Denver rock band Meese is taking a lot of first steps. The local outfit is recording its debut CD for a major label, the group's working with Nine Inch Nails' producer, and Meese is playing its debut show at the Fox Theatre tonight.

Meese may have started out as a local indie pop-rock band, but the group's upcoming national release will show off the act's passion for fusing electronic and rock music together. The band's music is heading into an edgier direction and it should put a new spotlight on the music coming out of the Denver/Boulder scene.

Locals first got turned onto Meese's tunes via local radio station KTCL. The Fray and Single File scored major record deals after being put in heavy rotation on the Denver indie rock station - and now Meese is getting ready to release its debut CD on Atlantic Records. That's not bad for a band that started in 2005.

Brother's Nate and Patrick Meese form the core of the newly signed band. Nate dropped out of a Midwest college and moved to Denver to start the group with his bro. The band of brothers had performed together in the past, but they knew there was something different about this new group.

"My brother and I had been apart for awhile -- he had gone to school in Colorado for music," said Nate Meese. "He'd send me his demos in a brotherly gesture when I was attending college in Ohio. I'd listen to the demos -- and they were really good. They were that great, that I dropped of college, moved to Colorado and started the band!"

The Meese brothers were both fans of bands like Radiohead, so they initially decided to write lengthier songs that had melodic bases .

"We wanted to incorporate our musical influences," said Meese. "We also liked really good pop songs by bands like The Beatles and The Police. We liked the interesting melodies that we found in British music and a good classic song structure. Pat is really amazing at incorporating electronic tones and beats into our songs, so our music is like a hodge-podge of everything we've experienced."

Meese had its musical style down, so the next step for the band was to find local gigs. The group started out playing smaller shows at the Soiled Dove in Lodo and the D Note in Arvada. It wasn't long before Meese was performing at the Hi-Dive, Larimer Lounge, and the Bluebird Theater in Denver.

Denver's indie rock scene embraced Meese. The local group shared stages with other up-and-coming acts like The Fray, The Photo Atlas, and Born in the Flood. The bands would often play multi-billed shows to let all the Denver groups gain exposure.

"We also did a lot of shameless, self-promotion," explained Meese. "We were always getting the word out about the band and we have a very strong on-line presence. There were some shows in Denver where I'd personally hang up 200 flyers. For a band, name recognition is important. In Denver, bands help other bands out. Being part of the scene is extremely important."

Meese was gaining stride in the Denver market, but the band had only played one show in Boulder -at the Boulder Theater. However, earning airplay on KTCL perked the interest of club owners and promoters in the metro music market.

Getting local airplay also earns local bands loyal fans. KTCL decided to add Meese's poppy, indie rocker "The Start of It" to the airwaves, and it led to a national record deal for the Denver act.

"We owe a lot to KTCL," said Meese. "About a year ago they started playing 'The Start Of It.' As far as popular music goes, the most important thing you can do is to get a song on the radio. KTCL started playing our song and things started happening really fast! We did the major label dance for six or seven months. People like to lump all the labels together as corporate monsters, but we went with Atlantic. Everyone there is a real music lover and they want to support the band."

Meese inked its deal with Atlantic Records on Oct. 15, 2007. The Denver band decided to keep the signing event low-key, but the group hosted a celebration show for fans last December.

From the second the ink was dry, Meese went into songwriting mode. The group knew it wanted to head into the studio with a large body of tunes.

"We had demos of over 25 songs," confirmed Meese. "We've been writing like madmen. We've also been figuring out all the steps it takes to make a first album; we had to hire a producer, figure out the sound, and get the art direction going. We also wanted a definite new sound. I mean we're not rapping, but we wanted Meese to sound different."

Meese decided the new CD should reflect all the excitement and passion of a live show, so the band decided to pursue a producer that could help deliver that sound.

"We wanted to trim the fat off our music," said Meese. "We wanted a lot more guitars and a lot more rock n' roll. We really figured out the kind of band we really want to be."

Meese knew it was going to take a producer who shared the band's vision to undertake this project. The group found what they were looking for with producer Sean Beavan.The well-known producer has a pretty solid production roster in the music industry. Beavan's has worked with edgier acts like Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, and the Denver band viewed him as pioneer in the recording arena.

"Our manager knew Sean personally, so we knew he was a normal guy," said Meese. "He knows how to get great art of bands. He's also been a pioneer with incorporating electronics and rock music. He did Nine Inch Nails' first big record. We wanted to incorporate that fusion of electronic and rock. I think that will set our band apart -and what better than going with the guy that started it?"

Meese is taking a week off from the recording process to play its debut show at the Fox Theatre. After the Colorado gig, the band heads back to the studio.

The local band is still figuring out its summer and fall tour dates. Meese says the group will open shows for some "big national tours." However, Meese is really ecstatic to finally play the Fox Theatre tonight.

"This is the first time ever we're playing the Fox," said Meese. "There's something about that venue that really showcases bands. We also found out that we're going to play the main stage of the Mile High Music Festival. That's a trip. We're proud to be a Colorado band. It's so cool to live in a place that has such a great music scene."

Meese is still putting the pieces of its career together, but it looks like this local act has figured out how to put another Colorado band on the map.

FYI: Meese plays the Fox Theatre tonight with Born in the Flood, and The Rouge, 9 p.m.

Contact Wendy Kale about this story at (303) 443-6272 ext. 128 or kale@coloradodaily.com