FOXBORO - Kim Wilson has played with, and learned from, some of the best bluesmen and rockers in history. As a youngster growing up in California, he learned from legends like Little Walter, James Cotton, B.B. King and Muddy Waters.

The Fabulous Thunderbirds, the band he fronts, has included guitar wizards such as Jimmie Vaughan and Duke Robillard, and shared the stage with the likes of the The Rolling Stones, Joe Cocker and Carlos Santana.

But don't expect the Thunderbirds, who play a show at Showcase Live at Patriot Place next Thursday, to spend their time on stage simply paying tribute to other artists. And as Wilson explained in a recent interview, the band is in no danger of falling into a rut.

"I don't have a set list," Wilson said. He simply calls out the songs to his mates as the night moves along.

"You're not going to get a lot of dead air," he added. When the band comes to Foxboro, expect to hear songs spanning their 30-plus-year history and beyond. That includes plenty of blues, and music from the band's forthcoming album, tentatively titled "Pay Back Time," which Wilson called "kind of our take on R&B and soul."

The band had its commercial heyday in the 1980s with hits like "Tuff Enuff," "Wrap it Up," and "Look at That," but they've been around since 1974. Wilson is the sole original member (Vaughn left in 1990) in a band that has had many incarnations over the years.

They now incorporate a mixture of different music styles. "We're an American music band and we're higher energy than ever before," according to Wilson, who plays harmonica in addition to supplying the vocals.

Wilson, who just turned 58, is the band's leader and chief songwriter, with blues awards and Grammy nominations to his credit. But he's enjoying his collaboration with the group's current membership, guys in their 30s who listened to him play "when they were little kids," but who also have the experience and knowledge that the group requires.

"The band I have right now is an awesome band," he said.

But technical proficiency is not the key, Wilson stressed. "With blues, it's pretty much how you deliver it."

Wilson added that it's critical that the band have a unique identity. "It's very important to have your own voice," he said. "Most people don't want you knocking them off."

The Thunderbirds' music challenges its members. "It's something that you need to play all time," Wilson said. Rather than playing formal tours, they perform at many types of venues and takes gigs as they come. "We're always out when we can be."

The improvisation and variety, Wilson said, is also what keeps it fresh for the band and its multi-generational audiences.

The tough times the country is going through might also revive interest in roots music, as people place less stock in glamour and image, he said. Clearly, Wilson is still enjoying himself and bringing his energy and enthusiasm to his shows. "You can't move anyone if you can't move yourself," he said emphatically.

The Thunderbirds, it appears, will remain on the move for years to come.

The Fabulous Thunderbirds will play Showcase Live at Patriot Place in Foxboro at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 15. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com or call 866-448-7849.