SPECIAL TO THE PENN Tasty music from the rock 'n' roll capital: Cleveland's The Matt Gerocac Implosion hits the Brown Hotel Jan. 22 at 10 p.m.

Brace yourselves, IUP, for The Matt Gerovac Implosion.

Described by The Duquesne Duke as "a combination of Jason Mraz, Maroon Five and a little bit of Jack Johnson," the Implosion has built its reputation on its soulgroove rhythms and poetic, often philosophical lyrics.

"I love soca, Afro-Caribbean and reggae rhythms. It's a driving force in the music," lead vocalist and guitarist Matt Gerovac said.

The Matt Gerovac Implosion has opened for such bands as String Cheese Incident, Ekoostik Hookah, Tim Reynolds, Freekbass, NRBQ and Leela James.

Gerovac, who has Croatian roots, grew up in St. Thomas in the Caribbean, went to college in Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio, and was born in Pittsburgh -- is the leader of a band as diverse musically as it is ethnically.

He has been playing guitar for 10 years and started the band about a year ago. Now a full-time musician with shows up to four times a week on the East Coast and in Ohio and Michigan, Gerovac also finds time to teach private guitar lessons and elementary school music.

Each member brings something unique and vital to the sound of the band.

Cutty, the keyboardist, brought blues into the mix. He began with tuba and added piano to his resume at the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he met Gerovac eight years ago.

Corby Hein, the bassist, started with cello at the tender age of 6 and picked up bass guitar at 13. Drummer Phillip Torres hails from Florida and has Irish and Puerto Rican family. He said that his musical influences are more jazz and pop/rock than other members. He began playing in Orlando when he was 12 years old.

"We all look different, but we're very good friends," Gerovac said.

The members met through mutual friends in the "close-knit" Cleveland music scene.

"As far as diversity is concerned, it's not something we think about," Gerovac said. "But it sets a positive example."

Gerovac cites his upbringing in the Caribbean as his philosophical inspiration as well as his musical one.

"Until I moved up (to Ohio), I wasn't brought up like your typical white middle-class suburbanite. The culture in St. Thomas is very different.

"The main industry is tourism. Many people come from the States to make a bunch of money then leave without showing any appreciation for the local people. There are huge shantytowns on one side of the island and mansions on the other.

"There was a lot of racial and economic tension."

Gerovac said he is ashamed to live in the state that decided the vote for President Bush. He feels that current politics are just one symptom of a bigger and more basic problem in human nature.

"I just think the world is in a state of unbalance brought on by mainly greed. The only reason we're in Iraq? Greed. The only reason we don't give more aid to poor countries that need it? Greed.

"I think ... it's a human tendency to want more than you already have.

"Everyone is capable of conserving resources, everyone is capable of being a peacemaker, everyone can step outside their own life and see a broader picture of our world.

"Everyone is capable of these things, but greed prevents it from happening."

Many of Implosion's songs are about "peace, consciousness, self-evaluation and social awareness." Gerovac, who writes the lyrics for the band, said his independence as an artist frees him from constraints on his message and the band's sound.

"Sometimes ... I think there's no way that mainstream media will adopt and promote something that is outspoken against ... consumerism, social pressure and stigmas and organized religion.

"Some of the powers in the music industry have taken any and all artistry out of the artist's hands. They've created affiliations where you can't get your music played on commercial radio unless you're signed with certain record companies.

"They're applying normal business practices to an art form -- and it's a really awful contradiction.

"The worst part is that it influences peoples' opinions on what good music is."

The band holds hope, however, in college media and word-of-mouth to promote their counter-cultural message and sound.

True to its independent credo, The Matt Gerovac Implosion gives out free promotional CDs at their gigs. They are currently working on their debut album.

The Matt Gerovac Implosion will be playing two shows at The Brown Hotel located on Water Street in Indiana Jan. 22 and March 3, both at 10 p.m.