When rock quartet SR-71 lost its original drummer mid-tour, John Allen stepped up as relief and has stuck around ever since.

The new kid on the SR-71 block, Allen's first official show was March 2001 at Crowbar, 420. E. College Ave.

"I was just trying to make it through the set without screwing up the songs too badly," Allen said with a laugh. "I'll definitely be more comfortable this time around."

Allen looks forward to a full-circle homecoming at 9 p.m. Tuesday, when SR-71 returns to Crowbar.

The new album:

SR-71, which banked off the success of spunky single "Right Now" from its 2000 debut Now You See Inside, recently released its sophomore effort, Tomorrow. The album features an edgier, moodier style than its sprightly predecessor.

"A lot's been happening in the world," Allen said.

"It's affected us, as well as my coming from a little heavier of a [musical] background."

Although Allen commented on Tomorrow's darker quality, he said the album still features some hyper, party-style songs written before Sept. 11.

"I don't know if our intention was really to help, as much as it was to express our feelings of disbelief and loss, and fears of the uncertain," Allen said. "Sept. 11 made us as Americans feel a little vulnerable, a little insecure."

The new guy:

Although Allen is the official new guy of SR-71, he feels little insecurity.

"I've known the guys for so long that I'm like the new old guy," Allen said.

Before joining SR-71, Allen filled in whenever the drummer called in sick and has been with the band on and off throughout the process of getting signed.

"Playing with them is like coming home for the holidays and seeing your family again," Allen said.

Allen expected that fans would automatically hate the guy who stepped in for their favorite drummer but said that no one has given him a hard time.

"I don't know if somebody from higher up sheltered me from that, or if I've just been really lucky," Allen said.

The drummer:

Before Allen picked up drum sticks at age 11, he tried his hand at guitar.

"Guitar was taking too long for me to be really proficient, so I just gave up," Allen said. "I switched to drums really quickly because I could actually fumble my way through a beat. So it stuck."

Although many people assume that drumming is boring, Allen said playing drums can be a cathartic release.

"If you play properly, you're just using your wrists, and it's not a work out," Allen said. "But if you play like I do, like a rock drummer, you're using a lot of energy."

The rock star:

Although he's part of a well-known national act, Allen still doesn't feel like a musician.

"There are a ton of really well-schooled musicians around," Allen said. "I worked at a drum shop, and they would come in and floor me. I'd say, 'That's it, I'm never picking up drum sticks again.' "

However, Allen does not feel like a rock star either. Yet.

"I'm maybe a rock star-in-training," Allen said with a laugh.