By Tom Nader

Record-Courier staff writer

Eerie sounds will leak onto North Water Street in Kent on Friday night.

Thumping bass drums, eccentric keyboards, eclectic samples, chugging guitars and two vocalists leading the way.

All will come from one band, and all will come from inside the Kent nightclub Fat Jimmy's.

Causing all the commotion, down a staircase just next to Panini's, will be seven masked musicians known as Mushroomhead, who will bring its world-famous live show into Kent on Friday.

The band, which most often reserves its area shows for its hometown of Cleveland, will come to Fat Jimmy's as one of its dates leading up to its spring 2008 North American tour in support of its most recent studio album titled "Savior Sorrow."

While Mushroomhead has played dates in Kent before -- its most recent was on April 20 at The Barcode -- all of them have been at larger venues.

"We are expecting a big crowd, ticket sales have been very strong," said Jimmy Tribuzzo, the owner of Fat Jimmy's.

Big crowds are nothing new for Mushroomhead, who have been selling out area venues ever since the band became more than just a "side project" back in 1993.

The band's success has since amplified into one of the most memorable and most accomplished in Cleveland music history.

Mushroomhead has maintained a strong, loyal fanbase despite changes in the music industry, member changes, image overhauls and variances in its live show.

The band recently survived one considerable obstacle when vocalist Jason "J. Mann" Popson made the decision to leave the band in 2004 in order to spend more time with his father, who is now deceased, and also to concentrate his musical interests in new directions.

He has since founded the record label Fractured Transmitter -- whose major releases include Meshuggah, Integrity and The Alter Boys -- and has also formed the band Pitch Black Forecast.

Popson's exit from Mushroomhead seriously challenged the band.

Replacing Popson in the lineup was not an easy task for those who understand that he is the face of Cleveland music.

Following a recommendation by Popson, stepping in to fill the void was North Carolina native Waylon Reavis.

Reavis would be introduced to Jeffrey "Nothing" Hatrix, Mushroomhead's other vocalist since its inception.

And a "new" Mushroomhead was created for a band that is always evolving.

New looks, new songs, new sounds, new stage shows and now a new frontman -- Waylon.

With the guidance of founder, producer and drummer Steve "Skinny" Felton, along with longtime members "Nothing" and keyboardist Tom "Shmotz" Schmitz and bassist Jack "Pig Benis" Kilcoyne -- Waylon eventually fit right in.

Add in Dave "Gravy" Felton's guitars and Rick "St1tch" Thomas' samples into the mix, and you have a collection of seven that unite as one to form the sound known as Mushroomhead.

Fans will always remember Popson and his importance to Mushroomhead, but since his absence three years ago, Waylon has created his own identity.

With long dreadlocks, white face paint and hummingbird design across his forehead and down the bridge of his nose, Waylon comes across as an intimidating figure.

Behind the paint and screaming vocals is a guy who loves the cartoon Squidbillies, has a young son with another child on the way and is just as interested in singing melodies over the top of Mushroomhead's patented sound -- as evidenced on the song "Save Us."

And on Friday, the seven-piece outfit will leave its unmistakable imprint on Fat Jimmy's and the city of Kent.