Are they punk? Are they pop? There's only one way to find out.

However you'd like to classify them, Good Charlotte is coming. On Wednesday, along with Something Corporate and Mest, Benji, Joel and the rest of their spiky-haired, tattoo-clad coconspirators will bring their show to the Bryce Jordan Center.

After seeing the Beastie Boys back in 1995, twins Joel and Benji Madden decided they'd fancy starting a band. Having never sang or played any instruments before wasn't a hindrance for these Waldorf, Md. brothers, and they pushed on, rounding up a few old friends and the children's book they eventually named themselves after, and formed Good Charlotte. Playing gigs around the D.C. area for a couple years proved successful, as the band attracted the attention of Sony Music and eventually released a self-titled debut album.

"Little Things," its leadoff track, became a hit, and Good Charlotte was on its way. The band has toured almost constantly since that point and were it not for last year's cancelled No Doubt gig which the band was scheduled to open, Wednesday's show would be its fourth appearance in State College in as many years. 2002's The Young and the Hopeless has helped the band go from supporting act to big-name headliners, as singles like "The Anthem" and "Girls and Boys" have taken over the airwaves in recent months.

Jason "Fish" Miller, afternoon disc jockey and program and music director for WQWK-FM (97.1), said despite Good Charlotte's popularity, the band's brand of rock doesn't quite fit his station's format.

"They've kind of crossed over into the pop realm," Miller said. "We're really more of a rock station."

Despite the band's punk poses and Minor Threat outerwear, Miller is a little skeptical of Good Charlotte's sound.

"I kind of think of them as teenage girl music," Miller said.

However, Adam Smith (junior-supply chain and information systems) believes in the band.

"[Good Charlotte] helped me get through some rough times in high school when I didn't always feel like I fit in with everyone," Smith said.

Abby Cohen (sophomore-public relations) has a special connection with the Maryland boys.

"I knew them when Benji had two tattoos, and now he has 50," Cohen said. "I've seen them over 30 times. I would go to shows where there were 20 people there."

Cohen sees Good Charlotte's newfound popularity as a little bittersweet.

"They're just so famous now," she said. "I mean, I'm happy for them. It's what they wanted, but I want them for myself."

Opening the show will be the piano-driven emo-pop of Something Corporate, and Good Charlotte-alikes Mest.

Orange County's Something Corporate mix up its classic song-craft with plenty of teen angst. The group will release a new album October 21st.

"They're great piano rock," Cohen said. "They make the girls swoon."

Mest, who hail from the south side of Chicago, is touring in support of its new self-titled full length album "Jaded (These Years)", a track from that album, features Benji of Good Charlotte.