The vigor and excitement of youth can go a long way, as can be attested by San Diego natives My American Heart. The rock-emo band, formed in high school and comprised of all minors 18 and under, is reaping a successful harvest.

“I don’t feel old at all,” says Larry Soliman, group vocalist. “It’s kind of weird. I’ve been friends with Jeremy [Mendez] since 5th grade, and most of the rest of us were just friends before we made the band. We decided this band is what we want to do – so we dedicated ourselves to it.”

After garnering attention from its self-produced work and from playing some spots on the Taste of Chaos Tour opening for musical heavyweights The Used, the band was asked to play on the Vans Warped Tour this summer.

“Warped Tour – it’s like band boot camp,” Soliman says. “It’s a good experience, you know. It toughens a band up. We had to get up early every morning and set up, fight for a spot to sell our merch. Then we would sit in the heat all day and exhaust ourselves playing a show – rain or shine – it’s gnarly.”

All the touring was to tease the band’s new label album, “The Meaning in Makeup,” which debuted this month. Guitarist and vocalist Jeremy Mendez says the title comes from three concept songs included on the album.

“The songs talk about how people shouldn’t cover up who they really are to try to fit in and be somebody they’re not,” he says, “It’s all about being true to yourself.”

For recording purposes, the band was forced to live the life of starving artists in New Jersey while recording at Big Blue Meenie Studios.

“We lived in our van for like a month,” Soliman says. “It was really weird, but definitely worth it.”

Even though it may have been starving, the band was able to work with studio-guru Sal Villanueva, who is best known for his work with Taking Back Sunday and Thursday.

“Sal was so cool to work with,” Soliman says. “He wouldn’t change our songs, you know – he would take them and help us make them as good as they could be. I think we actually became better musicians by working with him. He would give us ideas and show us how to better create the sound we were looking for.”

The band is currently touring in support of their album, which the members say will remain constant for some time.

“We’re on tour forever … just kidding,” Soliman says. “It just seems like it. We get a break for a week at the end of October and then we’re going to Japan,” he says excitedly.

Even though they may have set followings in individual cities, the members say they are still eager to have new people at every performance.

Who: My American Heart with Just Surrender and Rock and Roll Soldiers

Where: House of Bricks, 525 E. Grand Village, Des Moines

When: 6 p.m., Thursday

Cost: $8