After two weeks of grueling studio time last summer, Devil with Cheese is celebrating the release of its first studio album Saturday.

The members of Des Moines-based Devil with Cheese have decided to play two shows for their CD release party, so they can cater to all of their fans. There will also be bands from Chicago, Kansas City, Mo., and St. Louis to fill out the evening.

All of the songs on the self-titled 10-track album were written by the band, who have been together for about two years. Guitarist Tony Alaniz, guitarist Jay Lyon, drummer B.J. Fox, bassist Dave Baker and vocalist Graham Jennings agree playing music is just something they’ve always wanted to do.

“Music was always in the house when I was growing up. I started to take it seriously as something I wanted to do when I was about 12, which is when I started to take interest in girls, too,” Lyon says.

Alaniz says the band’s music can be called heavy rock.

“There are a lot of harmonies going on and a lot of really good songwriting,” Alaniz says. “I like it that we go out there and we’re more than just screaming. One of the goals is to come up with something that is a breath of fresh air.”

The band members say it’s important to them that people listen to and like their music.

“I know I personally don’t want to play in a closet and do just what I want to do,” Lyon says.

Alaniz agrees with this sentiment. “We just want people to like the music,” Alaniz says. “You can be the most dedicated perfectionist, but if you just play for yourself, that sucks.”

The band doesn’t have just one target audience.

“One of the best compliments we’ve got is that our crowds are so diverse,” Alaniz says.

Lyon, Baker and Alaniz have known each other and played together off and on for several years. Fox is a relatively new member of the band.

“I came here from Louisiana and started putting up flyers,” Fox says.

“Yeah, I saw this really pathetic flyer — it was written in crayon. It was all scribbles. We could just barely discern the number. But we did, so we called,” Alaniz says. “We set up a practice time but Fox backed out at the last minute.”

Fox says he called them back the next week to say he was seriously interested this time. The band liked him and that was the beginning of Devil with Cheese.

The name of the band came out of a hard night of partying.

“I was drunk and the other guy was stoned,” Alaniz said. “We knew we wanted to use ‘devil’ and something else obscure.”

The band has been playing about twice a week around the Midwest, doing shows in Chicago, Minneapolis and Kansas City.

“Dave has done a phenomenal job getting us shows,” Alaniz says.

The band members say they like playing regional shows, but they would like to actually go on tour in stead of short run outs.

“I want to go on a tour,” Fox says. “A real tour, where I can go on the road and don’t have to worry about going into work or calling into work. I just want to be able to forget life here and go.”

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What: Devil with Cheese CD Release Party

Where: Hairy Mary’s, 2307 University Ave., Des Moines

When: 5 p.m. All Ages, 9 p.m. 21+, Saturday

Cost: $6