Philpot, from left: Josh Kennedy, Caleb Smith, Arthur Ready, Kentz Ward, Tyler Evans, AJ Boone. (Submitted photo by Brock Ward)

The members of Philpot grew up in the small town of Dugger, Ind., a rural environment that wasn't used to the kind of band that might play at a hip New York City nightclub (with celebs in attendance) or garner write-ups in the New York Post and New York Press (like this band did in 2004). The group's sound has been compared to Oasis and has roots in the blues -- a melodic hard rock styled with a little glam and a lot of forethought.

While Philpot is a "young" band -- the members are all in their early 20s -- the group formed in 2000 and has seven years, plus many shows and multiple albums, under its rock star belt. The group's latest album, "Hate Writes Better Than Love," was released earlier this year.

Lead singer Kentz Ward recently took the time to answer some of our most pressing questions via e-mail.

How do you describe the music you play?

Loud, strong and to the point.

Describe Dugger, Ind. Has growing up there affected the music you play or your music career?

Dugger is a small town without any traffic lights. Everyone knows everyone. I think it's made us work harder as a unit. We all know each other very well and have been friends most of our lives.

How well are you known in Indiana versus how well are you known nationally?

Some parts of Indiana, such as Terre Haute, we're known very well. Other parts, like Indianapolis, we're still trying to get our name out there. New York City and Chicago have been two great cities where we have a lot of fun. We just want to tour the world and make as big a name as we can for ourselves.

What is it like to be in a band with people you have known since you were in school?

It's great because we trust one another and know everything about one another. We're more or less brothers.

What is the most important thing you have learned about music in the past five years?

You can't have enough songs and you can't meet enough people.

What has been your best experience as a band so far?

Meeting new people and being able to work in great studios and with great engineers/producers.

Could you say a bit about the album you released this year?

It's a very powerful album. It comes at you like a fast train and rarely slows down.

Where do you go from here?

We want to play in front of tens of thousands. But right now we're going to promote as best we can and gear up for the next album.

Philpot has shows in Indiana scheduled through next April. Check www.philpotmusic.com for more information.