Jeff Van Fossan is quick to deny he's trying to create a new Athens. Athens, Ga., that is.

"I don't think you can really create a scene," Van Fossan said, alluding to the birthplace of R.E.M. and the B-52's. "It just sort of happens on its own accord. What I'm trying to do is give good bands a place to play, simple as that."

Despite Van Fossan's insistence, Wednesday nights are looking a lot like that fabled southern city circa twenty years ago. Underground rock has a new home in State College. And it goes by the name of Roustabout!

Roustabout! takes place every Wednesday night at The Darkhorse Tavern, 128 E. College Ave. This week's Roustabout! will feature rock 'n' roll powerhouse The Washington Social Club, straight from the nation's capital.

The Washington Social Club, whose influences range from '70s Brit-punk to modern indie and everything in between, just finished recording its debut album this summer with Philly's star producer Brian McTear. Its energetic live shows have earned the band a following well beyond Washington, D.C., and its current tour finds them playing all over the East Coast.

"We're working our way up to Montreal for the Pop Montreal Festival," drummer Randy Scope said. "We're fleeing the hurricane!"

Scope said his band goes beyond its influences to create something new.

"I definitely think we're doing our own thing," he said. "I mean, it's indie-pop, up-tempo stuff, but there's a lot of range there. We just base everything we do on good songwriting and catchy tunes."

Van Fossan has nothing but praise for Washington Social Club.

"I overheard someone say that seeing them was like what it must've been to see The Who for the first time," he said.

Van Fossan's band, The Bullet Parade, will be playing a set as well.

"It's really hard to get gigs in this town," Van Fossan said. "It's really great of The Darkhorse to give us the opportunity to have cool music like this every week."

Ken Kubala, manager of City Lights Records, 316 E. College Ave., will also be DJ-ing.

"He's got an awesome collection of soul 45s," Van Fossan said. "He just got them out of storage this weekend, and we're making him spin them at the show."

Kubala has already made plans for some of the music he will play.

"I DJ-ed a wedding in Pittsburgh this past weekend, and most of the stuff I grabbed was old soul records," Kubala said. "I'll throw some garage punk in there too, I'm sure."

Van Fossan looks forward to creating a tradition, if not a scene.

"No one ever leaves [a Roustabout!] going, 'Oh, that was OK,' " Van Fossan said. "This is just solid rock 'n' roll that you can dance to."