In the fall of 2002, Dan Hopper and John Seidl were the kids in Maple Hall who made all the noise.

“Everyone noticed them [on move-in day] because they brought in their drums and amps and started playing in their room,” says Bryan Appley, bassist.

Hopper, junior in journalism and mass communication and Daily staff writer, and Seidl, junior in construction engineering, knew they wanted to start a band right away in college because they had been in several bands together since their sophomore year of high school.

“We heard this kid listening to [metal music] really loud down the hall,” says Seidl, lead guitar and vocal. “And that’s how we found Bryan.”

Bryan Appley, junior in philosophy, quickly joined Hopper and Seidl. In September 2002, they officially became Breaking Even.

They started playing some small shows, but when they played in the Veishea 2003 Battle of the Bands, people started noticing them.

“It was in the afternoon, and we had a huge crowd turnout,” Seidl says.

From the start, the band has focused on simplicity. Particulars aren’t something with which they concern themselves.

“Overcomplicating music is not something you should do,” Appley says. “It takes away from the raw energy and feeling.”

Seidl says it’s less about perfection and more about trusting each other’s judgment.

“Sometimes we play songs [at shows] before we really practice them,” Seidl says.

Seidl does all of the writing for the band and sticks with simplicity by just writing about the things that happen to him.

“If it happens to me, I’m sure it happens to a ton of other people, and that’s why people like our songs,” he says. “They can relate to it.”

The band stays true to their roots and still practices in the Maple-Willow-Larch Commons, despite the ticketing consistency of the ISU Department of Public Services Parking Division.

“[My parking tickets] are definitely into the three-digit range,” Seidl says. “Now I just write lyrics on them or throw them on the ground. The U-Bill takes care of them.”

In October 2004, the band was invited to a label showcase in Minneapolis. The trip was almost ruined after Hopper locked the keys in the van, forcing the band to wait until 5 a.m. for help.

Despite the setback, Seidl says they ended up performing well. A Columbia Records representative approached them and asked them to mail her their second album.

“It’s not that likely that anything will come from it, but it’s just a neat little thing to look forward to,” Seidl says.

They have hopes of finishing their second album this spring or summer, but they want to take their time with it and are unconcerned with setting a deadline.

Siedl says that, in an ideal world, they will all get jobs in the same city after graduation. For now, the focus is more on the immediate future with hopes of touring this summer and continuing to build a fan base.

“As long as we’re here and we’re together, we are going to make music. We’ll worry more about the future when it gets here,” Appley says.

Despite any frustrations, Seidl says the band would not be easy to leave after college.