Michigan-based trip-hop act Getaway Cruiser doesn’t take many bathroom breaks while on the road.

“So we use empty water containers,” said Chris Peters, one of the two brothers who comprise the band’s songwriting core.

But aside from using makeshift facilities to urinate, life on the road is pretty normal for Peters and his crew.

The band’s label, 550 Music (a division of media monolith Sony Records), has provided Getaway Cruiser with a 15-passenger Dodge van.

“It’s a pretty nice ride,” Peters said, despite having to repair the air conditioner.

Peters compared riding across the Midwest in a van with no air conditioning to “taking a hair dryer and blowing it in your face.”

In the event that the band gets strapped for cash, Peters and his band mates noted that they can sell the van if they so desire.

Sony also furnished Peters and his band with a video camera and “lots of gear” so they can tape their “stupid antics.”

One tomfoolery committed to tape involved nudity, a checkbook and Getaway bassist Mark Dundon.

According to Peters, late one evening Dundon was traipsing around wasted in a hotel with nothing but a checkbook to conceal his precious jewels.

“It would have been entertaining if he would have gotten arrested,” Peters said, because the band was bored on its day off. He added that the band gets along well, but when problems arise, they separate themselves at opposing ends of the van.

Getaway Cruiser manifested itself about two years ago after members met up at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Since that time the band has spun out two E.P.s, “Instrumentals” and “Phones Calling,” and one full-length self-titled album released this year.

Peters said the band’s new album is a funnel of its heterogeneous record collections.

The band draws its influences from arena rockers Van Halen and Kiss, pioneer hip-hop acts like Run-D.M.C. and Whodini, and aging classic tune-smiths The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and ZZ Top.

In a press release, Peters recalled “spinning around on the linoleum floor as a kid [listening] to Run-DMC and Whodini.”

Peters wasn’t afraid to expose the band’s metallic side.

Prior to the interview, he said the band was listening to the heavy metal regime and contender for most Satanic symbols on an album cover — Slayer.

While en route to shows, the band has been listening to Eric Thurman’s (from EPMD fame) solo project, a band from Detroit called Horse and an R & B mix tape crafted by Peters with soulful acts like SWV.

Getaway Cruiser’s new album features Pras from The Fugees on the song “I’m Fine (I Find).” The band also covers Tony! Toni! Tone!’s hit, “Let’s Get Down.”

If there is a musical avenue the band hasn’t explored, the style probably hasn’t been invented yet. On its new record, the band implements turntables, loops, a Tascam 488, accordions, pianos, synthesizers and a talk box, among the staple instruments.

The songwriting process commences when brothers Chris and Drew Peters get together and lay the rhythm tracks.

Then the songwriting duo “pulls out whatever instrument it feels like” and proceeds to write a song. Vocalist Dina Harrison contributes to the melody.

Harrison then wields a pen and lays down the lyrics.

Getaway Cruiser is currently on a six week Midwest/East Coast tour with Sister Soleil.

Getaway Cruiser will not open for Sister Soleil tonight as originally planned. Instead, the band will play one show this Friday at 9 p.m. at the M-Shop.

Tickets are $4 for students and $5 general admission.