This Funk, Hip-Hop, Techno, Rock and Pop band of twenty-somethings has a unique sound that crosses all genres and appeals to all ages. Think bossanova great Antonio Carlos Jobim meets Steely Dan meets Phish meets Red Hot Chili Peppers meets G-Love.

Meet The Tappas, Six degrees of separation - one unique sound. But The Tappas are not trying to be all things to all people - just true to themselves and their music.

"We know we have this really original sound," says drummer Anthony Doyle, 22. "We're a band that likes to break down the funk, lay on some Latin influence with a touch of blues guitar. The main thing is we want to be good musicians."

The members of The Tappas started playing together as seniors at Strath Haven High School in 1997. College broke up the Swarthmore/Wallingford-based band and their gigging was relegated to Christmas, spring, and summer breaks.

When they did jam, the sessions went on forever. "Our songs would go on for hours on end - sometimes three hours straight - without stopping. We were influenced a lot by Phish," says Doyle. "It really mad us improve as musicians"

After college, the guys graduated to full time musicianship.

"Everyone's home now and now one's leaving the area. We want to pursue this," says bass player Mark Zangrilli.

Besides their homespun, worldbeat sound, Zangrilli says another unique feature of the band is their longtime friendship. "We grew up together. We've been friends since middle school. Most bands are separate musicians trying to find each other. We know each other well and we're going to stick together."

Zangrilli also shed some light on the band's unusual name. "Tappas are a Spanish appetizer and out logo is a chocolate covered cracker. It doesn't make sense and it's not supposed to make sense," he explains.

The Tappas went public with their fusion-funk sound in February of 2002 at the West End Saloon in Media and have been calling the restaurant/bar home ever since.

"They got their star here," says Randy park, booking agent for the West End saloon. "I gave them a chance and they built it from there. They're a big draw in Media, which has become their home town."

With the success of The Tappas in particular and original music in general, the West End Saloon now features local original bands every Wednesday night and live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

"We've built a stage and equipped it with a state-of-the-art speaker system. We're really pumpin' in the music now, especially original local music," Park says of the club's new showcase for local talent.

Readying themselves for more exposure. The Tappas just released their seven-song inaugural CD entitled "Soupa". Professionally mixed and produce by Tommy Joyner at Milkboy Recording in Ardmore, the album is an appealing selection of songs that captures the eclectic essence of The Tappas.

The single, "Money Hungry," features John Paslay's rap-rock patter - a la Anthony Kedis of the Chili Peppers - over a funky bed of Doyle's drums, Zangrilli's steady bass beat and Paslay's apt blues/funk guitar work."

On the boy-meets-hippychick "Shannon," ("It's like ecstasy when she stands next to me.") the clarity of Paslay's versatile classical guitar playing comes through, complemented by a driving rhythm section, highlighted by an old-fashioned drum and djembe (an African Drum) solo and layered with high-techno, hip-hop turntable scratching.

The funkiest song by far on the CD is "Earf". Paslay's raspy rap vocals invoke 80s Compton, California rapper Tone Loc. Keyboardist Jamie Gaffney's sonic sounds take you space truckin' and it's a syncopated trip worth taking.

"Dandy Line " is where the band sounds like Steely Dan - if they were starting out in 2002 instead of 1974. The "Phish influence" is evident on the tied-dyed cut "Mr. Tao".

From song titles to lyrics, it's evident that The Tappas like to play with words. "Our lyrics have to do with personal experience," says Doyle. "They're from a twenty-somethiing perspective."

When performing live, the band keeps it fresh. "We've been known to segue from a pop song to an evil, funked-out trance that people love to dance to," says Zangrilli.

"Our live shows are based on improv. Every show is not the same. It has a different feel and won't get old to us or our fans."

Right now most of The Tappas' fans are friends but the word is out. This group is red hot or cool funk - anything but lukewarm.

From the upbeat buzz and fun loving energy surrounding the band of fine young musicians, it won't be long until they grab the ear of a record label too.