Ames indie fans will get a treat Friday when Midlake plays at the Maintenance Shop.

Ames is by far the smallest city on the tour, so it’s clear that there’s a significant following for the band here.

“This is going to be an awesome show,” said M-Shop director Richard Snyder, senior in civil engineering. “I’m expecting a really good student turnout.”

Midlake, hailing from Denton, Texas, has been turning heads in the music world, garnering national attention.

They have appeared on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” with supporter, video director and actor Jason Lee, and have been turning up on “Best of 2006” and “Artist to Watch” lists all over.

Several ISU students described Midlake’s music and their feelings toward it.

“The only thing I can really think to say is that there’s a simplicity about them that makes them easy and enjoyable to listen to, but they’ve really thought it all through,” said Stacey Morrissey, sophomore in Spanish. “I wouldn’t miss the show for the world.”

Others enjoy the eclectic instruments the band uses.

“They use all kinds of instrumentation from accordions to five-dollar Casio keyboards – I found an identical model in a Salvation Army one time,” said Peter Bovenmyer, senior in art and design.

Bovenmyer contrasted Midlake’s sound with other indie bands.

“As far as sound goes, I would put them somewhere between the Decemberists and Sufjan Stevens,” he said. “However, they have a pretty unique sound which is unlike anything I’ve heard.”

Theme and meaning are more important to Dana Halferty, sophomore in pre-journalism and mass communication.

“Their songs take a few listens to get into, but once you get them, you really get them,” she said. “I think that is generally a sign of a timeless song that people won’t get sick of after a few listens.”

Midlake also takes some inspiration from folk music, though that influence diminished in their latest album, “The Trials of Van Occupanther.” Fans had mixed reactions to this – Bovenmyer preferred the sound of the band’s earlier work, while Halferty appreciated the musical evolution.

Opening for Midlake is St. Vincent, the band of Polyphonic Spree member Annie Clark. According to St. Vincent’s MySpace profile, Clark is the only member of the band, singing and playing a full array of instruments.

The show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $5 for students and $8 for the public. As usual for the M-Shop, ticket prices increase $1 the day of the show.