San Francisco-based band “Or, the Whale” will make an in-studio appearance at the ASUW RainyDawg radio station this Saturday.

The seven-member band plays what could loosely be called alternative-country-rock, and includes both male and female vocalists, harmonica, mandolin and washboard, among other instruments.

“We try not to fit into a genre. Once you try to classify yourself, it’s like you’re cutting off your fingers,” said Alex Robins, a singer, guitarist and banjo player in the group.

The band will stop in Seattle after playing in Portland, Ore., and will play a live show at Ballard’s Tractor Tavern after the appearance on the web-based radio show.

“Obviously the history [of the Seattle music scene] is prevalent in popular culture, but stuff is happening right now,” Robins said in a phone interview from San Francisco. “There’s some really great music up there.”

The band has never been on the UW campus, but RainyDawg DJ Lexi Morrit met the members at a previous show in Seattle. She has been playing their new album, Light Poles and Pines, ever since.

“We developed this little friendship,” she said. “These kids are amazing. … I’m all about promoting them.”

Morrit hosts “Lone Range Lullabies,” two hours of country and bluegrass on Sunday evenings.

RainyDawg has few listeners, and Morrit wants to attract more people to the online radio station.

“Listenership is pretty crappy. … I’m just a lowly DJ trying to make a change,” she said.

She also wants listeners to hear country as Or, the Whale plays it.

“The country that’s in the public consciousness is … repackaged pop,” she said. “They (the members of Or, the Whale) are great musicians on the whole [and] produce really genuine country music.”

The satirical newspaper The Onion included the band in its list of Worst Band Names of 2007. The name was taken from the alternative title to the classic novel Moby Dick, and Robins appreciates it.

“I like the fact that I have to repeat the name,” which makes it memorable, he said.

Or, the Whale also won San Francisco’s SF Weekly’s award for Best Alternative Country Band in 2007.

“We went from playing in the kitchen and annoying the neighbors to sold-out shows,” he said. “We’re [always] aiming towards bigger and better shows and songs.”

Or, the Whale will play from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 16 during a special edition of “Lone Range Lullabies.” To stream the show live, visit the RainyDawg Web site. Otherwise, the performance will be available in RainyDawg’s archives.

[Reach reporter Erinn Unger at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]