In its 10-year history Soulive has played the world - seriously, it would be easier to list where the trio hasn't played. It's also easier to say what it doesn't do. Soulive is by definition a jam band, yet it is also a power trio that takes jazz, funk, and soul and busts it wide open.

Guitarist Eric Krasno, bassist Neal Evans, and drummer Eric Evans formed Soulive outside of Woodstock in 1999. The members' relentless work ethic, powerful shows, and constant touring schedule have put them on the level of artists they once supported, like Chaka Khan, Dave Matthews, Talib Kweli and John Scofield. Soulive has even opened for The Rolling Stones.

Now Soulive has become an even bigger master of its own destiny by forming its own label, Royal Family Records. The band plans to release its own material through the company, including the brand new "Up Here," as well as other artists it believes in, and guitarist Krasno's solo album set to drop this summer.

The day before the band kicked off the tour that brings it here next week, Krasno put down his guitar and picked up the phone for an interview. An edited transcript of what went down follows.

CITY: You've been on legendary labels like Stax and Blue Note, and yet you opted to go DIY with your own. Que pasa?

Eric Krasno: It's something I feel that we needed to do. This was definitely the best move. I mean, our whole fan base developed from getting out and touring. So since the beginning we've really been a touring, live act. Definitely with Blue Note and Stax, they helped get our music out there. But at this point in the game it's definitely great to have our own creative control. We feel like we know how to market ourselves. Not only that, but we have a whole family and crew of artists that we work with, so now we can put out a lot of the projects and records we've either been working on or had ideas for.

Did those labels mis-market you?

Well, sometimes yeah. With Blue Note, I love the Blue Note tradition, but it felt like sometimes we were being pigeonholed as a jazz trio even though we were going in a lot of different directions. The thing is, it's always hard to define our sound with one word. I love jazz music and it's a huge part of what we do, but it's equal parts with soul and rock and funk, and all the other influences we have.

You've said before that purists in both rock and jazz are quick to dismiss Soulive. Who needs them?

I'll take anybody. I think most people that like us don't even care about the categories.

How have you managed to rise above being just another jam band?

I think we're pretty serious about our songs and our songwriting. Even though we love to improvise, I think we're pretty into our compositions. Also, we were wearing suits for years, and we kind of like to have a presentation that sets us apart from the jam bands or the hippie bands out there - not to knock that scene at all. What's so great about that scene is the fans are so diehard, there are so many great festivals. It's a great scene to be a part of.

But do your fans want to hear you stick to what's on the record, or do they want you to stretch out a bit?

They definitely like to hear us stretch out. The more we change it up the more they love it. For us that's great, because if you play the same thing every night... It's funny, when we record a song and then play it live, a few months later it's a totally different song. We'll keep the same melody but we'll start to flip it up.

How do you improvise when it's a more structured song, with lyrics or a story line?

What we'll do in that situation is stretch solo sections out, or sometimes change the groove up without changing the lyrics or the story.

Over your 10 years together, what hasn't changed?

I think the consistency is that Alan and I and Neil have a certain way we play together. We have a certain dynamic and connection and groove that defines the Soulive sound. You know it's us.

Soulive has been known to go into the studio with nothing written ahead of time. How does that work?

Sometimes we just set up and start playing. Or sometimes something will come up based on something we heard, or by trying something cool like a 6/8 groove. It's very organic. On this album, more than the others, there were more spontaneous inventions that came together.

Any plans for a live record off of this tour?

What we're prepared to do now is we record the shows and have them available for you when you leave that night.

How long does that take?

You've gotta hang out about 20 minutes after the last song.

Wouldn't some call that a bad business model? I mean, I don't see Blue Note doing something like that.

We just thought it was something cool to offer the fans. People trade our live shows online anyway, and this gives us a little bit of quality control. We have our own engineer, we know it sounds decent. In the past we've sold about 40 to 50 a night, and sometimes up to 100.

Soulive

w/The Shady Horns, Nigel Hall

Thursday, April 23

Water Street Music Hall, 204 N Water St

8 p.m. | $20-$25 | 325-5600

myspace.com/soulive; royalfamilyrecords.com