Beloit was ready to rock. “I need Tantric like I need Mountain Dew!” one ecstatic fan screamed as the rock band performed Thursday, July 10 at Beloit Riverfest. Tantric stopped in Beloit, Wis. as part of its national tour to promote its still untitled new album, which is expected to be released in the fall.

Tantric has been steadily gaining fans with its intelligent brand of radio-friendly rock. The group features three former Days of the New members (guitarist Todd Witener, bassist Jesse Vest, and drummer Matt Taul) who recruited vocalist Hugo Ferreira in 1999. The next year they scored a record deal and have been rocking ever since.

The talented four-piece performed an interesting mix of material during its hour-long set. Tantric played several songs off its upcoming CD including, “Cross the Line” and “Hero.” While these new songs were enjoyable, they were rather predictable and similar to the tracks on Tantric’s last album.

The group bounced back with a cover of an entertaining ’80s classic. “We’re going to bring you back to big hair and Aquanet,” Ferreira quipped before launching into Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive.” Fans sang along word for word as Tantric delivered an energetic rendition of the well-known song.

An additional standout was the intricate ballad, “Mourning,” which highlighted lead singer Hugo Ferreira’s impressive vocal abilities as he ranged from a gravel voiced growl to a more soothing tone. The indisputable crowd favorite, however, was the band’s trademark single, “Breakdown.” Ferreira sang the entire song while walking through the enthusiastic audience. The talkative vocalist continually interacted with fans throughout the night.

While Tantric may not be the best rock band of all time, it is certainly fun to watch. For more information on the band and its new CD, log on to www.maverick.com/tantric.