In a biography on the Omaha foursome Clever’s Web site, it says, “Come check out what a 311 guitar-tech, an Urge drum-tech and two brothers can do.”

So what can they do?

How about a self-produced debut record which has sold over 1,200 copies and counting, or a string of shows that spans to the far reaches of Denver, Colo. and all the way to Madison, Wis.

The mere fact that these four guys have kept their Midwestern roots and still managed to gain some national attention is impressive.

The always happy yet laid-back Clever frontman Bruce Coddington talks straight from the studio in Omaha where the band is recording their sophomore effort, “M39,” the first release with the newly formed Omaha-based indie label, Get Go Records.

Coddington’s past is one of musical heftiness, starting out in the business tuning guitars for 311. He later became the bass player for the underground Omaha group, Blue Moon Ghetto.

When it comes to working with his own band, Coddington only uses part of his past experiences, and leaves the rest up to art.

“[I use what I’ve learned] business wise, definitely. It would be stupid for me to not to,” Coddington admits. “Artistically there’s a lot of things that Nick [Hexum, 311 frontman] and I disagree on and the guys in Blue Moon Ghetto and I disagreed on. So when it comes to art you’re paving your own way.”

Coddington is still in contact with 311, but it’s strictly on a friendly basis as Clever has no plans of using 311 as an industry connection.

“Philosophically when it comes to that, my whole deal with those guys was that I was their friend, I never asked them for any favors, they always offered,” Coddington explains. “If the time came and it was right and they could actually do it, I know that they would offer it.

“I don’t think they really could do anything, because basically in this industry you have to have your own story,” Coddington adds. “Unless you’re Fred Durst and get the VP for whatever label and you decide you’re gonna sign a band like Staind and give them a career. [Record labels] just don’t develop bands, you have to develop yourselves.”

But of course, anything is an option.

“If Sony comes along and wants to buy our contract, I don’t think anyone is going to argue,” Coddington says with a laugh.

Though Clever paid for the recording of “Accidentally” and could afford to do the same with “M39,” Get Go Records made them an offer that would complete the band’s master plan — promotion money.

“That was thing that pushed us over because when it comes to independent, all the label can offer you is that you don’t have to front the money to put the record out,” Coddington explains. “But we’ve done it before on our own and we could have done it this time around on our own. Our big negotiating factor with this label is that we needed them to promise us money for marketing and they said OK. There is so much shit out there, you gotta put in something to make someone look your way.”

After releasing its debut, “Accidentally,” in 1998, Clever hit the road as a fivesome and played all over the Midwest headlining small clubs, and opening for bigger names such as St. Louis’ the Urge, with whom they have become friends and regular openers for.

All the work Cleaver was doing was in preparation for a bigger step in ’99. The group found a new drummer, and dwindled itself down to a foursome consisting of Coddington on vocals, guitarist Kevin Thomas, bassist Clint Thomas and drummer Ben Maxwell, former drum-tech for the Urge.

“All last year it was pretty thin. We spent the whole spring saving up to make a move,” Coddington says. “We moved down to St. Louis for about six months, blew all of our money and partied our asses off, went majorly into debt and came running back home with our tails between our legs. We pretended like we were rock stars for about six months, and then the real world caved in on us.”

This time around, Coddington has learned a lesson and doesn’t have any more plans for moving. In fact Clever is looking forward to living in very small, confined places.

“I think that we don’t have to move; we’ve got roots here in Omaha. We love the city, we like living here, we like how mellow it is, we like the fact that we can buy kind bud and not have to worry about it,” Coddington jokes. “We are hoping that we’re going to be touring so much that we’re not really going to have a residence so to say. Our residence will hopefully be the van or the bus later on down the line. And when we’re off tour, we’re gonna be at Omaha chillin’ out with our families.”

Until major touring kicks in, Clever has found plenty of positives in staying in Omaha, developing a gameplan that revolves around the town.

“Omaha is such a great place to tour from because it’s in the middle,” Coddington says. “We keep it pretty much centrally located; we haven’t hit either coast yet. We’re trying not to get ourselves so spread out. We really want to hit five markets really heavy, do really well and then build form there.”

As Clever continues the recording of “M39,” it, like most bands, look back on its first record in regret and look ahead to the next record with sheer confidence.

“It’s going really decent actually,” Coddington says. “It’s going to be a lot like ‘Accidentally’ only better. Our heavier parts are heavier and our softer parts are softer.”

Tabbed for a late spring release, “M39” promises to be the group’s best effort yet, and Coddington hopes touring for the record will really pay off for them.

With so much experience in the music industry, Coddington and company have developed what they think is a sure fire plan for getting their name around.

Its only challenge — finding a clever way to do everything.