For 3, two is the magic number tonight, as it returns to State College for its second concert in town since last Wednesday.

But things will be different for the Woodstock, N.Y., band at this gig. Instead of playing a shorter set opening for headliners Coheed and Cambria at Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave., as it did last week, 3 will be the main act tonight at Zeno's, 100 W. College Ave.

"It was awesome. I was impressed with the kids. They were very receptive to the music," lead singer and guitarist Joey Eppard said of last week's show. "We're pushing the boundaries, so we never know what to expect."

With the self-described sound of a "heavy metal Steely Dan" and a strong opposition to the most powerful media conglomerates, 3 does seem to be pushing the boundaries of the punk/emo scene.

Always opposed to being filed under that -- or any -- genre, the group places a heavy emphasis on musical improvisation and making every show a "unique experience," Eppard said.

As the headliner, the band will explore the world of improv in greater depths tonight than it was able to at last week's show.

Together since the early '90s, 3 has had many "unique experiences," including performances at both Woodstock '94 and '99.

But the group's current lineup has only been together since January of this year, and it continues to progress.

"3 has been around, but we're basically a new band," Eppard said.

"The sound has really evolved. You mature over time, and you grow together."

One significant turn of events in 3's history occurred in 1998, when a merger with Polygram Records forced Universal Records to drop the band just before the completion of its first album.

The group was left hanging and decided to take a break; drummer Joshua Eppard considered quitting his instrument altogether, though he now plays for Coheed and Cambria.

When 3 reformed with a new percussionist, the album was eventually released on an independent label. The incident seems to have given Eppard a new outlook on the influence that big-time media corporations, such as Clear Channel Entertainment and MTV, have on music.

"I think the life is getting choked out of it," he said. "They create such a narrow bandwidth out of any scene. This band is about being unpredictable, and it's really about making great music, music that is organic as opposed to genetically modified."

Eppard said the group's current configuration features a very tight rhythm section that has played together in other bands for years.

Megan Pogoda (senior-journalism), who saw the group at last week's Crowbar show, said 3 had an interesting sound and noted its unique, two-drummer, spacey rhythm section.

"They kind of seemed like what maybe Phish would sound like if they played punk," she said.

Dave Staab, general manager of Zeno's, said even though he booked the band before the Crowbar date was announced, he expects the show to bring back an established audience.

With Thursday night regular Ted McCloskey scheduled to be out of town tonight, Staab said he felt that booking 3 just seemed like it would work.

As evidenced by it's quick return to State College, 3's biggest hope right now is to create a circuit and then revisit the towns it already performed in.

Amidst the improvisation and independence, the group just wants to play for its fan base.

Eppard said the band wants to keep connecting by fulfilling its basic goal of bypassing all the restrictions and instead going straight to the people. "This is our career, everybody's put their lives on the line for it," he said.