Getting signed is not all it’s cracked up to be.In a world of small-time bands struggling up the ladder to get picked up by a big-time label, Superdrag is going against the corporate grain.After a mid-’90s stint with Elektra, the group ditched the powerhouse label in 1999 and settled down to work on an album its way — with no promotional hassles. The end product, “In The Valley Of Dying Stars,” is a much more “straightforward” record, says John Davis, Superdrag vocalist/guitarist/pianist. The band, which also includes drummer Don Coffey, Jr. and bassist Sam Powers, is currently on the road in support of the album and will make a stop at the Maintenance Shop Saturday night.With the new release, the Tennessee natives have gracefully submersed themselves back into the indie world, after flirting briefly with mainstream success in 1996 with their pop hit, “Sucked Out.””Being on an indie label is definitely a different way of doing things,” Davis says. “In a lot of ways, it just seems more natural.”Major labels look for radio-friendly material, and “if you don’t come up with something like that … you have to change your whole motivation,” Davis says.But he and his band were not about to compromise their sound and integrity.Even after signing with Elektra, the writing and work they put into the songs never changed, it just made getting the records out like “hitting a brick wall,” Davis says.”I would just rather record for a smaller label and be able to do what I want,” he explains. “In The Valley Of The Dying Stars,” which was released on the much smaller Arena Rock Recording Company, leaped up Rolling Stone’s college album list after it hit stores, peaking at number six.Superdrag doesn’t waste any time making its feelings about its major label experience clear on the album. Discontent with the music industry is made quite clear in the very first verse of the first song on the CD: “I want to rock ‘n’ roll but/ I don’t want to deal with the hassle,” Davis sings on “Keep It Close To Me.”However, in addition to a slap in the face for Elektra, the album also takes on other meanings, both for the band and for its fans.Davis’ own interpretation is evident in the recurrent themes of grief and loss that are woven throughout the album’s tracks. The album itself is dedicated to the memory of Davis’ grandfather, who passed away while Davis was starting to write material for the new record.”On another day/ Any other day/ We’d open our eyes/ You’d be alive” he sings on “Unprepared.”Sharing such personal feelings is something that Davis says he needs to do.”Having a song like [“Unprepared”] and playing it night after night, it’s important to never forget about the original feeling you had when you wrote it,” he says. “It’s not hard to do … It is kind of in his honor.”Others, however, have interpreted the record in a different way. Some fans believe that the title, “In The Valley Of Dying Stars,” is an indignant finger-point at the current state of popular music, where the Backstreet Boys and Limp Bizkit seem to have built permanent homes on Billboard charts.”I can definitely see where someone would apply that to the title with good reason,” he says.Davis says that popular music moves in a cycle where genres go in and out of style quickly and if his predictions are right, the next big thing will be early ’80s British metal.”Maybe the mullet-wearing Judas Priest sort of thing,” he says, laughing. “But I could be wrong. I’m going out on a limb here.”Regardless of what style is new and hot, Superdrag is concentrating on sticking to its indie, power-pop roots.”I definitely wouldn’t be in a hurry to sign with a major label again,” Davis says. “We’ve been able to get a lot more work done since [the split with Elektra]. It’s been nice. It’s funny how sometimes the fewer people that are involved with something, the more efficient it is.”