Tomorrow night the 2007 Movin' On Battle of the Bands will take place in Alumni Hall of the HUB-Robeson Center. Penn State bands had to send in two or three original songs to the Battle of the Bands committee chairs who then selected ten to compete in the show. At the end of the event three bands will be awarded the spots reserved for Penn State bands to play during the annual Movin' On concert.

Red Corner

Arctic Summer

Genre: Reggae funk rock

Influences: Sublime, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 311

Drummer Jason Martin (senior-mechanical engineering) said they have never won a competition before, and they don't expect to win this one either.

"We never win battles," Martin said. "We're all cool with it. We're just in it to have fun."

Martin said that the band plays a "kickass live show" that's a little harder and a little reggae but brings a lot of energy.

The Fever Dream

Genre: Alternative experimental rock

Influences: Tool, Muse

The Fever Dream plays a show based on spontaneity and sharing its musical experience with the crowd.

"We set ourselves apart with a different sound," Alex Giovanelli, who plays rhythm guitar and keys for the band, said. "We're not afraid to play a seven-minute progressive song."

Someone Say Something

Genre: Pop punk rock

Influences: Blink-182, Yellowcard, New Found Glory

Goofy and crazy is how lead singer Tim Sussman (freshman-science) described Someone Say Something's live show.

"It's very personal and very happy," Sussman said. "We try to get our faces in the crowd's faces, to get connected with the crowd."

Sussman said while it would be nice to win the competition, it was not the band's reason for entering.

"It's not about winning -- it's about having fun," Sussman said. "I know that's the cheesiest, most clichéd thing to say, but that's the truth. Most bands are too serious. We're more about -- not serious."

The Slant

Genre: Folk rock

Influences: Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Cream and the Beach Boys

Instrumentation will probably set the Slant apart from the event's other bands, bassist and piano player Brad Austin (junior-geography) said. Originality plays a role in why Austin thinks his band will win the competition, namely the fact that his band has never once played a cover.

Austin said the band's recorded material was a little calmer than its live show, which "rocks more" and is "pretty energetic."

"People seem to have a lot of fun," he said.

The Slant

Genre: Folk rock

Influences: Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Cream and the Beach Boys

Instrumentation will probably set the Slant apart from the event's other bands, bassist and piano player Brad Austin (junior-geography) said. Originality plays a role in why Austin thinks his band will win the competition, namely the fact that his band has never once played a cover.

Austin said the band's recorded material was a little calmer than its live show, which "rocks more" and is "pretty energetic."

"People seem to have a lot of fun," he said.

Blue Corner

Lemonsoul

Genre: Rock with a latin and world influence

Influences: Jazz, folk, latin, African

Lemonsoul is perhaps best known to State College as the Phyrst's Sunday night cover band. But vocalist/guitarist Dan Vidmar said the band's got its share of original music as well.

"Our covers are all over the place just because we play in a bar," Vidmar said. "A lot of people classify us as a jam band. Our originals would be more along the lines of that."

The Man

Genre: Funk rock
Influences: War, The Meters, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck

As a returning champion of the Battle, The Man has experience in addition to dynamics, bassist Ben Rothbart said.

"We have a couple guys in the band who switch up instruments when they play, so we change our dynamics," Rothbart said. "I feel like we have different musical influences than everyone. We like to take our influences and add our own style to them."

Johnny Action Figure

Genre: Indie-rock/pop-rock

Influences: Beach Boys, Elliot Smith, My Morning Jacket, Elvis Costello, Tom Petty

Johnny Action Figure's weapon of choice in the Battle will be its use of harmony, something guitarist/vocalist Chris Sheehan said is a hallmark of the band.

"We have three-part harmony throughout all our songs," Sheehan said. "We're a really fun band, we like to have a good time. We're all about playing live."

Hopes High

Genre: Pop/rock

Influences: Blink-182, U2, Yellowcard, All-American Rejects

Don't let the pop-punk fool you. Guitarist Keenan Hall said the band, though focused on that style, likes to mix it up.

"We're kinda just having fun with the band. That's what kind of style we play most. We have some harder songs that you could consider more metal-ish," he said.

Lidz

Genre: Drumline
Influences: Oscar the Grouch and rhythm

According to Lidz' Seth Bradley, the band is "the ultimate in garbage entertainment." The percussion quartet from Altoona has performed at PNC Park as well as fairs across the state.

The band's signature is playing on trash cans in addition to interacting with the crowd.

Lidz has experience playing in State College in addition to its shows across the state, having played in the 2006 Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts.

- Compiled by Adam Clair and Kevin A. Doran