Zelazowa guitarist Kyle Weber said getting the chance to open up for rock band Creed was nothing short of surreal -- primarily because he was on stage at the Susquehanna Bank Center.

"This was the arena we went to to see every single major concert while we were growing up," Weber said.

Based out of Philadelphia and New York City, the alternative rock band has toured the United States and Europe twice. But now, Zelazowa is taking a break to focus on playing regional venues.

Tour manager Chris Gannett said the band primarily wants to tour the East Coast, focusing between New York and Virginia.

"We're trying to stay away from going all over the place," Gannett, Class of 2006, said.

The name Zelazowa is a variation on the Polish town, Zelazowa Wola, where famous composer Frederick Chopin was born, Weber said. Weber's brother and the band's lead singer, Bryan, discovered the name of the band.

"All popular music is influenced by those kinds of composers through modes and time changes and key changes," Weber said.

Weber also said the translation of the band's name in Polish -- "steel will" -- defines his attribute of being a seasoned road warriors.

The band formed in high school in Downingtown, a suburb of Philadelphia. It also has a strong New York following -- they've been playing at New York bars since Weber, a graduate of New York University, was "old enough to drink," he said.

"We've treated New York and Philadelphia as dual home markets," Weber said. "We've been able to develop our fan base in those markets more than anywhere else."

When the band went overseas, it played venues associated with ticket outlet Live Nation in Germany and Norway.

"We hit everywhere from Germany to Holland, the whole United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, France... There was such a great response."

Meredith Rebar, founder and promoter of Cherry Darling Productions, said she booked them four or five times in the past.

"They keep asking for more dates, and I'll keep giving them to them," Rebar said. "They're probably one of the biggest bands that I work with consistently."

For the first time, Zelazowa will play at 797 Lounge, 324 W. College Ave. Weber said he is excited to play an 18-and-older concert venue.

"State College is in a rut for music coming

into town if its not a major touring label act," he said.

Weber said there have been more and more people in the audience every time the band comes to State College. Zelazowa has a fan base that ranges from 15- to 50-year-olds and mainly attracts people who enjoy "high-energy rock music," he said.

Weber said his youngest brother is a student at Penn State.

"People from Philadelphia just flock to State College," he said. "Half the people we know from high school went to State College."