Brave Tin Soldiers are quietly becoming one of DeKalb’s most prolific rock bands. Aside from their gigs in places like Phoenix to Chicago, they find their way out to DeKalb enough to frequent Otto’s and the House Cafe.

The three-piece band features Peter Alexander on guitar, his brother Pat Szczypinski on drums, and NIU alumnus Jason Kedsch on bass.

Formed in 2006 as a one-man project for Alexander, Brave Tin Soldiers put out a self-titled EP with their old lead singer who has since left the band. They also re-recorded without him, and their newest release, the “Black Snow Angels EP” is four tracks of self-produced rock and roll. The release itself can be found for free at any Brave Tin Soldiers show.

I arrive with the band to a small office in the middle of a corporate office park in Schaumburg to watch them practice for Thursday night’s gig at The House Cafe, opening for the Rikters. The guys tune up and discuss how they will incorporate a new platform into their set – a box with the band’s name on it and a light coming out from inside.

“It’s our ‘ego box,'” Alexander said, “You can obviously see we are down-to-earth guys.”

He laughs as we discuss guitar solo possibilities.

Shortly after, the guys plug in and are ready to go. Kedsch and Alexander practice their two-part harmonies on a song called “Breathe,” a song that would fit in perfectly with the first Muse record.

Throughout their rehearsal, the band absolutely tore through their set list, playing songs both new and old with an intensity reserved for rooms with more than one person in them. Pat’s drums shook the walls of the entire building; Jason’s bass grooved and thudded at the same time, and Pete’s guitar howled as he ripped through some of his face-melting solos.

Afterwards, the sweaty guys were willing to talk with me a little bit about their band.

Northern Star: What do you feel is the Brave Tin Soldiers’ dynamic, and how do each of you fit in?

Jason Kedsch: I like to think that since we all listen to different styles of music, we all have to keep in mind what everyone else is doing. Pat somehow always manages to be a strong backbone and still be creative, while Pete throws together outlines of songs and we all have to decide how to create something as individuals that works for the big picture.

NS: What was the worst gig you ever played?

All (in unison): The Red Line Tap in Chicago.

Kedsch: The other bands were terrible.

Alexander: Nobody came out, either.

Szczypinski: Also, nobody got drunk, which was a disappointment. Since nothing really bad has happened to us, this was the worst because there was no energy in the entire room. As Jagerbomb drinkers (endorsement deal?), we expect a certain level of rowdiness from the crowd as much as they do of us. It was not there that night, so everybody suffered.

NS: Why should NIU spend its Thursday night with Brave Tin Soldiers?

Alexander: NIU is essentially a home gig for us, and the line-up is amazing, but there is never any other place around where you can get the same amount of rock and roll for your money than the House Cafe.

NS: What CDs will be in the BTS van on the way to the show?

Szczypinski: The album “Wisconsin Death Trip” by Static-X. It is just relentless … it is energy in its most condensed form.

Alexander: The new Ours record is fantastic. It was produced by Rick Rubin, who just turned it into a great sounding record.

Kedsch: I would have to say it would be Fugazi’s “The Argument.” There is no band I would rather listen to right before we go on stage than Fugazi.

NS: Closing statements, sell me on Brave Tin Soldiers.

Jason: Who wants to get their face rocked? Oh, and bring girls.

Szczypinski: When you leave our show, you will take it with you.

[Alexander waits a few seconds, and collects his thoughts]

Alexander: We have egos, but only when the time is right. On stage, it is all attitude. We want to make you listen to us, to look at us and to love us. Rock and roll is just a state of mind, so dress however you want, drink whatever you want and do whatever you want. It may just be an attitude, but we know that we’ve got it.

Brave Tin Soldiers are playing tonight right before The Rikters, while In a Massive Nothing and Autumn in Analog are opening. Show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $6.