For most people, garage bands are synonymous with three things: high voltage power chords, tough-as-nails lyrics, and an uncontrollable amount of angst.

But a trio of Cal High juniors have joined together to create a band unlike anything typically seen in suburbia, questioning what a garage band can be.

Longtime friends Dylan Stalcup, Craig Lager and Christian Lofaso formed post-rock band Alopex during their freshmen year.  The trio consists of Lager on guitar, Stalcup on bass, and Lofaso on drums.

Post-rock is a form of rock music that is made up of heavy guitar riffs, intricately woven rhythms, and complex instrumentation. Like Alopex, post-rock bands typically do not have vocalists, allowing the guitars and bass to control the melody and direction of the music.

Without a vocalist, a post-rock band can venture outside of the structure of typical rock music, allowing freedom to experiment with unconventional rhythms and song structures.

Stalcup, Lager and Lofaso became friends during middle school and shared a mutual affinity toward music, listening to bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers and Weezer at the time.

In seventh grade, Lager and Stalcup formed a short-lived band playing both covers and original songs.

“We played bad indie pop back then,” Stalcup said. “It was just bad.”

When the trio entered high school, they played their respective instruments in Cal’s jazz ensemble. This is where all three first began to play alongside each other.

“They’re very musically talented,” said Cal band director Kent Johnson. “They all can read music, too, which is great.”

That year, Lager and Stalcup rejoined forces to form a new band. It would later be named “Alopex,” this time with Lofaso playing drums.

Alopex differs greatly from other bands at Cal, using influences from indie-rock and progressive rock, or prog, to create highly sophisticated and emotive music.

The band mentions Foals, Two Door Cinema Club, Scale the Summit, and Explosions in the Sky as their main influences.

“We’ve always listened to the same music,” Lager said. “We like post-rock and we like prog, so we just put the two together.”

So far, the band has recorded the song “Flash Before Your Eyes.” It’s a seven-minute piece that features a dream-like introductory guitar riff that drops off into a pounding, high-energized driving force between drums and bass with the wails of Lager’s guitar laced in between.

Lager plays with a stirring amount of sincerity, the screams and sudden sweeping movements of his guitar-playing are at the forefront of “Flash Before Your Eyes.”

During most of the song, Lofaso rides on swaying drum patterns. He then builds the song with rigid, militaristic drum rolls and cymbal crashes.

Stalcup’s unwavering bass lines hold down the chord progression but also join alongside Lager’s guitar with intricate counter-melodies.

“The inspiration for our music comes from feeling tied down by school,” said Lager. “We play with the idea that we’re going somewhere with this.  We want freedom.”

The band plans to record more songs when the trio finds a suitable studio. For now, the band continues to play backyard shows and local venues.

Last December, the band hosted a backyard show alongside Cal bands Rundown Radio and Wolf Trap Lives. The event was a winter break kick-off show the band hosts yearly.

“Performing is just really fun. It’s not necessarily about the amount of people there, it’s about the enthusiasm,” said Lager. “It’s great to see people dancing and getting really into it.”

Senior Richard Lujan attended the show, helping set up equipment and adjusting the lights and sound. He met the members of Alopex while in jazz ensemble.

“Their music is chill, but a very good type of chill,” Lujan said. “As long as they keep at it, they’ll continue to evolve. They’ve got the perfect recipe.”

The trio plans to continue the band after they graduate, taking a gap year to decide where to take their music next.

“It’s a mutual thing we all love and something we could do for a really long time,” said Lofaso. “Theres always new opportunities and new ideas.”