Let's talk politics.

Billed as a "horn-driven retro-funk-jazz outfit," Greensboro-based Hot Politics headlines the Boone Saloon Saturday, Dec. 12, armed with original tunes that dare listeners not to dance.

"I feel like we thrive in the live setting - that's what we enjoy most," guitarist and vocalist Tommy Scifres said. "It makes people want to dance."

Influenced by genre pioneers like Grant Green and Herbie Hancock, Hot Politics delivers unadulterated funk that's heavily inspired by jazz - groove with an unmistakable harmony.

Founded in 2006 by Scifres, bassist Jeff Hinson and drummer Phil Clarke, Hot Politics has undergone some personnel changes throughout the years, namely Kyle Poehling replacing Clarke on drums and the addition of Jason Bullock on euphonium and Adam Donahue on saxophone - a lineup that's been playing nonstop the last two years.

Born from a jam session in a Greensboro warehouse, Hot Politics began performing at various local venues, before evolving into a statewide and then regional act.

"Our focus was always to play funk - all of us involved just have a passion for playing funk music," Scifres said, "though our music has become more jazz influenced over the last few years, harmonically speaking."

In keeping with the forefathers of funk, Hot Politics grooves to tunes uniquely its own, packing an ever-growing assortment of original music.

"Normally, it's very collaborative," Scifres said of songwriting. "By the end of the process, everybody usually has a hand in it. Most of the time, someone will bring kind of a central idea to the table ... we'll play through it, try to hash it out, and then everybody adds their input and ideas, making it a group thing by the end."

In August 2008, Hot Politics released its first EP album, Get Loose, and the band is set to begin work on its second in January 2010. Though live performances are admittedly Hot Politics' strong suit, Get Loose manages to maintain that vibe.

"We tried to record as much live as possible, with all us playing at the same time," Scifres said. "We try to keep the editing and all the studio tools to a minimum - that's the best way we've figured out to capture the live sound."

Hot Politics is no stranger to the High Country, a regular name at Canyons in Blowing Rock, an alumnus of Boone's Black Cat Burrito, and a popular act at Appalachian State University's Legends, where the band performed with Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty Band.

On Saturday, Hot Politics will be joined by Asheville's Soulgrass Rebellion, an energetic roots band that combines elements of bluegrass and reggae.

The show starts at 10 p.m., and the cover is $5. Only those 21 and up will be admitted. Boone Saloon is located at 489 W. King St. in downtown Boone. For more information, call (828) 264-1811.

For more information on Hot Politics and Soulgrass Rebellion, visit www.hotpoliticsband.com and www.myspace.com/soulgrassrebellion.