Dancers at this weekend's Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon will not be the only ones working hard for a good cause.

Four well-known local bands will give mini-concerts at the marathon to help children with cancer.

Although lesser-known bands were required to compete for spots at the marathon, J.R. Mangan with Stolyn Hours, Koehler Bay, Phyrst Phamly and the Earthtones were actively recruited, said Kirsten Vensel, chairwoman of the Marathon Entertainment Committee.

Stolyn Hours

The Four Diamonds Fund cause was partially responsible for inspiring a reunion of Stolyn Hours and its founder, J.R. Mangan, who went their separate ways at the beginning of this semester. Mangan stated the reason for the break-up as the individual success of himself and Stolyn Hours, now playing as Coda. The band also sees the marathon as a great chance for exposure to those under 21 who can not see bar performances. From 5 to 6 p.m. Sunday, the group will perform classic rock and newer music by Tom Petty, the Cure and the Replacements.

Koehler Bay

Sylvia Feldman of Koehler Bay said her band "likes to do philanthropic kinds of things." The two women will play their brand of acoustic rock, including songs by Suzanne Vega, the Indigo Girls and Creedence Clearwater Revival, at 3 p.m. Saturday. Although they have written some original songs, Feldman said they will only perform one of them. She said they will play it at the marathon if no young children are present.

"It's kind of crude," she said.

The band plays regularly at Stoney's Post House Tavern, 146 N. Atherton St., and is trying to write more music. Feldman said they don't plan to specialize in risque lyrics.

Phyrst Phamly

At 2:30 Sunday afternoon, the Phyrst Phamly will rile exhausted dancers with its original theme song, "Saturday Night." The "only sing-along band in town" has been playing the dance marathon for ten years and the members love it, said band leader and banjo player Ernie Oelbermann. He said the band will play more upbeat novelty music, such as the TV theme songs from "Gilligan's Island" and "The Brady Bunch" and the oft-requested "Unicorn Song." Although the band has been immensely popular with University students in the past, Oelbermann said he does not want to risk playing certain medleys.

"I would kind of hate to throw polka out on Sunday afternoon. Oh, that would hurt. We're trying to be easy on the kids," he laughed.

Earthtones

The Earthtones started playing the marathon about 5 years ago when it was a young band in search of a little exposure, lead vocalist R.T. said. Now that the band has a faithful following in the area, it continues to perform at the event because the members believe in what it stands for. He said the 10-member band, which specializes in reggae, soul calypso or soca, and soft African rhythms, is working in a new bass player and is just coming off a month-long break. At 8:30 Friday night, the group will play covers of such artists as Bob Marley and some original songs. R.T. said he believes the music the band plays appeals to everyone.

"We are trying to rejuvenate and redeem the good spirit and the conscience," he said.

J.R. Mangan

Fun, frolic and familiar tunes are on tap for marathon dancers courtesy of bar-frequenting classic rock bands and singers.

Local musicians J.R. Mangan and Pete Thistle and Philadelphia bar band Malakai Jones are scheduled to perform rock 'n' roll favorites, acoustically and electrically, at the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon.

Mangan, a fun entertainer and musician, couples his acoustic guitar playing with a sense of humor that often draws audience participation.

"Hopefully, if (the dancers) are up for it I'll try to get sing-alongs with them," he said.

For the marathon, Mangan said he will play upbeat material. He also has been known to evoke the unthinkable: a favorable reaction to Barry Manilow's "Copacabana."

After a half-hour solo he will join with Stolyn Hours, which has reunited for the marathon.

This performance may enter Mangan and Stolyn Hours into the annals of the dance marathon tradition. Mangan with Stolyn Hours gives its fifth performance in as many years. "I'll play as long as they let me," Mangan said.

Mangan said he and Stolyn Hours will close the show for the third consecutive year while playing from 5 to 6:30 Sunday night. "By that point in the night, they're pretty psyched up," he said. "The dancers are usually pretty responsive."

