Just days before Penn State's Battle of the Bands, two bands skipping this year's competition will showcase their own flavor tonight at the Darkhorse Tavern for Roustabout!

The Minor White, which played last year's Battle of the Bands and its fair share of Roustabouts, will be joined by fellow student rock band North.

Minor White guitarist Kyle Wall said the band was reluctant to try its hand at the Battle this year.

"We did apply to do it, but we were pretty reluctant about it," Wall said. "We did it last year, and it wasn't really our thing."

Wall said that the band's incongruity with the Battle's collection of usually guitar-heavy bands could have something to do with The Minor White's absence from the competition this year, as they are more piano-driven.

"State College is more based around the cover bands, guitar bands," Wall said. "We don't have a problem with it, but we do an original thing. We aren't exactly what a lot of Penn State students are looking for."

Although the band won't put its music to the test this weekend, Wall said the guys will showcase some material from their upcoming EP, Daily Vacation, to be released on Dairy Queen Records in Scranton.

"We finished our EP, which is coming out the beginning of May, so we'll be playing those songs," Wall said. "We're trying out some new stuff. On one of the songs, [pianist Roy Williams] plays bass and [bassist Ian O'Hara] plays piano."

Besides some lineup shuffling, Wall said the band will also incorporate a glockenspiel and a xylophone into its performance tonight.

In addition to The Minor White will be North, who is another veteran of Rousta-bout!. Unlike The Minor White, North is a rock band in the more traditional sense.

Jesse Ruegg, who is the promoter for Roustabout!, said that the band, North, seemed to have had a more accessible sound.

"They have a style with a more broad appeal," Ruegg said. "The vocals remind me of Sting. They have higher, clear vocals and simple arrangements."

Ruegg said the band has played the concert series a number of times, improving each time.

"With these younger bands, each time they play they get a little better," he said. "They haven't played all semester, so we're glad to get them in."