The evolution and overlap of bands is commonplace in small music communities such as Ames. Now, with the ever-increasing magnitude of independent music, bands like The Jealous Sound and Engine Down, both made up of ex-members of other well-known bands, are coming together all the time.

Jonathan Fuller, lead singer and guitarist for Engine Down, says he and fellow Engine Down member Keely Davis recently quit their other bands, the most notable of which are Denali and Sleepytime Trio.

“It was just too crazy to try to do two full-time bands, so we had to make the commitment to Engine Down,” Fuller says.

The musicians known as The Jealous Sound hail from Jawbox, Sunday’s Best, Neither Trumpets Nor Drums and Knapsack. Despite the name dropping, both bands say they struggle to reach a large audience since they’re on independent labels, so things like illegal file sharing can sometimes work to their advantage.

“[File sharing] is a good thing for a band that’s touring, for people who don’t live near an independent record store,” Fuller says.

As far as indie music goes, Fuller predicts a significant collapse and rebirth in the record industry.

“[Indie music] is poised to take over because the major record labels are scrambling to do something with file sharing,” he says.

“Something major is going to change.”

Now that no one in either band is being pulled in other directions by other bands and both Engine Down and The Jealous Sound are gaining acclaim, they’ll be touring together through Ames, promoting their new material. Since the release of its long-awaited full length, “Kill Them With Kindness,” The Jealous Sound has been listed in Alternative Press as one of the “Bands to Watch in 2003,” and Engine Down has been in the College Music Journal Top 20 chart for eight straight weeks.

Since everyone in The Jealous Sound has a significant other off somewhere, one wonders what sorts of things the members would be pursuing if they were not in a full-time rock band. Shehan says he can’t even think of what else he would be doing, which goes to show how passionately these musicians become consumed by their work.

Shehan does, however, say he hopes whatever he does in the future will reflect his maturity.

“There’s nothing sadder than being a grownup and playing kids’ music,” he says.

As to how that maturity might show itself through musical changes, Shehan says letting nature take its course is much better than forcing a specific end.

“If you set out to change your style, that’s not usually very successful,” Shehan says. “But if you just let things evolve organically, then you’re going to be a lot better off.”

In response to the attention The Jealous Sound has been receiving, many eyes are watching the band in anticipation, hoping it will prove worthy.

“It’s not something that directly affects you,” Shehan says of the positive feedback.

“It’s not like all of a sudden you’re rich and your shows are sold out, but it’s nice to get some critical acclaim.”