MxPx forged the foundation for what later became a towering pop-punk trend while still attending Central Kitsap High School near Bremerton, Wash., in 1992.
"I think we're different from most of the bands that were in the music scene, for sure," said guitarist Tom Wisniewski. "I think we stand out just because we're not doing the normal thing for Seattle."
That abnormal power-pop sound helped the group nab a record deal with the indie label Tooth and Nail in 1994 before graduating high school.
"When the band was started, it was what a lot of us were listening to, and it's a fun style of music to play," Wisniewski said. "It's what we've always loved."
After producing two albums and conglomerating a decent fanbase, the group soon signed to their current label, A&M Records, in 1998.
Some perceive the group as Christian music, but Wisniewski said the band is just sincere in what it writes and that contributes to its beliefs crossing into its music.
Nevertheless, the group's addictive hooks and punkish compositions sparked the interest of many teens but never erected its name in the continually growing pop-punk metropolis.
Still, Wisniewski said the group is proud to have taken part in the original drafting and construction of the explosive genre, even if its status is still suburban.
"We weren't on 'MTV Cribs' or anything, but we're part of the existing framework of pop-punk," Wisniewski said.
With 11 albums produced in eight years, MxPx has proven its longevity and ingenuity.
In the past year, MxPx has headlined for Simple Plan and Dashboard Confessional, and independently toured in Japan and Australia.
Springfest will bring MxPx home and allow them to weld together stronger local ties.
Wisniewski said WSU and UW are two of the areas where the band is most recognized.
"We haven't really played Eastern Washington for a long time," Wisniewski said. "It will be really fun to play over there again because we're originally from Washington, and I can't believe we haven't played over there more."
He continued to explain that his friend is a WSU graduate and expects the concert to be a giant party.
"People in college want to get out and have a good time - blow off some steam," Wisniewski said. "I think this will definitely be a party to do that at."
MxPx's contributions to the party will be straight-up music according to Wisniewski, who described the band as energetic, fun-loving and fast-paced. Wisniewski said their concerts aren't mechanical "laugh-track based" shows and don't include unnecessary pyrotechnics and props.
"We try to bring it loud, hard, fast and right up the middle," he said. "There is not a lot of gimmicks to it. We just bring it raw and real. That's one of the cool things about punk rock - it's so interactive."
Wisniewski said his favorite part about performing live is the direct interaction and fulfillment he draws from the crowd.
"When you play it live for people and see someone getting off on the music" he said. "That's what makes live music so unique."
MxPx has been prevalent in the streets of pop-punk for years, but they are still 28-year-olds sticking to their guns. They released their latest album, "Before Everything and After," on Sept. 16, 2003.
The band continues to stir up the industry and has played with the best, or in this case the most popular, pop-punk bands around.
Wisniewski said the crazy thing is that even though MxPx isn't on TRL status, it is strongly revered by nearly everyone in the industry.
"I think we get respect from a lot of the young bands who grew up listening to us and the older bands, too, since we have stuck with it," Wisniewski said. "They are like, 'Hey these guys are here to stay.' "