For those State College-ites who rely on the fast-paced world of punk rock music to liven up an otherwise dull and monotonous Tuesday evening, tonight's Dead Kennedys show at Crowbar, 420 E. College Ave., could be the ticket to an inundation of punk delights.

The lineup of the Dead Kennedys features original members East Bay Ray on guitar, Klaus Flouride on bass and drummer D.H. Peligro, who joined in 1980.

After a 15-year hiatus from its 1986 split, the band is back together with a new vocalist, performing its original punk tunes for its new and old fans alike.

The Dead Kennedys reformed in 2001 after Ray, Flouride and Peligro took on the search for a new vocalist.

Originally, they looked for someone with vocals similar to notorious ex-front man Jello Biafra, Flouride said, but they decided on Brandon Cruz, someone who would bring a new element to the Kennedys' sound. Jeff Penalty stepped up to the mic, taking over the vocal position in 2003.

The band has since released two live recordings of old shows, including Mutiny on the Bay and Live At the Deaf Club, capturing the old performances of the Kennedys in the San Francisco Bay area.

Before the Kennedys reappeared on the punk scene four years ago, the hype preceded them as word of their reunion started to spread on the streets.

"We rehearsed about three to four times in L.A. to get up to speed," Flouride said. "By word of mouth, the first show was sold out two weeks in advance."

Flouride, bassist for the band since its inception in 1978, said he never expected to play punk with the Dead Kennedys after their split and legal battle with Biafra over band royalties, but he's glad to give fans the opportunity to experience the music once again.

"It's bizarre; if you told me 10 years ago that I'd be touring with the Dead Kennedys, I'd tell you you were out of your mind," Flouride said.

Inspired by both old jazz musicians as well as modern ambient artists such as Brian Eno, Flouride said he believes that punk, like any other facet of pop culture, isn't on the decline from its heyday in the 1970s but is evolving naturally.

"Things morph and change. When we started, a lot of different things like art punk, new wave, techno and garage fit under one umbrella," Flouride said. "The shows were more varied. People say that the 'new stuff isn't punk' or that it's 'too poppy,' but look at the Ramones -- if they aren't poppy, then what is?"

Playing alongside the Dead Kennedys tonight is Pittsburgh punk band The Code, who are playing five shows with the Dead Kennedys.

Vocalist Marc Defiant said the band's music, like that of the Kennedys, carries with it important messages.

"We have a social political message and are defiantly in that genre of political punk, but we're still humans and have fun with our music," Defiant said.

Also playing is a new local punk band, The Deuces, based in State College. Lead guitarist Joey Lenze describes the band as straight punk.

"Our music is not very gimmicky; it's not 'screamo' -- when the singer whines and the other singer screams over it," Lenze said. "We play straightforward sing-a-long punk songs."

Lenze said he is also looking forward to sharing the stage with the Dead Kennedys.

"I'm pretty excited and interested to hear how they sound," Lenze said. "It's an honor to play with a band you listened to as a kid."