“We’ve never played a show that wasn’t complete pandemonium.”

That was Jim McHugh talking from Denver and sounding like he was experiencing a little off stage mayhem. His 17-piece band, Athens’ (Ga.) Dark Meat, had been holed up in an apartment for three days due to blizzards.

“The experience has been complete insanity from get go in October of 2005,” said McHugh. The motley crew travels in a bright green, 35-foot 1972 GMC tour bus and is nearing the end of a 50 date Spring tour. They bring their mix of free jazz and swamp rock to the Bluebird this Wednesday.

Dark Meat’s sound is one of contained chaos that works — at least most of the time on their recently re-issued debut, “Universal Indians.”

The record is a long, strange trip through Southern rock with gaudy horns, gospel backing vocals, Native American chanting, Albert Ayler-inspired jazz improv and shredding guitars. Many of the tunes are surprisingly accessible despite the cluttered studio, with clear structures and lengths mostly under five minutes.

The members live communally on the road and include two chemists (one with a PhD), artists, writers, sculptors, a copyright law specialist and two mechanics.

“We don’t outsource anything,” said McHugh, who also writes about music for Flagpole Magazine.

“We have 15 core members on tour, but people come and go,” said McHugh. “One of our singers had to leave the tour because she’s R.E.M.’s nanny. Every member is indispensable musically, though, so we just have to make do.”

Asked what was the toughest part of organizing such a large group, McHugh cited money.

“The financial decisions are the hardest to deal with, but that’s where Vice Records comes in,” he said. “We didn’t go into this thinking everything was going to run smoothly. It beats flippin’ pancakes, though.”

Dark Meat with Quiet Hooves

Wednesday, May 21

The Bluebird, 2706 Olive Street

Doors: 8:30, $7/$10

http://www.myspace.com/darkmeats