While other bands sacrifice creativity to become more cookie-cutter and create a fan base, one group has decided to explore uncharted territory and answer the call of the wild.

That is the guiding principle for progressive rock band I Am Alaska, guitarist Drew Magid said.

"Alaska is such a mysterious place," Magid (junior-advertising and public relations) said. "It's kind of like a metaphor for unexplored wilderness."

The band hopes to get that reaction from students when playing at student-run music group Asylum's Halloween Show on Friday in Pollock Commons' rec room.

Students are encouraged to dress up for the festivities, according to Asylum's flier for the concert.

The band is the combination of several Philadelphia-area bands that wanted to do a side project, and it has taken off from there.

The group is inspired by other bands, such as Nirvana, At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta and Thursday, balancing pop-punk and indie rock genres, band members said.

The group also strives to compose music that has powerful choruses as well as multiple key changes and dissonant song compositions.

Singer Rob Hackert said although he comes up with the lyrics, the band helps to develop the melody that goes with his words.

"We don't try to sound the same as any one band," Hackert said. "Somehow, we try to take elements of the songs that we like."

Hackert said the band's intensity and instrumentation cause it to meet somewhere between the various genres of rock that influence it.

"People aren't really ready for it," Hackert said. "They're like, 'Woah, what is this?' "

I Am Alaska will be playing with three other bands -- New York pop-punk band Such Gold, indie band Balance and Composure and pop-punk band Handguns.

Megan Harrell, vice president for Asylum, said Magid helped to set up a lot of the concert.

"All the bands are friends, and we're having a little Halloween get-together with the bands afterward," Harrell said.

Hackert said students who are looking to expand their horizons will be impressed with I Am Alaska's performance.

Magid said that the group's music is intended for those craving something different.

"What makes us interesting is that were pursuing a style that isn't that popular," he said.

"We put a lot of blood and guts and everything in it."

Magid said that an example of the band's eccentricity is one of its songs called "Train Car."

In the song a girl escapes from being imprisoned in a Nazi train.

"We write songs that are important to us, not breaking up with girlfriends or anything," Magid said.

Although the band members are split among Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and State College, I Am Alaska makes the time to tour all around the East Coast, Hackert said.

Members intend to tour for six dates close to Thanksgiving and 12 dates close to Christmas.

"We all work or go to school, so we try to balance our schedules," Hackert said. "We basically plan out ahead of time when we're going to plan shows."

Magid said having a good promoter is a key ingredient to having a successful tour.

"You get a show and you're excited for it, you drive six hours and no ones there. That's part of what comes with it," Magid said.

Magid said it would not be worth it to the band if the members did not like to perform.

"Music is kind of like all of our girlfriends, because it's a lot of work," he said. "We care about it a lot, so that's why we try to make it work."