With the anticipation of potential delirium and exhaustion from remaining standing for 46 hours sets in, all those taking part in Interfraternity Council / Panhellenic Dance Marathon 2009 can look forward to having music as a motivational factor.
With a mixture of soul, ska and mainstream hits, here are the bands lined up to play.
Lowjack
With a fiddle, harmonica, keyboard and saxophone, Lowjack plans to bring a dose of Heartland rock to Thon.
Expect to hear songs by artists like Dave Matthews, Tom Petty, Talking Heads, Blues Traveler and the Allman Brothers, but don't be surprised if a Michael Jackson tune pops up as well.
"It's a fairly diverse band," fiddle player, guitarist and vocalist Dan Collins (junior-information sciences and technology) said before listing the different musical instruments featured in the band. "We can pretty much cover a lot of stuff musically."
The band got its start as an original band in August 2006, according to the group's MySpace page. Dennis Fallon, the main singer/songwriter of the band, left the group over the summer and lives in Seattle. Instead of disbanding, the group picked up Collins and, though Lowjack still has original music at its disposal, started to focus primarily on playing gigs at bars.
This will be Lowjack's first time performing at Thon, but the band isn't nervous.
"We're excited to have a nice sound system for a change and have a little stage room to move around," Collins said. "It's definitely an exciting event. It's nice to be able to contribute anyway I can."
Some Downtown Avenue
Any Thon participants who can appreciate ska music should pay attention when Some Downtown Avenue is let loose on stage.
By adding saxophone, trombone and trumpet into the usual guitar, bass and drum lineup, Some Downtown Avenue - a frequent performer at the Darkhorse Tavern, 128 E. College Ave. -- can faithfully perform a number of ska favorites. Those include "The Impression That I Get" by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and "Sell Out" by Reel Big Fish, guitarist and vocalist Chris Rizzo (junior-graphic design) said. The band also throws a twist on mainstream pop songs like Rihanna's "Umbrella" and Outkast's "Hey Ya!"
"We're not your normal, typical cover band," Rizzo said. "We try to play things that people normally don't hear."
Some Downtown Avenue is also in the process of recording a full-length album of originals that the band works into its setlist. Rizzo said the group hopes to finish recording in two months and plans to sell the album at its shows near the end of the semester.
For the band's performance at Thon, Rizzo said the members plan on getting the crowd involved and participating.
"A lot of people are putting a lot into Thon, so it's nice to do the same in our own different way," he said.
My Hero Zero
It's true Thon is for the kids, but dancing plays an important role as well. My Hero Zero will be making sure dancers have plenty of opportunities to move their feet.
The cover band got its start as a three-piece about a year ago but upgraded to four with the addition of guitarist/vocalist Greg Folsom in October 2008. With the addition of Folsom, the band has the ability to perform four-part vocal harmonies live -- a skill that comes in handy when performing Queen's "Fat Bottomed Girls" and Journey's "Anyway You Want It," Folsom said.
My Hero Zero has kept busy the past year with weekly Thursday shows at the Saloon, 101 Hiester St., and by touring for weekend shows in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and even North Carolina. Folsom said a State College show is not as demanding as a traveling gig.
"The tempo is a lot higher. You have to keep everything going at all times," Folsom said. "You go 45 minutes or an hour, doing your best to play the hits and keep people dancing."
The band doesn't yet have any originals recorded but plans on recording originals during the summer when its schedule is more relaxed. Folsom said the originals in progress are influenced by modern rock music in the vein of Foo Fighters and The Killers.
Go-Go Gadget
What is a Penn State event without "Zombie Nation" echoing through a large crowd?
Go Go Gadjet, a Reading cover band that frequents the State College music scene, will provide a cover of this football game staple during its set on Sunday.
"I've been in the stadium when people yell it, but to actually be playing it will be pretty bad ass," lead vocalist/guitarist Jeff Tomrell said.
Go Go Gadjet was "hunted down" to play at Thon for the second year in a row, Tomrell said, and the band was even offered cupcakes from committee members that said "Thon loves Go Go."
"We didn't know if it would work out logistically with our schedule but with their insistence, how could you say no?" Tomrell said.
The band will provide high-energy music this weekend to keep everyone going those last couple of hours and dancing their "faces off," Tomrell said.
The band's set will consist of sing-along songs, he said. Tomrell added the band will also cater to what the atmosphere is like.
"If they look exhausted or if they're perky it will probably change what I put down," he said.
Nicky Egan
Nicky Egan will bring an element of soul to Thon 2009 with her performance on Saturday night.
"Theres a lot of soul that's coming back now, which is really cool," she said. " I like Amy Winehouse even though she's a little screwed up."
Egan said her band will play five or six of her original R&B-influenced tunes during her set, as well as covers of old school songs like Michael Jackson's "Thriller" and recently popular tunes like Estelle's "American Boy."
"We tried to choose the stuff that is upbeat to get people dancing," she said, adding her sometimes-limited back-up band will be extended to include a bass, guitar, keyboard, drums, horn section and back-up vocals for Thon.
"We have expanded the band for this show to have a really full sound," she said.
Egan added this will be the biggest crowd she has ever played to, especially with her own music.
"It will be good exposure for our band," she said. "It's a really good thing to be a part of something that's beneficial to so many people, and we can get our name out around campus."
Other bands performing:
-Velveeta
-Whipple Jam
-Lemonsoul
-JR & Natalie band
