JAPETA - BLACK URBAN-ROCK BAND, JAPETA, NUDGES SOCIAL CONSCIENCE OF LISTENERS. No-one saw it coming. It was showcase night at The Khyber in Olde City. White upscale gen-xers still crowded into the dimly lit rock club, just minutes before show time. Parading their grunge chic and latest piercings, they expected to feast on the usual Smashing Pumpkins and Nirvana clones, confident their rock, punk and alternative appetites would be satisfied. A new band, Japeta, takes the stage. They all pause. A dropped pin can easily be heard. No-one expected a Black punk rock band to rock this world.. With a knowing grin, the guitar player, wails his guitar in Jimi Hendrix's style to the relieved and approving nods of club-goers. Lead Vocalist, Roxanne Barlow (Roxy) of Pittsburgh, sashays on-stage, deftly applying makeup in front of a mirror, as she belts out, "I got a situation with a man that's complicated, ladies try to understand. He's in love with two women, of course one is me and the other is she. " "It starts from the time we walk into a rock club," says Lead Guitarist Mike Tingle, who performed with renown jazz organist Charles Earland and the group "Odyssey." "Club patrons and owners are always shocked to see us. Once they know who we are, they wonder what kind of music we're going to play. After they hear us, they always say, `I wasn't expecting that,' and then they tell us how different and awesome we sounded. Our music is a unique fusion of punk, rock and soul. We call it "urban rock" which didn't exist until we came on the scene. "...I didn't expect that type of sound," says Chris, the owner of The Nail in Ardmore. "It was like a pop/soul/rock mix. The lead singer is the focal point. She's energetic, fun, apprecia- tive, with great stage presecnce... She's so infectious... you want to get up an dance with her." Influenced by James Brown's show-stopping performances, Japeta comes alive with Roxy banging telephones, sporting water pistols, firecrackers, baby powder and other props -- peppered with her high energy dancing and Taebo kicks that add drama and shock to their social conscience lyrics. "I'm an African American woman with a white sounding voice," admits Roxy. "I book our gigs at local clubs by telephone. They're always expecting a white band. It's funny to see their faces when we arrive. A band has even stopped playing and stared at us, right in the middle of their set. But after we perform, the response is always enthusiastic. " Uttering the band's name, Japeta, may also hit a familiar chord. Inspired after watching the movie Pinnocchio, Roxy named the band after the lonely toy maker, Geppetto, who made a son out of wood. "Pinocchio wanted to become a real boy. It inspired me to become real in my music. I produce music that deals with hard core reality, topics that haven't been touched in music before," says Roxy, who writes all of her lyrics. Tingle writes the music. "In my song, "Sick No More," I wrote: "I don't want to be sick.... no more.... but I need a hit. So find me a hit! I lost my kid. I lost my wife. Tried to take my life at the age of 12, behind a trash bin, with me and a friend, can you comprehend this message I send..," she recites. "It talks about people on drugs who don't really want to be sick. They have all sorts of reasons why they lost their kids and spouses, but you still continue to chase your addiction. I know what they're going through. I robbed when I was homeless. The topics I talk about are what I've seen... drug addiction, hustling, jealousy among women, and older women forced to move back home with their parents." Japeta wants their music to have a positive impact on listeners, inspiring them to help change the world. Roxy plans to give back to the people experiencing the same circumstances reflected in her music. "Because I was homeless a couple of times, I dream of opening a homeless shelter." Another priority is opening a center for teenagers where they can get a Christian foundation, and learn how to face the challenges of the world when parents are out of control," she explains. "A homeless man who sits outside eating out a can and a rich man walks by and sheds no tear," she recites from her song, "Destiny." From 1993 to 2000, she volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, building homes in Mexico, Egypt, and cities throughout the United States. Meanwhile, Roxy continues to perform studio work with other artists. She co-wrote and performed two songs with Carol MacDonald, former lead singer of "Isis," for her soon-to-be-released CD. She's also featured and co-wrote a song on hip-hop artist, Kaserai's upcoming CD. Lead guitarist, Tingle plans to work in the studio with Terry Gamble, the nephew of Kenny Gamble, co-architect of "The Sound of Philadelphia." Japeta is currently seeking a recording company and plans to release a CD by the end of the year. But for now, they'll continue shocking and wowing club owners and patrons alike with return engagements at such popular rock clubs as: The Khyber in Olde City, The Nail in Ardmore, Doc Watson's in Center City and The Fire at 4th and Girard. For more information, contact Mike Tingle at mtingle@email.com JAPETA is one of the most unique creations to come out the Philly music scene. Led by guitarist Mike Tingle and vocalist Roxy, this 4 -piece band manages to bring excitement and energy to all of their perfomances. Playing a type of music they describe as "Urban Rock" they bring together elements of alternative rock, punk, and soul. Roxy's provoking lyrics and Mike Tingle's intense guitar make it all come together. All that is missing is you! Bio by Gayle Herbert Robinson freelancescribe@aol.com (215) 301-4588 Details Members Roxy B: Lead Vocals, Mike Tingle: Lead Guitar Similar Artists Linkin Park, Macy Gray, Santana, Jay-Z Influences Hendrix, Led Zepplin, Janis Joplin, Tim Duncan