Zilla is so compelling because they have no songs. That isn’t a typo — the music they create is 100 percent improvisational.

Improvisation in live music has experienced a renaissance during the past decade. Phish and the String Cheese Incident expanded on the jazz technique The Grateful Dead brought to the rock arena, but Zilla has taken improvisation to an extreme that is unequaled in modern music.

Zilla is so compelling because they have no songs. That isn’t a typo — the music they create is wholly improvisational. They exist completely in the moment, driven by the energy from the crowd. Every show is a unique experience.

Led by the String Cheese Incident’s Michael Travis, Zilla plays electronica that is both risk-taking and original. Whether it is drum and bass, house or dub, Zilla never sticks to one style of music. By having no set songs, they are constantly out on a limb and taking chances.

The makeup of the band allows them to jump around the musical spectrum. Travis holds down the rhythm section with a drum kit that includes hand percussion and a Macintosh G4. But what really sets them apart from other bands is Jamie Janover’s hammer dulcimer.

The hammer dulcimer is an ancient trapezoidal instrument with several sets of strings, played with mallets that give it a sound similar to a plucked harp. The exotic sounds of the dulcimer, along with a sitar that Janover also plays, gives the group an unparalleled style of dance music.

In addition to Travis and Janover, the band is filled out by Aaron Holstein, who plays bass, electric guitar and synthesizer. The intensity that Holstein brings to the stage is infectious. Always smiling, bobbing his head and jumping around, he might be having the most fun out of anybody at the show.

Zilla thrives on the vibe of the crowd, and this was most evident at the shows this past weekend at Subterranean in Chicago. The sweaty, hard-dancing crowd brought the band to a peak repeatedly throughout the night. With the band’s creed of playing for the moment, the crowd’s reaction can determine the quality of the show.

The excitement in the room was palpable as Zilla’s highly textured and percussive music swirled around the smokey venue. Known for their all-night shows, Zilla played until closing time, but the band and the fans could have easily gone until 5 a.m.

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