The members of The Apathy Eulogy will do their best to cajole Penn State students to embrace the cajon at noon Friday in the HUB-Robeson Center.

A cajon -- a box-shaped Latin percussion instrument -- has become the distinct cornerstone of the band's acoustic music. Rob Kelly, guitarist and vocalist for the band, said this instrument gives the music a less cluttered sound than what would arise from a drum set.

"It really brings out the acoustic guitars," he said. "The sound is a lot more focused on vocals."

He added playing the instrument requires the same level of skill as playing a conga drum, but because you sit on top of it, this allows more versatility with multiple striking surfaces.

"Because it's a box it has a solid base tone," he said.

The cajon is just one of the elements that encompasses the band's "high-octane acoustic pop," Kelly said.

The band also tends to incorporate "Beach Boy-esque" harmonies for their vocals, Kelly said, and considers Brian Wilson to be a No. 1 writing influence.

"We work hard trying to create melodies and harmonies that will stick to the walls of people's heads," he added.

A writer for Scene Trash Magazine described listening to the lyrics as feeling like "you just read someone's journal." The band embraces writing these personal lyrics, which is where the band's name comes from.

"What the name means is the death of not caring," Kelly said. "Everything is played and written with full emotion and passion."

He added he always writes from personal experience, and that his songs are a "little snapshot" of how he is feeling.

"If it didn't move me in a certain way, there is no point in writing about it," he said. "This might be something other people are going through in their life, which makes it easier for them to relate."

The band will release a new full-length album in April titled Resolved to Dream and will hold a release show at the Recher Theatre in Maryland, at which every attendee will receive a free copy of the album.

Mitch Ryan, keyboardist and percussionist for the band, said while recording the new album, the band embraced an "old-school Apathy Eulogy mentality" of recording.

"It's a more raw sound, but at the same time it's a huge step forward just music-wise," he said.

He added the band members do a lot of the technical and public relations work for their albums, because they are unsigned and without a manager.

The Apathy Eulogy records in the basement of an ex-bandmate, who Ryan said has "settled down."

"I'm not ready for that yet," he said. "I like traveling and meeting new people too much."

Kelly said he hopes the band's music will be something Penn State students will enjoy listening to while eating their lunches on Friday afternoon.

"This is the atmosphere we love to play in, and the demographic, too," he said.

Altough the swarm of hungry students will not be the largest crowd The Apathy Eulogy has played to, Kelly said the band will morph to whatever conditions a show at the HUB will require.

"We adapt to anything," he said. "Whatever people want is what we'll do. We're just trying to get our music out there."