In the quaint apartment of their publicist, the five members of Parallex are debating which pose to use for their picture, cracking jokes nonstop and complimenting one another’s clothing and accessory choices.

The five sound extremely relaxed with each other, as if they’ve been friends for years. In January 2002, however, the members were meeting for the very first time.

“I did a mad search for musicians,” says guitarist, keyboardist and singer Josh Lizer, senior in animal science.

Although the band was randomly constructed, the members appear to get along well.

When it comes to songwriting, they trust each other to write their own parts. Lizer says he usually brings in the song idea, the other members hear it and add their own parts. The lyrics come at the end.

With five diverse personalities and an enormous amount of humor, the task of classifying the band’s sound is a bit challenging.

Percussionist Dave Restko, junior in mechanical engineering, says Parallex is power pop, while Lizer jokingly labels their sound as emo-core-Brit-rock-screamo.

After a few seconds of thought, Lizer comes up with the real description.

“[It’s] hard-edged pop rock,” he says reassuringly.

Parallex recently signed with Mushroom Cloud Records, an independent record label out of Des Moines. The band is thrilled to be signed on to the label.

“It kind of gives you more leverage,” Lizer says. “We can work more on music instead of the peripheral parts of running a band.”

With a performance on KCCQ 105.1’s local music program, “The Garage,” scheduled for Sunday and a show at the House of Bricks in Des Moines on Feb. 15, the band is staying busy. A Chicago tour over spring break is also in the works. Parallex is especially looking forward to this, because it will be the band’s first time playing out of state. Lizer says it’s tough to develop nationwide and regional momentum as a band when problems in the area keeps the band’s lineup changing.

“It seems at about the time when we can get something going good, something happens, like a band member leaves,” he says. “It’s like we hit a wall, because we have to stop and then do a search and replace [the band member] and then start all over again.”

Although the band has had problems in the past, Lizer says he is confident that the present makeup of the band will stay right where it’s at, especially now that it’s signed to a label.

“Hopefully, we’re a little more permanent for a while now,” Lizer says. “Mushroom Cloud kind of brings stability and helps things along as well.”

Now that the band members have been together for a couple of years, they can look back on some of their most memorable moments. One in particular has to do with guitarist Mike Collins, senior in computer engineering.

“Mike’s amp froze at the last gig on the way there, so we had to thaw that out with a hair dryer about five minutes before the show,” Restko says.

Although his bandmates are talking about him, Collins has not spoken a word. When asked what he adds to the band, Collins gives the simple answer.

“My guitar,” he says.

“A hairdryer,” jokes vocalist and ISU alumnus Robby Pedersen.

The band laughs at the joke but soon turns silent. Bassist Corwin Colebrooke gets a puzzled look on his face.

“What do you add to the band?” he asks. There’s another moment of silence until Lizer decides to speak up on behalf of the shy guitarist.

“Mike speaks through his hands on the neck of his guitar,” he says.

“When Mike speaks, we listen, because otherwise we may miss the rare opportunity,” Restko says.

Download the MP3 “Anthem” from iowastatedaily.com