When small-town simpletons have nothing better to do, they reflect upon the deeper things in life. Is it true that orange juice alone holds the key to a long, healthy life? Can it be mixed with whiskey?

These are some of the profound questions pondered at length by Iowa pop-rock band Keepers of the Carpet.

Nearly seven years ago in Buffalo Center — a town nearly no one has heard of — two eighth graders began a band that is now known by nearly everyone with an ear to the local music scene.

Jordan Mayland, 23, and Jason Holland, senior in industrial technology, say their town was so oblivious to the fast-paced ways of the world, The Des Moines Register once featured it on the front page, saying it offered the “most simple life” around.

Because Buffalo Center was completely untainted by drug users of any kind, the members say they thought of every other place as being a “druggy town.”

With no competition to speak of, this wholesome community gave birth to a band guilty of little more than the occasional belch.

Recently, the band has even taken to reaching out to youth as sort of a community service — by letting people such as bass player Dan Shea, senior in art and design, fill some vacated roles in the band.

Shea’s story of playing with Keepers of the Carpet is one of idolization and grace.

“I became a fan from listening to the first album,” he says. “Back in high school I was in a band with Rano [LoVan], and we played Keepers covers because we liked the album so much.

“One time we even opened a show for them and started the show with a cover of one of their songs.”

Following these acts of reverence, LoVan was chosen as rhythm guitarist for Keepers of the Carpet, even though this requires the band to make trips to his home in Sioux City every other week for practices. Shea followed as an unofficial member.

It is clear from Shea’s words and mannerisms that he feels greatly honored to be in the company of such esteemed gentlemen.

The band certainly hasn’t come this far without its share of trials and tribulations. As it often happens in the music world, group members must part for one reason or another.

In Keepers’ case, the band began to crumble while on tour in the summer of 2002, at the height of its success. The band had just released a single called “Entitled,” which debuted at No. 82 on the College Music Journal charts, when it was forced to disassemble.

Some members left college and one graduated from law school.

Whether it was the evolution of the band or something else, the members agree their lyrics have taken on a more brooding and complex personality than in their previous songs, which Mayland describes as having been about “poop and candy.”

“The songs are still happy, but they’re wearing masks,” he says.

It was through this time of joy mixed with melancholy that Keepers of the Carpet inadvertently became involved in the formation of the Smiths — the family, not the band.

Three of the band’s former members — all related, all Smiths — got married and started families.

Who: Carrier, Keepers of the Carpet

Where: M-Shop

When: Friday, Nov. 12

Cost: $6 students/$7 public