They don't look like rock 'n' roll types.

Once State College's own ska source, members of Ruder Than You nullify any subversive rock 'tude with a clean-cut appearance and knowing smiles.

Ruder Than You is, well, not rude.

"We try to maintain a personal relationship with each and every one of our fans," said bassist Don "Mango" Pancoe.

Band members are more polite to their admirers than to each other. Sitting down for dinner Saturday night at Cafe 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., it becomes evident that teasing each other is their way of communicating.

Everyone ganged up on guitarist, vocalist and trombone player Dave Schneck.

"He's just a knucklehead," quipped saxophonist and vocalist Doug Dubrosky.

Schneck can take the heat and is quick to defend himself.

"We all have skeletons in our closets," Schneck said. "The greatest geniuses were, at first, misunderstood," he later added.

Simple cliches couldn't keep members from spilling the beans about Schneck's stint in a Cure-cover band, a prime skeleton for Schneck. Lead guitarist Greg Fain summed up the band's inner tensions.

"We seem to get along when we're making music," Fain said. "We basically don't get along personality-wise. We like to joke around."

When they weren't teasing each other, Ruder Than You exuded the confidence of an experienced band. Transplanting from State College to Philadelphia two years ago, the group moved to gain more exposure and learn from other ska bands. Ska fuses reggae and funk.

Band members -- Pancoe, Schneck, Dubrosky, Fain and drummer John Woodman -- spent the better part of their two years making enough money to self-release their new album, Big Step.

Along with the polite demeanor, members are smarter than the average rock stereotype -- Pancoe works as an engineer, Dubrosky is a hydrogeologist, Woodman works at the Academy of Natural Science, Schneck "the liberal one" does case work for social security recipients and Fain does tele-marketing.

Of course, members said they hope to ditch their day jobs for musical careers.

Like the album title suggests, Ruder Than You hopes to move on to bigger things such as national radio airplay, national distribution from premier ska label Moon Records, and an extensive tour.

So far the new record has reaped some national attention.

It has sparked radio attention from stations such as WXPN in Philadelphia. Stations and publications as far as California have reacted favorably, said Dubrosky.

Big Step highlights the band's diverse influences. An amalgam of dancehall and bands such as The Police and The Specials make for impressive ska.

When Dubrosky asked the waitress to see the specials, the other members chuckled at the irony.

Fortunately the band goes beyond post-punk reggae. Brimming with ska riffs and complicated beats, it makes for the perfect musical upper. Songs such as "Future Girl," the live standard "Take This" and "Swallow Blood" stand out among a crop of undaunting tunes.

Band members admit the new record is a far cry from their first demo tape they made two years ago.

"The last one was almost like a home project," Pancoe said. "This one is more professional."

Unlike the record, the band forgoes all professionalism up on stage, Dubrosky said. Ruder Than You performs best when things are least controllable.

The audience doing the skankplays a big part in achieving their anarchy.

"If nobody dances we feel wrong," Dubrosky said. "If no one dances it sucks . . . to sum it up."

Schneck described the band's live set in more metaphoric terms.

"It's kind of like that motorized Bronco that you've always wanted to ride," Schneck said.

Band members said they hope their motorized Bronco can excite more passion than the average rock 'n' roll kiss off.