A band that has established a fan following in State College will make its return tonight at a new venue.

San Francisco's Tea Leaf Green will play 8 tonight at the State Theatre. The group will be joined by opener The Brew from Massachusetts. Tickets are $20.

Keyboardist and vocalist Trevor Garrod said Tea Leaf Green played several shows at the now-defunct Crowbar.

He remembered the bar out of all the venues at which his band has played over the years by its matte black-painted walls and one other interesting feature.

"That bar was in my top 10 for grossest back stages," Garrod said, laughing.

Despite that minor inconvenience, Garrod said his band enjoys playing in State College. This will be the group's first appearance at the State Theatre, which boasts a slightly different atmosphere than the Crowbar.

State Theatre marketing director Kristy Cyone said the number of fans the group has gained through its past State College performances helped make the booking possible. She said Tea Leaf Green was pitched as a possible booking since the Theatre's reopening in 2006, and this was the first opportunity the venue got to host the band.

"We heard the name from so many people in the community," Cyone said, adding the suggestions came from students and adults in the area.

Cyone said The Brew has played with Tea Leaf Green before and is building a following of its own. She described the group's style as a "musical melting pot," bringing together elements of rock, jazz, indie, funk and reggae.

Garrod said Tea Leaf Green is accustomed to playing shows in a number of different venues, from bars to theaters to outdoor festivals. He said he was sure his band's music would get the crowd involved, but added the group has a repertoire of softer songs that would be suited to a seated audience.

"I don't mind so much if people sit down and just mellow out," Garrod said.

Tea Leaf Green released Raise Up the Tent in July after working with a producer in Richmond, Va., to record the album.

"I like to say it's just rock 'n' roll music," Garrod said. "It's got a large classic rock influence. It's more of a look back than a look forward."

Though the group has gained a reputation as a jam band, Garrod said the band made an effort to keep the songs on the album concise.

"Save the jams for the live show," Garrod said. "Keeps the guitar solos eight bars long."

espite the more focused style of the album, Garrod said Tea Leaf Green will continue to stretch out and solo for the live show.

"We're just a bunch of animals who like to make noises with our instruments," Garrod said, laughing again.

He said the main reason behind his band's tendency to jam is a desire to keep each show interesting. By soloing and taking liberties with the songs' arrangements, he said, the members of Tea Leaf Green make sure every show is different.