The prospect of not attend ing one's high school graduation would be upsetting to most teenagers, but not 17-year-old Teddy Geiger, who said his mother is the only one who's not too happy that he will miss commencement exer cises at his high school in Rochester, NY this spring.

`` I think she realizes though that what I'm doing is pretty amazing,'' said the up-and-com ing rocker, who is one of the dozen or so performers who will take to the stage at the annual Kiss 108 FM concert at the Tweeter Center for the Perform ing Arts in Mansfield Saturday.

`` I'm working with a tutor and I'll graduate later or get my GED or something. I'm learning a lot now about the music business and I love what I'm doing. It's very cool and very exciting.''

Doors to the day-long festival open at noon and the show begins at 1:30 p.m. Other per formers include Mary J. Blige, All American Rejects, Chris Brown, Ashley Parker Angel, James Blunt, Mario Vazquez, Natasha Bedingfield, Ne-Yo, Nich Lachey, Rihanna, Saving Jane, Ayla Brown, and last year's American Idol runner-up, Bo Bice.

In a phone interview from his tour bus, where is was preparing for a concert in Lan caster, PA, Geiger talked about his new-found celebrity status, touring, and being the butt of David Letterman's jokes when he performed on the late-night talk show last month. When introducing Geiger, Letterman said that he would perform the popular children's song, `` The Wheels on the Bus.''

`` That is probably one of the coolest things that has ever happened to me,'' Geiger said. `` I was sitting in the dressing room and couldn't believe that David Letterman was making a joke about me.''

Less than two years ago, Geiger was playing guitar, bass, piano and drums in his base ment and in small coffee shops and teen venues in and around his hometown. When he became a finalist on VH1's `` In Search of the New Partridge Family,'' Geiger caught the ear of pro ducer Billy Mann (Sting, Jessi ca Simpson, Pink, Kelly Row land), who ended up collaborat ing with the young singer/song writer and producing his first album.

`` Teddy is a waterfall of tal ent,'' Mann said during a recent interview. `` At 17, he is an amaz ing and prolific songwriter with a signature sound, an incredible voice and a point-of-view that's informed and mature. I can't wait to see how his career unfolds.''

Geiger's album, `` Underage Thinking,'' was released on the Columbia Records label, and his single, `` For You I Will (Confi dence),'' is getting tons of air play on top 40 radio stations. He has also appeared on the televi sion show, `` Love Monkey,'' where, in a case of life imitating art, he plays an aspiring musi cian.

He is planning to make his second music video to coincide with the release of his second single, `` These Walls,'' in June or July. His first video release fea tured `` Laguna Beach'' star Kristin Cavalleri.

`` Making my first music video was very cool,'' Geiger said. `` I think that's when this all became very real for me. There was a truck outside and a whole production thing was going on and it hit me that it was all for my video.''

The self-taught musician, who wrote or co-wrote 11 of the 12 songs on his debut album, said he draws from life experi ences when writing music. He's been compared to a young Dave Matthews and has a steadily growing fan base, many of whom call themselves `` Ted heads.''

Geiger said he enjoys meet ing fans and for all you young women out there -- he is single. And just what does he look for in a girl?

`` I don't know -- I guess it depends on the girl,'' he said. `` If I knew, I would probably have a girlfriend.''

He said that it would be diffi cult to build a relationship with someone given his demanding touring schedule. `` I'm always moving and that never does anything good for a relation ship,'' he said.

Geiger said that most of the songs he performs on Saturday will be from `` Underage Think ing,'' but he is working on a new song that he may debut at the concert. `` I'm not sure if it will be finished, but I'm working on something new.''

`` I hope everyone comes out and has a good time,'' he said. `` I'm looking forward to seeing everyone and performing.''