In a festival that thrives on off-the-wall ideas, “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari with Live Soundtrack” had to be one of the more creative I’ve heard from a Rogue presenter in recent years.

Local band The Nancies decided to adopt the moniker The Rhoda Penmarks and score a 75-minute soundtrack to a silent film from 1920, then perform the music as the film played.

After Saturday night’s show at Club Fred, there’s one conclusion I keep coming back to: The show was a total trip.

I’m not too proud to say the movie – “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari,” a German expressionist murder-mystery – was a bit hard to follow. But the point here isn’t the merits of the movie, it’s the music that goes along with it.

The band went all out, creating a score that is at times atmospheric, sinister and suspenseful. To help match the film’s mood, The Rhoda Permarks brought out some funky instruments like an old phonograph that used for samples and sound effects, an accordion and a Rhodes organ. Ben McEntee even played his guitar with a bow at many points. A project like this one is all about creating a mood – and the band did it very well.

The question is, should you see the show? Well, if you’re looking for a regular ol’ concert or a straight-ahead piece of theater, this might not be for you. But if you’re looking for a maniacal mix of music and theater, then “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” is a total trip.

Playing: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Club Fred, 1426 Van Ness Ave. Cost: $7. Rating: PG.