More than 60 people packed into Otto’s Underground the last time Fixate played.

This time, DeKalb-native Fixate will play upstairs as the headlining band for a concert Friday night with Meqqa and Pelao.

“Last time we played there, Mike and Joe was playing upstairs so we had their crowd and ours,” Fixate guitarist Brad Hides said. “We want to triple that Friday.”

Friday’s show will mark the release of the band’s first professionally recorded album in its two-and-a-half-year history.

-Hides said Fixate’s musical style is like the Deftones and Incubus, two of the bands it covers during shows. He added that they also cover songs by Radiohead and The Beatles.

“We play whatever the good songs are,” Hides said. “We get as heavy as you can get to melodic.”

Hides said he and fellow bandmates Ryan Kerchner (vocals), NIU student Nathan Britsch (bass) and Josh Debruhl (drums) are excited about their return to Otto’s.

“It’s a great place to play,” Hides said. “It’s exciting to play upstairs with the professional sound system and the fans everywhere. The more people we bring, the better.”

Friday’s show will be the second time Fixate has played upstairs, but it has played downstairs more than 20 times, Hides said.

“We’ve been playing pretty much every weekend, but are looking forward to a great show Friday,” he added.

Fixate has played all over the area including in Chicago at the Big Horse. Hides said the band is trying to get gigs at the Metro and the Double Door.

After Friday’s performance, Fixate will get ready to play a Feb. 15 show in Geneva and gear up for the Chicago Rock Video Showcase.

Hides said the band still is trying to hammer out details about a tour of the Midwest this summer. As of now, Fixate is looking to play with Pearl Jam tribute band Evenflow and hit 10 different cities, Hides said.

Scheduled to open the show at around 10 p.m. is Meqqa, which will be followed by Pelao.