Sibling musicians bring out the 'punk' in Harry Potter

NORWOOD -- Joe and Paul DeGeorge believe Harry Potter is a punk rocker at heart.

Inspired by the popular book series by British author J.K. Rowling, the Norwood brothers bring the charismatic title character to life onstage, armed with a guitar and a DIY attitude.

Seventeen-year-old Joe plays keyboards as "Harry Year 4," and his older brother Paul, 25, displays his guitar wizardry as "Harry Year 7." Drummer Ernie Kim rounds out the trio. Calling themselves "Harry and the Potters," they wear black-rimmed glasses, gray V-neck sweaters, and ties, just like the boy wizard in the stories.

But they also don studded belts, showing a touch of rebellion while performing quirky songs like "Save Ginny Weasley," "Gryffindor Rocks," and "The Missing Arm of Viktor Krum."

"In the fifth book, Harry is punk rock. He has a problem with authority and people telling him what to do," said Joe. "We try to take themes from the book and amplify them with music. Turn up the volume and read."

The DeGeorge brothers recently wrapped up a cross-country tour, and they'll perform Saturday at the Milky Way Lounge and Lanes in Jamaica Plain.

"The best thing about this band is that we get to play all kinds of crazy places," said Joe.

They've come a long way since a gig last September at a hot dog jamboree in Braintree.

Over the summer, Joe and Paul drove 13,000 miles in their "Potter Mobile," a silver 1998 Ford Windstar minivan with a black lightning bolt emblazoned on its hood. In Portland, Ore., they climbed a shaky ladder to a tiny stage above the restrooms at a shop called Voodoo Doughnut. In Olympia, Wash., they played the University of Washington bookstore and a private loft party.

They drew a diverse crowd at every stop.

"Moms with little kids were coming in with the hipsters," said Paul. "It brought some people together who'd normally not associate with each other."

Two years ago, Harry and the Potters had a concert at the Morrill Memorial Library in their hometown of Norwood. Library director Mary Phinney said they were well-received.

"We remember them as being very popular here. They were just starting out," said Phinney. "Everyone loved them."

Joe and Paul consider playing at libraries to be "indie rock community service."

Librarians "don't make the most punk-rock-looking fliers, but they do all right getting people to the library," said Paul.

The quirky tribute band was born out of necessity two years ago. On a summer day in 2002, Joe had planned to hold a rock show in his backyard, but the bands canceled. On the morning of the show, the DeGeorge brothers quickly formed "Harry and the Potters." They wrote seven songs inspired by the popular book series, and rehearsed in the backyard shed. Later that evening, "Harry and the Potters" made a successful debut in front of six guests.

In the spring of 2003, Paul recruited his friend Kim to provide a beat and they recorded 18 songs in the DeGeorge family living room. A self-titled album was released in June 2003.

The trio recorded another album earlier this year, "Voldemort Can't Stop the Rock!," and then Joe and Paul hit the road. They used prerecorded drums onstage in July. In August, they were accompanied by drummer Andrew MacLeay.

They sell their CDs and T-shirts online through their website, www.eskimolabs.com/hp, which has developed quite a following. They say they typically get 15 e-mails a day from fans.

"It's not all that surprising, because there's so many Harry Potter fans out there," said Paul.

The pair have not given any thought to landing a record deal. Paul is a scientist by day, developing vaccines for a biotech firm in Cambridge, and Joe recently started his senior year at Norwood High School.

"We like being independent, DIY," said Joe. "We like being our own boss."

Paul added, "All in the name of book rock."

Harry and the Potters perform Saturday to celebrate the release of Somerville cartoonist Jef Czekaj's new book, "Grampa and Julie: Shark Hunters." All ages are welcome. Noon- 5 p.m., at the Milky Way Lounge & Lanes, 403-405 Centre St., Jamaica Plain. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for children over age 5.

Emily Sweeney can be reached at esweeney@globe.com.