Photo courtesy www.maktub.com Reggie Watts, left, of Maktub brings warm baritone vocals to Tucson on July Fourth.

Living in a tinderbox can be a bummer sometimes. Plush, 340 E. 6th St., had planned a break between bands during their Fourth of July concert to let club-goers enjoy the cityâs fireworks display. However, the city recently announced that fireworks have been cancelled due to the fires they might cause.

But anyone who has heard or seen Maktub, Plushâs headliner for July Fourth, would have known better and skipped the fireworks display to get as good and close to the stage as possible. It would be worth it: Maktub, from Portland, Ore., features the kind of smooth sounds and buttery soul vocals that were probably playing in the background the night you were conceived.

Itâs a mix of soul, funk and rock so reminiscent of Al Green or Marvin Gaye. Youâll probably want to rush home after the show to create your own fireworks. Most of this can be attributed to lead singer Reggie Watts, whose warm baritone voice recalls the days of Stax Soul and â70s Motown. But Watts doesnât like to think of Maktub as just a funk band.

ãI definitely wouldnât classify ourselves as a funk band, or say that it just sounds like â70s funk or soul. Thereâs some modern R&B and hip-hop in there. Thereâs definitely some hat tips to â70s soul, but thereâs a lot of rock influence in there as well. The range is pretty broad,ä he said.

All these diverse elements give their last album ãKronosä a smooth soul and pop feel with definite touches of rock and electronic music. This combination seems like a natural product of Wattsâ diverse musical tastes.

ãI listen to anything thatâs good,ä said Watts, who cited artists ranging from James Taylor and Fleetwood Mac to Ministry and Skinny Puppy. ãI listened to some Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Earth Wind and Fire, Curtis Mayfield, Chaka Khan, The Cure, Depeche Mode and the Sugar Cubes. Classical music as well,ä he said

Maktub are also part of the new Seattle musical landscape. Watts said he was surprised that people still think of Seattle as a grunge town, when the grunge scene has been over for a long time. The new Seattle sound revolves around bands like his that focus on sharp musicianship and improvisational skills.

ãWeâre a few groups that are pulling for one another. Thereâs definitely an improvisation theme,ä he said. ã (In Seattle) there are theme nights and improvisational shows, where we improvise mostly pop songs. Itâs kind of dance-oriented. Thatâs kind of what the (Seattle) sound is.ä

ãPeople still look at Seattle as a grunge scene. Itâs not a grunge city anymore. It hasnât been since â94. Thereâs been kind of a lull; there wasnât anything going on after that assault. But the last three to four years uprisings of new kind of groove bands,ä Watts said.

Playing live isnât the only way word has spread about Maktub. The band also has street teams, fans who like the band so much that they volunteer to promote for their upcoming albums and shows. The band also interacts with fans on their website, www.maktub.com, answering questions about songs and shows.

ãWe just try to take an active part in what is the band,ä said Watts. ãThe band is a community of people beyond themselves. Theyâre all interested in it, and itâs a great forum for people to talk. We like to be involved in it.ä

After Maktubâs mini-tour, which includes their July Fourth appearance at Plush (their second show at the venue), the band will begin work on its next record. Watts said they have five songs for the new album so far and will be working with a new producer. Interest in the groupâs last album has also attracted some major label attention.

ãWeâve been talking to label people. They seem like nice guys · maybe,ä he laughed.

Of course one question label people might be asking is where the band got their unusual name. The name, pronounced ãmock tube,ä is Arabic for ãit is written.ä Watts and the band got the name from the Paulo Coelho book, ãThe Alchemist.ä

ãItâs an affirmation ÷ sort of like saying, Îright on,âä Watts said.