When five dudes put their bad-ass attitudes to work, it can create a mighty big sound. It’s the sonic boom that drops when Ten Feet Tall lays down a track.

The band’s groove probably has something to do with the musicians’ individual backgrounds – soul singer Scott Price, funk bassist Larry Joseloff, jazzman Will Layman on piano and sax, blues guitarist Josh Himmelsbach and hip-hop drummer Jeff Cohen.

Like Mentos in Diet Coke, the sum of these parts is explosive. It’s street-smart funk mashed with hardball blues.

The tune “Get Up To Get Down” has a head-bopping, rump-shaking bass line that takes its cues from Living Colour, and ferocious lead vocals that tear up the joint. “Single Thing” is a definite tip of the cap to Blues Traveler, with a soaring harmonica intro, and a fun beat courtesy of Dave Matthews.

Ten Feet Tall owns Silver Spring this summer, with a gig at the Mayorga Coffee Factory (8040 Georgia Ave) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., and again on Jun 26. They hit town one more time on Aug 1 at McGinty’s Public House (911 Ellsworth Dr).

For now, get a lick from the band’s MySpace page and website.

Band photo courtesy of Ten Feet Tall.