The Philadelphia-based band Fosterchild, playing Saturday at 10 p.m. at Club 1402 in Reading, is not exactly trying to promulgate a trendy new sound. And that's exactly how they want it.
The band consists of Danny Beissel on vocals, Bob Pirylis on drums, Mike Vlaanderen on bass and Brian Quinn on guitar. While they mostly do all-original material, they've added a set or two of covers (mostly old-school covers) to their repertoire, not necessarily to please crowds (although that is a side effect) but to simply have fun. These guys love music, particularly rock music, and it shows in their music and their performance. And the rock they love is, again, old-school.

"We've definitely got a late '70s, early '80s vibe," noted Beissel in a phone interview. "Fosterchild has its own sound, but we (the band members) can pull from so many different experiences and influences. That's what makes it so cool."

The band has been compared favorably to such acts as Tesla, Led Zeppelin and The Cult, but if one listens closely, he'll hear shades of Pink Floyd, of Jeff Buckley, of Black Sabbath, and even of The Byrds and (one of Beissel's original favorites) Elvis Presley.

Beissel fell in love with Presley as he grew up; in fact, just out of high school, he formed a rockabilly band. After playing in that genre for a bit, he released a solo CD, then met Quinn. Kevin Miller had just left the band Fuel, and he started Fosterchild. A few years later, Miller is no longer involved, but the band - and its rock vibe - lives on.

The band has been making a living playing original music and has been garnering some accolades all throughout the Philadelphia scene and the national industry itself. It seems rock is not dead.

The cover sets are a new twist for the band.
"We're an original band," Beissel noted, "and we usually play one set. But when we add sets, we play a bunch of covers, and what I like about it is that we play all the songs and bands we love - the bands that influenced us. It's fun. Music is music to me; obviously I love doing my own songs, but I love playing these songs too."

As for what folks can expect at 1402 on Saturday night: "A high- energy, full-on rock show," Biessel said. "Expect 150 percent. We take no prisoner."

E-mail Jim Speese: weekend@readingeagle.com.