HBO will swivel the spotlight away from film on April 26, when the expanding cable channel will premiere the second season of its live music show, "Reverb." |

"Reverb," which will air on HBO2, will spotlight a new batch of emerging artists every week, concentrating its efforts on lesser-known musicians playing smaller venues across the nation. It will chronicle not only on-stage performances, but interviews and behind-the-scenes footage as well.

"This show will transport the home viewer into the club scene and throw them in the mosh pit," said Sheryl Northrop, a spokeswoman for HBO. "It's all spontaneous -- if the artist makes a mistake, the mistake goes on television."

The season will kick off with performances from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Smash Mouth and Save Ferris. Throughout the rest of the season, "Reverb" will feature Paula Cole, G. Love and Special Sauce, Ben Harper, Chris Stills, Alana Davis and Bad Religion among others.

The show is shot with six cameras; audio is mixed by Mr. Colson at Smart Studios, who has worked with the Smashing Pumpkins and L7 in the past. The show's attention to sound is designed to make every television a sharp concert transmitter, Northrop said.

"The goal here is to be visually great -- very cutting edge -- and for the sound to be extraordinary," she said. "['Reverb'] will include everything short of $5 beers and a smoky room." (Anni Layne)