Rasmussen said the idea to host shows at the library came about when he heard of a band going on a tour playing only libraries on the radio program This American Life.
Kevin Moist, a co-author of the Deep Water Acres music Web-zine with Rasmussen, also helped with the show.
Moist said he doesn't think there's anything wrong with the music scene at bars, but he wanted to see more diversity.
Moist said the goal of bars "is to provide entertainment for college students to get drunk to." He said that because many local venues are bars, bands in town play things fitting for that scene. Moist said one of the goals of the library music series is just to give an outlet for other kinds of music.
"But not all kinds of worthwhile music are entertainment music -- not everything is background sound for a party," Moist said. "[Different genres of music] have very different goals, and thus they need a different kind of space to work in, something where the focus is on the music itself."
The show will feature State College-based Peacefeather. Group member Benjamin Wentz (senior-telecommunications) said the group is composed of multi-instrumentalists. He said the group's music ranges from the traditional rock format to electronic experiments using assorted items such as tape machines and modified electronic children's toys.
"With a goal to escape the nature of the highly conservative State College bar scene, Peacefeather grew out of the spirit of experimentation," Wentz said.
Wentz said the group has incorporated the audience into their act, including having 10-year-old children sit in during shows.
"We have no interest becoming the next big pop sensation," Wentz said. "We do have an interest in exploring random sonic possibilities along with our listeners."
Wentz said he was wary of labeling Peacefeather's music, but offered Captain Beefheart, Brian Wilson, Syd Barrett and DJ Screw as comparisons.
Wentz said Peacefeather's performance will also feature two video aspects, a malfunctioning Atari system and a live Internet feed from a collaborator in Florida.
Tonight's concert will also feature Philadelphia's Niagara Falls, another multi-instrumentalists act. Jeff Carpineta, who play bass, keyboard and percussion, said he met band mate Norm Fetter when the two were art students at Penn State.
"We all started playing more traditional rock, but by the time we left Happy Valley, we were all after something strange and intuitive," Carpineta said.
Niagara Falls is an improvised four-piece project, featuring instruments including the banjo, electric kazoo, violin and theremin. Fetter's friend Erich Breimhurst and Breimhurst's girlfriend Jennifer Lee joined the other two musicians for improv jam.
Carpineta said Niagra Falls is an "experiment that worked out like a dream."
Carpineta said group's improvisation helps separate it from the usual concert scene.
"What not to expect [at tonight's concert]: tons of beer breath and some a**hole going off about his ego or his problems. This is not pop-rock," Carpineta said. "What you might find [at tonight's concert]: people sitting, and listening close to the sounds that the instruments make."
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