Pete Thistle

Pete Thistle, a University student who has been playing recently at local bars, meshes synthesized background music with keyboard playing.

"Thistle plays everything from Howard Jones, Billy Joel, Elton John and even a little Poison," said Sean Kapp, an employee of Stoney's Post House Tavern, 146 N. Atherton St. "He is multi-talented; he has a broad repertoire compared to other local bands," Kapp said. "He plays a lot of recent stuff rather than the 20-year-old stuff played by other bands."

Thistle has also made himself known through his bizarre style of dress.

"He doesn't wear shoes," a Stoney's employee said. "We call him 'Shoeless Pete Thistle.' "

His sound and style may be just what the dancers ordered. Kapp said that one night, Thistle performed a Paul Simon tune that prompted the patrons to "form a dancer's congo line that went all the way around the room." Thistle will play from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday.

Malakai Jones

A band that also began building its reputation in local bars is Malakai Jones. The four members are Matt McNutt, rhythm guitar and vocals; Richard Ingersoll, lead guitar and vocals; John Anerson, bass guitar; and John Gaw, drums.

"We are an original band, but for dance marathon we'll probably play songs from Tom Petty, the Stones, Grateful Dead, REM and maybe even a Beatles tune," said McNutt, who explained the band does not play covers. He said fans have compared Malakai Jones' sound to REM and The Byrds.

The band makes its marathon debut from midnight to 1 a.m. Saturday. "I hope we can be a refreshing change for them," said McNutt. "We hope to keep them going."

Brigade

Among the many valiant knights coming to battle the evil sorceress of children's cancer on the battle grounds of this year's dance marathon will be Brigade, Flashback and the Bavarian Stompers.

At the stroke of midnight Friday, Brigade will hit the stage, five members strong in all of their hard rock fury. Slaughter, Guns and Roses and Van Halen are some of their favorite weapons of rock, said Brent Martin (junior-broadcast cable), keyboardist for the heavily equipped sound buster. The band's single set will also employ selected music from such bands as INXS and Peter Gabriel, he said.

Mostly on-the-road performers, Brigade may not be a household State College name but the members claim they have their reasons. "We have so much equipment we usually can't fit onto the stages at the local bars," lead singer Stephaine Wolf (senior-English) said.

"Our drummer makes it a habit to keep buying stuff," she said.

Although lights may be limited at the dance marathon, Brigade's light shows flood rooms and its sounds have often been destructively powerful. Martin spoke proudly of the time Brigade blew out its sound system and the bar's lights, causing the unfortunate Altoona bar to close early.

"We're one of the loudest," said Martin, who also mentioned an agent had approached Brigade for an east coast tour. The band declined because of members' school schedules.

Flashback will see the sun at 5:30 a.m. Saturday. The band comes from the far away lands of Indiana, bringing the four diamonds of courage, honesty, strength and wisdom along with the members' own crusade -- the Campus Crusade for Christ.

Flashback

The band's tour has included five weeks in Manila, Philippines, last summer and will continue through the United States on its way to Daytona, Florida for a spring break performance.

Flashback plays mostly classic rock 'n' roll from the '60s and '70s, said Todd Onsa (senior-speech communications). The four piece, semi-professional band will play a lot of Doobie Brothers, Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Eagles, he said.

"They sound more like the Beatles than the Beatles," Ken Kruger (senior-speech communications) said.

Bavarian Stompers

The oompah of the Bavarian Stompers will, in the time of need, do all possible to heighten the dancing warriors' morale. The band's German-style, Oktoberfest music will begin at 9:40 Sunday morning.

The Bavarian Stompers will ask the audience to join in with sing-alongs and, of course, do the famous chicken dance, said Mark Rossow (senior-biology), one of the morale captains planning to play trombone with the Stompers.

The chicken dance is a popular dance originating in Europe played most often at weddings and other events, he said.

The Bavarian Stompers often play Friday nights at the Hi-Way Pizza on Westerly Parkway, and have developed a small Stomper cult.