It wasn’t long ago that local rockers 38th Parallel weren’t 38th Parallel at all. Instead, the band was just a group of high-schoolers messing around and playing a few covers. A couple short years and a solid lineup later, this group of 19-year-olds and 20-somethings have integrated themselves into a music scene that, in the band’s words, is in an incubation stage and ready for the next leaders to arise.Four members of the Ames fivesome live together, and the half of the duplex they occupy fits the band, or any band, quite nicely — a few couches spread around with no particular layout, a bunch of mainstream and obscure band posters and a path plowed to the stereo through a floor full of filth comprise their living space.Parallel’s two vocalists, Mark Jennings a somewhat group leader in how much he speaks out and Nathan Rippke, a shy yet affable individual, are sitting in the living room with thoughtful, content looks on their faces. However, the two singers constantly shift their bodies alluding to something just below the surface.The two are excited to be in their current position — an up and coming central Iowa band with a three song EP that they cannot wait to share with others.At one point in 38th Parallel’s young career, a certain word associated with bands such as P.O.D. and MxPx started to pop up, but the two frontmen are quick to speak out against any sort of a label.”We reject the label of being called a Christian band,” Jennings says. “We don’t like being called a Christian band because we don’t think you should label music by what people talk about. “If you’re going to call us a Christian band because we sing about Christ, then you have to call Kottonmouth Kings a weed band because they sing about weed.”Instead, Jennings and company just want to be called a band. “Yes, we have our beliefs and convictions, but it’s not our intention to preach to the choir or whatever,” he adds.Besides some lyrical content and the band members’ beliefs, no other aspects of what they do point to them having a Christian label, especially not their sound.”It’s very heavy,” Jennings describes. “It’s spoken rhythm. I hesitate to say rap because that seems to carry this whole other genre of dumb stuff. It’s very melodic, it’s heavy and it’s very personal.”If one were baking a cake with the ingredients being Incubus, Limp Bizkit, Project 86 and Linkin Park, the cake would come out 38th Parallel.Mmm, tasty.Unlike friends and local influences such as Mr. Plow, 35″ Mudder and Grubby Ernie, 38th is very much central Iowa-oriented and intends to keep the beat pounding in the heart of that music scene.”Those three basically made this music scene,” Jennings says. “Plow is on their way out, Mudder is over and Grubby Ernie is over. There’s a lot of good bands on the horizon that just haven’t had time to grow. They just need a chance to get out there.” Friday night marks Mr. Plow’s final show before heading to Los Angeles in pursuit of a record deal, and 38th will open the show along with Omaha rockers Clever and Des Moines hardcore outfit Index Case.The guys in 38th are happy to be sending Plow out and would love to one day follow a similar plan.”[Moving to L.A.] would be sweet,” Jennings says. “I’m proud of them. They’re a fantastic group of guys and they’re working hard.”Though 38th Parallel’s centerpieces admit they definitely aren’t ready to make any big moves just yet, they are hungrily learning a lot about the music industry from the other experienced veterans.”Everybody wants money,” Jennings says. “It’s all about the buck and I hate that, but that’s the way it is.”But Jennings is convinced that keeping the band tight will help them through the process, and that love conquers all.Meanwhile, Rippke continues to be amazed at the amount of time, work and patience it takes to get signed to a label.”I never really thought about it, but getting signed is a lot harder than we thought,” Rippke says.Another important lesson the band has learned about the music industry is how much time and effort is required to get where you want to be. Though all the guys are out of high school, they have chosen to stay out of college to concentrate on their music.Like most great band stories, the Parallel guys are doing odd jobs around Ames to support themselves. The troop includes two Dairy Queen employees, a painter and a T-Galaxy worker.”We’re not in a band for fun really,” Jennings says. “We’re in a band because we believe in what we’re doing and we just want to get out there and say what we gotta say and do what we gotta do.”We’re working hard, we got people behind us, we don’t know what the future holds, but we know what we’re trying for — we want to get signed.” The remainder of the band, which includes bassist Jeff Barton, drummer Aaron Nordyke and guitarist Shane Moe, shares the enthusiasm of their frontmen, and make sure it comes out when preparing for the live show.”When we practice downstairs, we practice as if there is an audience in front of us jumping around. I think the best way to conquer a crowd is to connect with it,” Jennings says, pointing at his eyes. “I like to touch ’em, I like to touch people’s heads.”

But with a wave of bands pumping out somewhat similar rock sounds across the country, 38th Parallel stays focused on keeping their sound fresh and original.”We’re really careful when we write,” Rippke says. “We listen to something like a guitar riff and we’ll scan our brains for like ‘does this sound like somebody else,’ if it doesn’t, we write it.”As 38th Parallel continues on its journey to wherever it wants to end up, it is sticking with what got it to where it is today — putting an emphasis on its fun live show rather than constantly recording.”Getting a good recording to support you is good until you get signed,” Rippke says.”But if people don’t know who you are, they’re not going to buy your CD,” Jennings adds.So with a new year comes new bands. And 2001 hopes to be a promising year for 38th Parallel as it forms its own footholds in music, as opposed to filling the shoes of others.