Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad will be performing "feel-good" reggae music to help lower the audience's blood pressure at 10 Friday night at Zeno's, 100 W. College Ave.
"Our music includes a lot of improvisation. It's really health-promoting music," said James Searl, the band's bassist. "Because you dance to it, it takes down your blood pressure. Everything we do is physical."
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad is a reggae band hailing from Rochester, N.Y., said Ami Heinrich, the band's publicist.
"The band is phenomenal and has a lot of high energy," Heinrich said.
Searl said the band comprises seven members -- two women and five men. He said each member plays different instruments, including guitars, a clarinet, bass, percussion and drums.
He said the concert will be a celebration for August and that State College is one of the band's favorite places to play.
"We are coming to Zeno's, playing in the basement and throwing down like we'll never do it again," he said.
Searl described the band's music as very soothing, feel-good music with soft drums and rhythms.
Giant Panda has shared bills with reggae greats The Wailers, The Meditations, Mad Professor and King Yellowman. The band has been joined on stage by members of Brazilian Girls, Thievery Corporation and String Cheese Incident, according to the band's Web site, www.tsunamipublicity.com.
Heinrich said the band has modern lyrics combined with an old reggae sound. She said its sound is very traditional and fun.
Searl said the band doesn't have a set list, "so our performances are always fresh."
"We will be playing songs from our album, Slow Down, plus songs that aren't on the CD and even songs we write that night," he added.
The band's name comes from the title of a book by author Tom Robbins, he said.
"The audience always ends up dancing as much as they can from the first note to the last note," Searl said.
The band members have been playing together for years, but the band has only officially played together for two, Searl said.
"It's healthy to come out," he said, "and the audience always seems to have a good time."
