Over the past six years, the Champaign, Ill. quartet Hum has quietly built a loyal following through steady, self-booked touring and the release of two full-length records. The band has also signed with a major record label and released the MTV favorite, “Stars.”

But it wasn’t the record deals or fame that originally brought the four rockers together. “We were just friends, playing,” Hum bassist Jeff Dimpsey said. “It wasn’t a huge thing. We just formed to go play at parties here and there, and get free beer and hang out.”

Dimpsey said he grew up in Champaign along with singer Matt Talbot and drummer Bryan St. Pere. The trio met guitarist Tim Lash through mutual friends and formed Hum soon after.

“We’re all still friends,” Dimpsey said. “We just argue a lot more nowadays. We see each other so much with the band that we tend to go separate ways at home. But we see each other; not much has changed, really.”

Although you would never know it by listening to the band’s RCA debut, You’d Prefer An Astronaut, Hum arguments are typically based around the band’s biggest struggle — songwriting.

“We don’t have a writing process,” Dimpsey said. “Well, we don’t have a process that works. That’s probably why it takes us so long.”

Dimpsey said the band members usually hate about 90 percent of the songs they write. When asked if a lot of constructive criticism goes on, Dimpsey said, “maybe a lot of destructive criticism.”

“Everyone in the band has different ideas,” he said. “Everyone pulls their own way.”

Hum has been pulling a lot lately. The band said it has more than enough material for a new record and is in the process of testing it out on the road.

“We’re ready to be creative again,” Dimpsey said about getting back into the studio.

“We’re doing the next record the same way we’ve always done it. We just need to get the songs where we want them.”

Hum plans on entering the studio again in March and hopes to release its next record by September. “We want to get new material out before we hit the road,” Dimpsey said. “Then we’re going to tour all year, maybe open up for a bigger band.”

Hum’s chances of finding a strong touring mate shouldn’t be difficult, considering the amount of bands coming out of Illinois recently.

Besides the obvious Smashing Pumpkins, the state has also seen the Smoking Popes, Poster Children, Sister Machine Gun and the Suede Chain all receive national attention in the past few years.

“Each town has a different scene,” Dimpsey said. “Everyone is doing their own thing, it’s just a matter of luck that we all come from the same state.”

Dimpsey said the release of “Stars” was definitely the turning point for Hum. “It totally changed things,” he said. “We like ‘Stars,’ we don’t get sick of playing it. It has a real hooky chorus that comes 30 seconds into the song, so it’s very radio-friendly.”

Hum will be playing its radio-friendly rock at the Maintenance Shop tonight at 8 and 11 p.m. Tickets for the shows are still available at the door and are $6 for ISU students, $8 for non-ISU students.

Grandma Mojo’s Moonshine Revival member Jason Sturgis and his band, Medulla Oblongata, will take on opening duties for the evening.