(Photo courtesy of The HillBenders)

The HillBenders on stage.

The Who’s rock opera "Tommy" was released nearly 50 years ago. There was a film version, and it even made it to Broadway.

And, recently, the bluegrass band The HillBenders started performing their own unique version.

The biggest single from "Tommy" was “Pinball Wizard.” Listen to the HillBenders’ take above.

The HillBenders have a guitarist, a bassist, a banjo player and performers on the mandolin and dobro. The idea for a bluegrass version of "Tommy" was brought to the band by its late manager Louis J. Meyers — one of the founders of South by Southwest.

Here to talk about the bluegrass version of "Tommy," which the HillBenders will play on Saturday at the Higley Performing Arts Center in Gilbert, is guitarist Jim Rea.