In through the door of one of his favorite Des Moines haunts walks Ames native and Iowa music poster boy Luke Pettipoole. He comes to Java Joe’s enough to know other regulars, but other than a few nods and questions of “when did you get back?” there is nothing to indicate anything special about the visit. But there is – it’s something of a homecoming.

Pettipoole and his band, The Envy Corps, have just returned from a tour of the United Kingdom and, more importantly, recording their major label debut album to be released later this year. Apparently even being a poster boy in Iowa doesn’t come with guaranteed notoriety.

“I have never gotten stopped here on the street by anyone,” Pettipoole said with what sounds like a hint of relief. “Of course, I have never been stopped on the street by anyone in London either.”

Friday will determine what a record deal has done for The Envy Corps’ clout in Iowa. Assuming the band’s equipment successfully makes the cross-Atlantic trip – it’s not expected until Friday – The Envy Corps will play two shows at the Vaudeville Mews which they hope will live up to their buzz as one of the most marketable bands on the Des Moines music scene.

The expectations began in 2005 when the band’s infectious radio single “Rhinemaidens” hit the local airwaves on KCCQ 105.1. The uptempo catchy tune was one of the first collaborations of the lineup that would become The Envy Corps.

The standing members, Ames native David Yoshimura at keyboards, bass band and band co-creator Pettipoole at lead vocals and guitar, were joined by Scott Yoshimura on drums and Des Moines native Brandon Darner on guitar. Together the band formed personal and musical understanding indispensable to surviving the personal troubles and musical ambitions to come.

“I can tell these guys how I am feeling or if I am having a problem and stuff like that,” Pettipoole said. “I kind of feel like brothers, even though that’s sort of cliche. We don’t get along all the time, but in the end everyone loves one another and we would do anything for the other guy,”

Local fans also embraced the band. Vaudeville Mews owner Amedeo Rossi said the band’s sound is catchy and unique, a combination that makes The Envy Corps more than just a local band.

“You had the sense about them that they were going to sign to a significant label,” Rossi said. “They are that sort of band that when you look around the scene you think, ‘this band could do something.'”

The Envy Corps released its 2006 EP “I Will Write You Love Letters if You Want Me to” with direct intention of making something happen. The self-produced, obsessively refined release was a conscious declaration of intent to record labels. In fall 2006 the declaration was heard. The band signed a deal with Vertigo records, a major label in the U.K. At the time, Pettipoole was working at Jimmy John’s in Ames and living on a friend’s couch.

Lackluster day jobs and the few concessions for an alternative career were a reality for the band. Darner said, from the point of view of the band, nearly exclusive devotion to succeeding in the music business wasn’t necessarily a great sacrifice.

“I think if you ask anybody else what would be your ambitions if you were doing something else, it probably wouldn’t be all that ambitious,” Darner said. “The four of us in the band share the same overall mindset. Not much else does much for us other than music.”

Back in Des Moines, the challenge of getting a record deal is behind him so Pettipoole can focus on smaller issues, such as waiting in line for a drink.

The Guinness is a somewhat provocative choice. His relationship with alcohol is still a touchy subject with the band. At one point his addiction threatened to unwind the band’s hard work. His bandmates tried to curb his habit and eventually convinced him to seek help in rehab.

“They would take beers away from me and stuff like that,” Pettipoole said. “I felt like even though I knew I had a problem they didn’t respect me and would treat me like I was 5. I think since then we have come to an agreement where I am going to drink, but in moderation, and everybody is cool with that.”

Pettipoole’s personal issues have been both a challenge and inspiration for the band. His song writing has drawn from his struggle with alcoholism as well as a divorce in 2005 that reinforced his alcoholic tendencies.

The period and especially the divorce inspired the song “Baby Teeth,” which he considers his most fully realized lyrical and musical creation. The experience also provided some self realizations Pettipoole said he is still trying to adjust to.

“It wasn’t just the band. Whatever I desired would take a front seat to her,” Pettipoole said. “I just realized that I am a very self-centered person. The band was one vehicle for my self-centeredness.”

Although his marriage was over, Pettipoole began to realize the advantages of putting more faith in other people. Darner said beginning with “Rhinemaidens,” Pettipoole began to embrace a group mentality with band that had been his project since middle school.

“‘Rhinemaidens’ had a lot of pieces from everybody,” Darner said. “I think part of that is because it is a very different song as far as Luke’s song writing. He said I am kind of hearing a dance beat for it. I didn’t hear any of that, I could only hear the song and melody that he had created for it, but I said this is fantastic regardless of what type of song it ends up being. It is just a great song – we need to see it through.”

The popularity of ‘Rhinemaidens’ convinced Pettipoole to give up some control and solidified the current members as The Envy Corps’ definitive lineup.

“I think if David and Scott up and left, it would be very difficult to continue with the name,” Pettipoole said. “The nature of the band is now comprised of four people and not just of me.”

At all times, Pettipoole demonstrates the composure of having so often revealed his mind on stage. He addresses emotional topics with obvious thoughtfulness, but only the slightest difference in tone.

“I don’t want people coming out of this feeling sorry for me,” Pettipoole said.

Ultimately, the next phase for the band won’t be determined by Pettipoole or any of the internal politics that have shaped The Envy Corps so far.

Survival is up to the listeners. Pettipoole admits his anxiousness to see how music fans in and out of Iowa react to the band’s first major album.

“Every other release we have had, it has felt like it’s not the real thing,” Pettipoole said. “If they didn’t like the EP maybe they will like the record. This is it – this is the full shot – so I am going to be very nervous about it and very nervous about hearing reviews about it, seeing the sales and the chart position if there is one.”

Gone for now are the days he spent crashing somewhere on a couch.

“We got a bit of an advance when we signed, so that helped,” Pettipoole said. “I am making somewhat more than I would at Jimmy John’s, but I don’t have to do anything.”

Pettipoole has moved to Omaha, Neb., and begun writing songs again after taking a hiatus to focus on recording.

He said he is not sure how the new songs will compare to his old ones. They will probably be different than songs he wrote during the time when he admits he saw alcohol as his muse. Whatever they are about, Pettipoole is sure he does not want to write the cliche second album about airports and fast food.

“I think the next step is more collaboration,” Pettipoole said. “The last track on the new album we wrote together and I think that bodes well for the future. Hopefully it is not all on my shoulders to get divorced again or something so that I have things to write about.”