Local and foreign talent will merge when State College-based The Red Light performs with Brooklyn's Sheryl's Magnetic Aura at midnight Monday at Zeno's, 100 W. College Ave. The show has no cover and The Red Light is performing first.

The Red Light, a collection of Penn State students, has been playing frequently in State College over the past couple years. This summer, Zeno's hosted the band once a month on Monday nights. It combines loud guitar rock with artful instrumentation and no vocals, similar to bands like Godspeed You Black Emperor.

The band is currently in the process of recording a demo to be distributed to the public. Its only other recording is a four-song live CD that was only given to friends of the band. The Red Light is also currently booking more shows out of the area, specifically a two-week tour in the Midwest.

Guitarist Chris Bell (graduate-art) formed the band two years ago when he approached friend and bassist Jeff Bundy (senior-media studies) at a Halloween party and asked him to start a band. After acquiring drummer Justin Staller (junior-art) and guitarist Jason Gorman (graduate-engineering), the band began to play together and perform downtown.

"We have a good work relationship," Bundy said. "It helps to perpetuate the cliché of band dynamics."

The show with Sheryl's Magnetic Aura developed when Bundy contacted the band after hearing its CD.

"The music just blew me away. I had the songs stuck in my head all the time," Bundy said.

Sheryl's Magnetic Aura started as the brainchild of Jarvis Taveniere, who began it as his own solo work.

Overcoming the loss of its drummer to cancer, the band has since been gaining publicity, touring with such indie giants as Yo La Tengo and Mercury Rev. The band has just released a four-song EP on its own label and is in the studio recording a full-length CD.

Bundy, who also books shows for Zeno's and Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave., said it was difficult for unknown original bands to find venues to perform in State College.

He is currently working on booking Mike Kinsella, formerly of Joan of Arc, for a show on Oct. 30.

Even though Bundy struggles to schedule such acts, the positive crowd response he's seen at Zeno's showed him that there is hope for his bands and others of the like.

"As long as people come and drink a lot, we'll get to keep doing it."