Before starting their set at the Rock and Roll Hotel on Tuesday night, the members of Akron/Family taped up a torn American flag with a blue and white tie-dyed square in the upper left hand corner. This flag, which adorns the cover of Akron/Family’s latest release, Set ‘Em Wild, Set ‘Em Free, might initially give the impression that the band are followers of the Book of Phish and that album title, a mantra torn from one of those pages. And Akron/Family certainly projects a communal atmosphere and engages in some extended improvisations. But the sheer expanse of their stylistic range keeps them from being pigeonholed as a “jam band.” They’re far more interesting.

“Freak folk” is another term frequently attributed to the trio, and they certainly worked the folk element early on in their set. With barebones yet ambient instrumentation on their first three songs, including Set ‘Em Wild standout “River,” Akron/Family seemed to build on the same vibe as their opener, Wand. Wand was a Nashville folk guitarist who loved warm toned guitars and vocals, steel pedals and Elizabeth Cotton. But as soon as Akron/Family created a mood, they set about changing it entirely.