Being on tour for weeks at a time with five other people in one van gets to be a bit wearing. To avoid the monotony, the members of Lubriphonic do impressions of famous blues harmonica player James Cotton. This is especially apt because the band’s drummer and trombonist both have collaborated with Cotton.

Hailing from Highland Park, Ill., Lubriphonic will bring its “groovy organic funky rock” sound to the Yacht Club, 13 S. Linn St., for the first time on Saturday. Iowa City’s Slip Silo will open for the sextet at 9 p.m.; tickets are $7.

Guitarist and vocalist Giles Corey and drummer Rick King formed Lubriphonic in 2000.

“Over the years, it developed into what it is now, which is a horn-based rock ’n’ roll band,” Corey said. “It grew into being something that we’re doing as our main project as opposed to just a side thing.”

Corey is the only member who isn’t a Chicago-land native. In his first musical gig, he played guitar for legendary bluesman Buddy Scott, whose grandson is Lubriphonic bassist Joewaun Scott.

Last month Lubriphonic performed to a sold-out crowd in the 18th-annual HopeFest at the Park West Theatre in Chicago. HopeFest, which is free to the public, is a fundraiser for the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. Every year the event offers health screenings, school supplies, and haircuts for those who need them.

“It was an honor to be invited to play a gig like that,” King said. “It had a deeper meaning than just playing a party.”

King has toured the globe with Grammy-winning artists such as Chuck Berry, Junior Wells, and Bo Diddley. The drummer has also appeared in the documentary History Makers with B.B. King as well as Martin Scorcese’s The Blues.

Lubriphonic’s sound is rounded out by Johnny Cotton on trombone and Ron Haynes on trumpet.

About six months ago, the group recruited an alto saxophonist who goes by T.K. or Tequila Kid.

In 2001, Lubriphonic released its début self-titled studio album. Next was Supermoncho a “hybrid” album that was recorded in 2005 at the venue Alive One in Chicago. The band brought in equipment to record a studio album, but they also invited a select group of friends to give it a bit of a live feel.

“We were able to have the best of both of worlds,” King said. “We recorded live in front of our friends, yet we had professional studio gear in there with us.”

Last year, the group released another studio album, Soul Solution. The release of Live at Alive One — a 10-song set recorded over a single night — followed later that year.

“We’re a live band, and we’re live musicians,” King said. “Our live show is really what represents us.”

This summer is looking busy for Lubriphonic with performances scheduled for the High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, Calif. as well as the group’s second trip to the Wakarusa Festival in Arkansas. Lubriphonic also hopes to release another studio album by next fall.

At present, Corey is recovering from an ankle injury and is ready for the group’s Iowa City début.

“The Iowa City Yacht Club is a renowned sort of venue,” he said. “There are a lot of bands from Chicago that we’re friends with that have played there, so I’ve been looking forward to doing the gig.”