Rusted Root is not a band solely manufactured and created in a studio. Instead, it relies on its band members' own musical ability and lyrical writing.

The Pittsburgh band is made up of six talented musicians: Michael Glabicki (lead vocals, guitar), Jenn Wertz (vocals, guitars, percussion), Liz Berlin (vocals, guitars, percussion), Jim Donovan (drums, percussion, vocals), Patrick Norman (bass, guitar, baritone, vocals, percussion), and John McDowell (keyboards, percussion).

The band has recently released a new album entitled Welcome To My Party and is currently on tour promoting and the album. Static invades the phone line as Rusted Root's Patrick Norman talks about the band's latest endeavors and expectations while travelling to their next promotional appearance.

Things are working really well now that the band has gotten back together after breaking up for a period of time, Norman said.

"We've been very creative," he said. "It seems very open and very experimental."

While the band is still heavily concentrating on the unique sound it produces through a variety of instruments, Rusted Root is focusing a lot on their lyrics. After all, they do write all their own music and lyrics, Norman said.

"We've all become better writers [because of this album]," Norman said.

While in many instances the band writes the words of a song and then adapts it to music, there are some pieces that originated during a jam session -- the lyrics written later.

"Union 7 was written while jamming," Norman said. "Usually, as far as Rusted Root is concerned [band members] will bring in a song or we will use free form jamming and then the last thing will be the lyrics."

And jam they do. They love to feel a connection with their audience.

"We love being close to the audience," Norman said. We like to be able to shake some hands and say 'hey how ya doing?'"

Norman added that they prefer to perform in smaller venues where it's easier to connect to their audience.

And this tour has been extremely successful for them. With most of their concerts completely selling out or close to it, Rusted Root has performed for crowds anxious to hear new, original music, Norman said.

"We spent all this time in the studio writing and recording and now we're jumping out onto the road," he said.

Their concerts are filled with instrumental jam sessions, harmonizing voices and an audience that dances and jumps wildly in time to the music.

"Anybody that loves music will like us," Norman said. "We're just a strong band that plays more well-rounded songs."

Rusted Root relies on the musical abilities, rather than using image to sell its albums, Norman said.

"It's more that we're trying to be honest and play the music," he added.

Maybe honesty is the best policy, but with the music scene bombarding its listeners with pop music, it could make it harder for other alternative bands to make it. This is not the case with Rusted Root, Norman said.

They actually benefit from the pop revolution, he said.

"It's a challenge for us," Norman said. "The whole emphasis on pop may benefit us because everything is so homogenized that stuff we do will stick out."

And the band is dedicated to sticking with their unique sound by mostly using percussion in combination with a variety of instruments.

"This is the nature of what we do," Norman said. "Everybody in the band played lots of instruments."

It is the influence of African percussion that really helps shape this band and their music, he said.

While the band played at Juniata College last weekend to an enthusiastic crowd, Norman said they hope to hit State College in the future. "We love playing in State College," he said. "It's one of our favorite places to go." Welcome To My Party is Rusted Root's fourth album.