groups rotated on and off stage every few songs, swapping musicians and bringing out guest rappers periodically for two hours. The music was varying speeds and intensities of drums/synth music glued together with laptop DJing.

As predicted, the musical highlight was instrumental group Truckasauras covering Fresh Espresso's rap anthem "Diamond Pistols." Truckasauras turned the song space-y, removing its bombastic horn section and transmitting a more sly swagger while using the same melody. With staccato bloops in the verse and sustained notes and arpeggios in the chorus, the song floated, electronic and crying.

"Through Truck all beats are possible," rapped P Smoov, pointing stage right at Truckasauras.

As Ryan Trudell and Adam and Tyler Swan swayed and hunched behind their bank of boxes, pressing buttons and looking focused, Smoov and fellow rapper Rik Rude stayed in hype-the-crowd mode. Dressed like they stepped out of a combination thrift store and skateboard boutique, the duo bounded in the limited stage space not occupied by everyone's synthesizers and drum kits. DJ Terry Radjaw pumped his fist behind them, partly projected upon by Truckasauras' video man Daniel Bordon, who screened VHS footage of '80s rap group the Fat Boys. It was the Fat Boys at a beach party, going slo-mo and then in fast-forwarded loops, displayed on a white, approximately 40-square-foot sheet on the venue's back wall.

Other high points happened whenever a rapper appeared. Sea-Tac heartthrob Tilson rapped and sang with Head Like a Kite, his cuddly stage presence lighting up the room. Pearl Dragon from local group Champagne Champagne wore white Ray-Bans and a hood drawn over his formidable afro. With Truckasauras and Head Like a Kite backing him, he rapped an entire song off the top of his head, loping around the stage, rising and falling with his vocal inspiration. The two MCs from Capitol Hill group Mash Hall amped up one of Truckasauras' best songs, "Angels Sound Like Bottle Rockets," barking over the track's reedy, majestic electro clap.

Judging by quality of music (high) and apparent audience appreciation (hands in the air, pockets of dancing, general sweatiness), the event was a win for the groups involved. It was also a win for conceptual concerts in Seattle, with the night's complex structure mostly effective and wholly adhered to. (See set list below.)

On top of that, it seemed to be a win for Neumos, whose owner Steven Severin partly conceived of the concert. The venue looked and felt sold out early in the evening, its three bars doing brisk business.

Which band brought the capacity crowd? Hard to tell by looking. Whites were prevalent, but when are they not in Seattle, and everyone seemed to be in their 20s/30s/40s. There was no apparent audience allegiance to any particular act. Perhaps the draw had something to do with the event being on Friday night, and people just wanted someplace to be.

Regardless of why they came, attending audiences members saw something that doesn't happen often in Seattle, a unique blend of local music at a time when genres are blurring and creative spirits are high. It wasn't a perfect concert (there were lulls in the action) but fun was in the air and the event was miles more ambitious than most of what else is happening around town.

L-R: Tyler Swan (Truckasauras), DJ Terry Radjaw (Fresh Espresso) and Trent Moorman (Head Like a Kite)

The night, outlined