Being labeled is something the Bernard Allison and his band doesn’t want. Blues may be the foundation driving their music, but style and musical exploration have caused Allison and company to avoid being pigeonholed into any one category.

“We don’t consider ourselves a blues band, because we have a tendency to lean toward rock or funk,” Allison says. “However, blues is our foundation.”

Allison, along with his band The Bernard Allison Group, will return to the Maintenance Shop Friday after a three-year absence.

“I asked my manager why we hadn’t gone back,” Allison says. “I’m looking forward to playing there again.”

Allison says his interest in the M-Shop began long before his first appearance there.

“I’ve always liked the Maintenance Shop,” Allison says.

“When I was in high school I used to follow who was performing there.”

When Allison’s manager presented the idea of playing in Ames in 2000, he says he was surprised a venue as old as the Shop was still in existence.

“I was kind of surprised it was still around,” Allison says.

Allison’s group consists of keyboardist Mike Vlahakis, bassist Jassen Wilber and drummer Ron Sutton.

He says they try not to present concerts in the same area too close together.

“We’re not overseen in any area — we make people wait for us,” Allison says.

“If you see a band play four or five times a year, it becomes predictable.”

Currently the group is touring to support their live album, “Kentucky Fried Blues Live.” Allison says they are also focusing on places at which they haven’t performed recently.

Allison’s group is commonly referred to as a blues band — he says he disagrees.

“We just like people to come out and see us — let them be the judge of who we are,” Allison says. “That’s why we don’t use the label ‘blues band’ — we’re more than that.”

Allison’s father was blues legend Luther Allison, and he says that adds to the tendency for the band to be labeled as blues.

“Especially with me having a blues musician father, people think we’re going to be just blues, but we’re not all blues,” Allison says. “I have a wider vocabulary.”

The group’s new studio album, “Storms of Life,” was released in August 2002. The group hasn’t changed their style of recording much, and Allison says this is one of their strong points.

“Our fan base know and recognize our sound,” he says.

Allison and his band spend a major portion of the year on tour, which can be difficult, Allison says.

“You have to have a love for it,” he says.

“Its a lot of hard work, but we try to show ourselves around the world twice a year.”

Performing live shows is important to the group.

“We try to put on a show for people,” Allison says.

“I know when I go to a concert, I want to hear music. If I wanted jokes, I’d go to a comedy club.”