High-pitched squeals echo across the halls of a coffee shop. The crowd in front of the stage takes the moment to chat before the music starts again. Three guys sit on stage, making final adjustments to their instruments before they begin to play.

Local band, Saving Corinth, offers a different sound; one that doesn’t fall into a particular genre. With influences ranging from Weezer to Dave Mathews to John Denver, Saving Corinth incorporates sounds of jazz, folk and rock into their music.

“We have a hard time telling people what our sound is,” said bassist Aaron Little, sophomore sociology major. “The cool thing is, you can’t really be pigeonholed into a particular genre.”

Singing about everyday life struggles and relationships, Saving Corinth has a repertoire of around 20 songs. The band said it has performed roughly 15 shows.

On Oct. 15, the band performed at Dioko Coffee Company in Joplin, a venue it is planning to play monthly. A crowd of about 100 was on hand for the performance.

Brandon Davis, senior biology major and the band’s drummer, said the coffee house was happy with the crowd they drew. The college-age crowd is preferred by Dioko because the audience members tend to buy drinks and watch the show.

The Oct. 15 show was a little different from the band’s normal set. Davis had taken ill earlier in the week, therefore, the band members decided to play a lower-key acoustic set which gave Davis the opportunity to play the djembe rather than his usual drum set.

“We’re a young band and we feel we’re getting better all the time,” said guitarist Matt Brock.

Friends since grade school, Davis and Brock began playing together in high school. Davis and Little have been friends since high school, playing together through their church.

After playing music through different outlets, the three decided it was time to form their own group.

“Matt was writing a lot of original music,” Davis said. “We thought we’d make something of it.”

Brock continues to write songs for the band. Davis and Little write their respective parts, but leave the lead vocals up to Brock.

Now playing together for over a year, Saving Corinth members remain open about the plans and goals for their band. It is open to its calling by God and what He says is the right path.

While Little and Davis both live in Joplin, Brock is attending graduate school in Fayetteville which means they must commute for playing and practicing as a band member.

“Every week, playing just once, I have to drive three hours,” Brock said. “That’s probably the most difficult thing that faces our band.”

The band recently recorded its first album Blinding.

In addition to thanking God, the band members said they are grateful for the support their significant others have given them.

“Our wives have been hugely patient with us,” Little said. “They’ve been amazing.”

Saving Corinth’s next show will be at 9 p.m. on Nov. 12 at Dioko.

For more information on Saving Corinth, visit its website at www.savingcorinth.com.