The chart-topping All-American Rejects are invading Happy Valley to prove to students that the band's music is so good, it's bad.

"It's like scraping your fingers down a chalkboard while drinking a strawberry soda," All-American Rejects drummer Chris Gaylor said. "Like the soda, it's good but it's bad-ass."

The Rejects will be rocking the Bryce Jordan Center tonight as a part of its Tournado Tour, sharing the stage with Pennsylvania natives and veterans of the State College music scene The Starting Line as well as Gym Class Heroes and The Format.

Even though the tour is less than a week into its two-and-a-half month run, Gaylor said he thinks this tour will be a good one.

"I just have a good feeling about this one," he said. "It's going to be a cornucopia of music."

The Rejects' most recent hits include "Dirty Little Secret" and "Move Along," and Gaylor promises an eclectic show.

"Our shows are like emotional gumbo," he said. "We combine the upbeat with the melancholy and down-trodden."

The Starting Line lead singer Kenny Vasoli said students should expect an upbeat show full of energy because of the band's motto to play each show like the next one's not coming.

"We're really energetic. We try to play every show like it is our last," he said. "We don't stand there and look disinterested; we really try to connect with the crowd."

The Format's singer, Nate Ruess, agreed that the show will definitely have energy.

"[The show] sort of has its moments of ups and downs, but it is primarily upbeat," he said.

Vasoli said he thinks diversity is the key ingredient to a good show, and tonight's show will not only incorporate different musical sounds, but will also fuse elements of indie, hip hop and pop punk.

"Between us and Gym Class Heroes, it is a really diverse show," Ruess said. "I think it will be a great show personally. We always try to find a balance between slow and fast songs and old and new songs."

Vasoli said in today's music scene, where the big sellers are heartache and anguish, he tries to do something a little different.

"There is so much negativity in music, and nowadays darkness is the cool thing, but we try to make it a little sunnier in a hip-hop kind of way," he said. "No matter what subject we're playing about, we always try to have an optimistic kick."

Ruess agrees that his six-piece band tries to provide a fresh perspective as well.

"We have a lot of things going on in our live shows like horns and keyboards," he said. "We are not a standard band; we are very unique."

Unlike other shows, Ruess said in college towns they can really cater to their crowd.

"I love playing for college kids -- you sort of know your audience going into it," Ruess said.

Although most of the bands are new to State College, they said playing a college town is always exciting.

"We love playing at Penn State; every time it's a crazy show," Vasoli said.

Gaylor said the Rejects' newest CD, Move Along, is a testament to the band's growth.

"We've seen the world since the first record, and we've gotten a bit older," he said. "It's like Diff'rent Strokes or Full House -- we're coming of age."

Vasoli said touring always gives the band a chance to get its music to new listeners.

"I hope we gain some new fans and a couple people get to see us that have never heard of us before," he said. "It would be great to get some long-time fans out of this."

To all those students debating whether or not take part in the whirlwind tour, Vasoli has a special message.

"Just go. Why fight it? Why torture yourself?" he asked.

Vasoli said the tour will be put on pause during the holiday season for a well-needed break for the rockers.

"We're going to home for December and plan on getting into the studio on early January to record a new record," Vasoli said.

Gaylor said once the current musical bonanza comes to a close, the band is also planning on taking about a month off.

Ruess said his band will continue doing what they are doing.

"We are going to release another live EP and tour a lot -- it's what we've always done," he said.