The Red and Black

Issue date: 7/24/08 Section: Variety

Media Credit: JIM DIFFLY Kebert Xela performs at this year's AthFest on June 20. The band gets its name from an episode of "Family Guy" where Adam West sends Alex Trebek back to his "dimension" by saying his name backwards. [Click to enlarge]

This indie-rock group gets its name from the host of "Jeopardy"'s name spelled backwards. Buzz. What is Kebert Xela?

The band, which will play The Caledonia Lounge Friday night, got their name from being typical college-aged males:

"We were watching 'Family Guy' one night, and [the name] was an epiphany," said recent alum Doug Saylor.

Kebert Xela, was formed by Saylor and Chris Howe in 2006.

"We play everything," Saylor said.

He's right. It is a common sight to see the dynamic duo of Howe and Saylor scurrying back and forth between guitars, synthesizers and drums at a Kebert Xela show.

"[It will be] electro-rock magic time," Howe said. Influenced by bands such as Radiohead, Broken Social Scene and Converge, Kebert Xela's driving guitar riffs, circuit bending and collection of synthesized sounds are truly unique to the Athens duo.

Songs such as "Exoskeletal Program Failure" and "Morning of the Giants" offer the perfect balance of guitar, synthesizer, drums, vocoder and keyboard that Kebert Xela is known for.

The show at Caledonia Lounge will mark the end of the band's week-and-a-half tour of North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia.

"We're pretty stoked about it," Saylor said. "We've played there a bunch. Caledonia's awesome."

Though the show might mark the end of their Southeast tour, the band's ambition has yet to rest.

With two EPs already released, Kebert Xela will return to the studio in August to begin work on a full-length CD, Saylor said.

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