Vocalist Jason Cruz said a true love of punk rock pushed five kids from Simi Valley to form Strung Out in 1992.

"The idea for Strung Out was to keep playing the type of music we wanted to play, no matter what the trends were," Cruz said. "When it's not cool to play punk rock anymore, we'll still continue to play it.

"No one listened to Bad Religion in our hometown," said Cruz during a phone call from Los Angeles. "We did, and we were practically the only ones who did. So we decided to form a band."

Of the five, only Cruz and guitarists Jake Kiley and Rob Ramos stuck with it. Drummer Jordan Burns joined in 1993 and bassist Chris Aiken joined in 1999.

Strung Out is also recording CDs and going out on tour on its own terms, said Cruz.

"We don't have a major label taking care of us. When we tour, we're the ones who book the shows. We're the ones to take it on the road, and we're the ones who have to deal with the consequences when things don't go right."

But so far, things have been going well for Strung Out.

"Those challenges are all part of the job and package," Cruz said. "So we can't complain."

The band released a new album, "Agents of the Underground," on Sept. 29. Cruz said he likes working on new material.

"I don't like to repeat myself," he said. "And I don't like looking back to what we've done before. However, sometimes the people who listen to our songs need something familiar to latch on to.

"That's where the rest of the band comes in. They are very good at making sure there is a thread that kind of ties our new songs to the old."

Producer Cameron Webb, who has worked with Social Distortion and Limp Bizkit, helped Strung Out throughout the recording process.

"He (Webb) was there from day one," said Cruz. "He came in and listened to a bunch of rehearsals and asked what I wanted the album to be.

"And while he let us do what we do, he helped us put the music into perspective.

"We're a band that does a job, and we do it good, and he knew that. However, he was able to help us do a better job."

If you go...

What: Strung Out

Where: V2, 865 W. 100 North, Layton

When: Oct. 30, 6:30 p.m.

How much: $15

Phone: 801-467-8499, 800-888-8499

Web: www.smithstix.com

e-mail: scott@desnews.com