On Oct. 29, 1996, the now-extinct Crowbar was packed with hundreds of mosh-friendly Misfits fans who came out to hear Michale Graves, the new lead singer of the band.

Ten years later, Graves is set to return to State College, stopping by the Brewery, 233 E. Beaver Ave., for an acoustic performance organized by Cherry Darling Productions.

Opening for Graves will be three local acts that will be following the acoustic theme for the night: Jason De Leon from the Wilcox Hotel, Johnny Counselman from the Barroom Pirates, and The Clover, an Irish rock band.

"We expect a really great turnout for the local bands alone," Cherry Darling promoter Meredith Rebar said. "Michale Graves should bring an even bigger crowd since he's famous for being in the Misfits."

Graves got his start in 1995 with the horror-punk Misfits when he saw the band was auditioning new lead singers.

The band had been on hiatus since 1983 when Glenn Danzig, the lead singer at the time, left the band.

Devoted Misfits fans were skeptical of Graves' ability to front the band, but Graves soon developed his own equally strong following.

De Leon, Wilcox Hotel's lead singer, believes that Graves helped give the Misfits a refreshing sound after the release of American Psycho, which was the first Misfits album to feature Graves.

"He replaced Glenn Danzig, and I think that upset a lot of hardcore, old-school Misfits fans," De Leon said. "[Graves and the Misfits] weren't trying to copy older Misfits. I thought it was a whole new sound and refreshing that they are putting out this record years after not playing instead of reverting back to old stuff. It showed they had evolved."

In addition to being fans themselves, De Leon and Counselman are both excited to open for Graves.

"I'm definitely excited about it," Counselman said. "The Misfits are definitely an influence for the Barroom Pirates."

Proceeds from the show will go to benefit Damien Echols, one of the three men accused of triple homicide in 1993 in West Memphis, Ark. Echols was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, but he still remains in prison to this day. Skeptics of the conviction believe that Echols was wrongly accused.

"It's a good cause," De Leon said. "I don't think that the West Memphis Three were responsible for that murder. Clearly a lot of people feel that way ... benefit records have been coming out probably for the last six or seven years."

Echols even has several co-writing credits with Graves on his latest solo album, Illusions.

Echols' poetry is featured on five of the songs off Illusions, and he also co-wrote "Army Reserve," a song from Pearl Jam's self-titled album.

"It's really difficult for people to release records and art from prison," De Leon said. "He may spend the rest of his life in prison so I think, on some level, it's nice for him to have an outlet."

Counselman said he is also grateful for the opportunity to play a benefit show.

"It's always good when you can get a chance to play a show, but to know the proceeds are going to a good cause, it's just an added bonus," Counselman said.