Mojo Banditos makes Sly McFly’s debut with locals who played together for decades.

Guitarist Chris Rauber of the Mojo Banditos shows a degree of reverence for his material not displayed by most cover band leaders.

“I came up with the band’s name,” recalls Rauber, “because if you think about it, we’re kind of stealing the mojo created by the original writers of the songs we play, because we’re a cover band.”

Rauber and bassist Anthony Crivello both grew up locally, but during their early friendship their musical tastes clashed.

“I was interested in hard rock,” says Rauber. “And Anthony was into alternative – our styles didn’t mix all that well.” They met at a church in Seaside when they were 8, and graduated from Monterey High in 1994.

At 15, Crivello and drummer Rick Ellis started playing together, and with the maturation of everyone’s musical tastes over time, the duo became a trio. “We were just messing around trying to come up with our own material,” Rauber says.

Rauber wanted to play for a live audience, so he asked his bandmates about doing covers. To his surprise, they were all on the same page. They set out to develop a playlist of radio hits, but progress was slow.

“When you are just jamming in a garage without a lead singer and you’re trying to visualize where you are in the song without words or a melody it gets kind of frustrating,” he says. Crivello suggested that they have his wife Theresa sing until they found someone permanent to fill those shoes, and the band was forever transformed.

Theresa started singing in church at age 5, though this is her first band. Rauber is amazed. “There we were in the garage and she’s like dancin’ around and having a great time,” says Rauber. “We had no idea she was so entertaining.”

To a set list that originally included Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Eric Clapton they’ve added DNC, Black Keys, Sublime, Stevie Wonder, Santana, ZZ Top and Maroon 5. The band is poised for a gig at Sly’s this weekend, with hopes of reaching a wider audience.

“I do feel that we offer something that’s special,” Rauber says. “A lot of that has to do with what Theresa brings – so much energy and a voice with great range and power. People go ‘Wow,’ and everybody has a good time when we play.”

MOJO BANDITOS 9pm Saturday, Oct. 1. Sly McFly’s, 700 Cannery Row, Monterey. No cover. 649-8050, slymcflysmonterey.com