After a crisis in 2001, when vocalist/guitarist Frankie D’Angelo seemingly had a gig without a band to perform it, Chicago’s Gelheads has come a long way since its inception. Their accomplishments include winning a demo contest sponsored by Guitar Center and Chicago radio station Q101 and touring on the vastly successful rock spectacle Warped Tour.

After forming only a year ago, Gelheads has seen a meteoric rise within the Chicago music scene and will have the opportunity to bring their powerful and melodic brand of rock to central Illinois for the first time when the band opens for Everclear on Saturday.

The performance, the band’s first in an arena away from the smokey clubs of Chicago, affords Gelheads the opportunity to play in front of an audience who may be unfamiliar with the success they have achieved farther north.

In 2001 on the eve of the band’s biggest performance to date, vocalist/guitarist Frankie D’Angelo suddenly found himself bandless. Frantically searching for musicians to fill the role, D’Angelo called current drummer Tim Lydon and told him to bring over his drums and prepare for a musical all-nighter.

Despite the auspicious beginnings, the band soon caught a major break after winning a song writing contest held by one of the largest and most well-known radio stations in Chicago, Q101. With their song “Deer in Headlights,” Gelheads was instantly thrust into the limelight of Chicago’s local scene.

“We just dropped a CD into a box at Guitar Center,” D’Angelo said of the group’s victory in the contest. “I didn’t even know we were entered in it until the night of the drawing.We turned the radio on after practice and they called our name.”

With the success of a single under their belts, the members of Gelheads set out to record their first EP “Snappy Little Numbers” for an extremely modest $500. Again, the band hit modest paydirt despite the miniscule budget and limited resources of “Snappy Little Numbers.”

“We recorded ‘SLN’ in a basement studio that looked like something out of ‘That 70’s show’ with old, dirty plaid carpet and everything,” D’Angelosaid. “We didn’t have the luxury of digital editing, so it was kind of like what you see is what you get.”

The group built upon the success of their debut with numerous appearances on the aforementioned Q101’s Local Music Showcase where “Deer in Headlights” first gained prominence, becoming a staple on the weekly program.

The band then set out to record its follow-up, “SHIfTMOBILE,” which again took full advantage of the band’s visceral, kinetic style and penchant for melody. Blending straightforward rock with clever lyrics and a heavy dose of memorable hooks, the band has garnered comparisons to a number of other bands within the scene with the same ability to craft catchy rock tunes.

“Sometimes people refer to us as ‘pop-punk’ and I think that we’re definitely a step above that song-wise.If you listen to the ‘SHIfTMOBILE’ EP from start to finish, the four songs are very diverse and reflect a vast array of influences other than punk,” D’Angelosaid.

As to how the band crafts its songs, D’Angeloexplained the process by saying, “First and most importantly, it is the chemistry of the song. If you polish a turd its still just a turd.If you have a good song and you record it on a twelve track to its best ability, it’s bound to shine through.”

Building a burgeoning fan base on the the power of their live show along with help from radio, Gelheads quickly began conquering the Chicago club scene with packed houses and good word of mouth. As to the band’s success, D’Angelo remains somewhat surprised but always thankful for the support fans have shown the group.

“We do this because we love it and when kids come to an outdoor show in 40-degree weather and stay even though they forgot their jacket. It’s like no other feeling in the world,” D’Angelosaid. “We play every song live like we’ll never play it again and try to interact with the audience as much as possible.When we have fun, the audience has fun and we get a nice little symbiotic relationship going there.”

As for what the future holds for the band, it seems optimistic about prospects for the future. With negotiations with major labels planned and an album in the works for the near future, Gelheads are at the beginning of what appears to be a very successful career. “We all love to rock and we will keep rocking,” D’Angelo promised.