Meet the Band / Table Top Poets

FYI: pop culture news

Hometown: Baltimore

Current Members: Jerry Wade, vocals and guitar; Larry Rohleder, drums; Patrick Kisicki, guitar; Mark Butler, bass.

Founded in: 2001

Style: college-rock

Influenced by: U2, Counting Crows, Pearl Jam

Notable: Though this four-piece did all but scrap Baltimore's traditional formula for local bands (one part punk, one part heavy and very, very loud) the chilled-out act has still managed to develop a market and a following. In fact, they're scheduled to play a number of in-town dates this month, including the SoWeBo Festival and the Baltimore Bike Jam.

Quotable: Wade on the band's outsider sound: "We're slightly on the lighter side, [whereas] the majority of the bands in town are going for a harder, heavier, edgier sound. You may not see us jumping around on stage and making a real animated and spectacular performance [because] the focus is more on emotion rather than release."

Check out the Table Top Poets Saturday at the Funk Box. Fools and Horses is also billed. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10. The Funk Box is at 10 E. Cross St. For more information, call 410-625-2000 or visit www.thefunkbox.com. For more information on the Table Top Poets, visit www.tabletoppoets.com..

To see the archive of profiled artists, visit baltimore sun.com/ meettheband