Pennsylvanian progressive indie-rock outfit Circa Survive will be playing one of its first headlining shows since the debut of its album “Blue Sky Noise” at Sacramento State on Thursday in the University Union Ballroom.

The performance is at 7:30 p.m.in the University Union Ballroom and will be hosted by UNIQUE.

Circa Survive started around 2004 and consists of vocalist Anthony Green, guitarists Colin Frangicetto and Brendan Ekstrom, bassist Nick Beard and drummer Steve Clifford.

On April 20, Circa Survive released its latest full-length album “Blue Sky Noise” on Atlantic Records – not long after releasing two previous full-lengths, “Juturna” and “On Letting Go” and a four-song release “The Inuit Sessions,” all released on Equal Vision.

One highlight from the newest album, Fragincetto said, is that the whole band contributed to the writing process of the record. Green, who is primarily the lyricist for the band, had more input on the musical front and the rest of the band had more input on the lyrics, he said.

In the song “I Felt Free,” Fragincetto said he was able to contribute lyrics and melodies to the song, something that previously was left almost solely to Green.

“This time around, everything is very goal-oriented; no egos involved. It’s better to have five minds rather than one,” Fragincetto said.

Circa Survive began working on the record in September of 2008, after Green and Clifford returned from touring Green’s solo album “Avalon.”

The band chose a location on a nature reserve called the “Creek House” to write this most recent album.

After they started writing the album, band members moved out of the house they all lived in together and found places of their own.

Nonetheless, they would return daily to “Creek House” to continue working on the new album.

“”Creek House’ became the way that we worked,” Frangicetto said.Frangicetto said while writing “Blue Sky Noise,” Circa Survive drew its inspiration from everywhere.

“The inspiration was so many things, feelings we felt throughout the touring process, personal things that happened in our lives even before the band started. It’s a very personal record inspired by our lives,” he said.

Frangicetto said because he had so much personal involvement in each song on “Blue Sky Noise” he has a hard time labeling a favorite song to play. He said he had input in almost every song. Therefore, each song appeals to him.

“My favorites change on a daily basis, two favorites right now are “I Felt Free’ and “Get Out,'” he said. “”Get Out’ is an accomplishment in the rock “n’ roll department. It’s the kind of song I’ve always wanted to write … we’ve been trying to write a straightforward rock song and never quite hit it on the head, like we did with “Get Out,'” Frangicetto said.

The hard work and dedication the band put into writing and recording the new album did not go unappreciated by fans.

According to the website absolutepunk.net, “Blue Sky Noise” will debut on The Billboard top 200 chart this week in the 11th spot – selling 27,829 albums in its first week.

“I preordered the album as soon as I heard they were coming out with one,” said Mathew Curtis, an undeclared student from San Francisco State.

At first Curtis was skeptical of how the new album would sound because of the label change. He was concerned that being on a label with bands as big as Journey would affect Circa Survive’s sound. After listening to “Blue Sky Noise” a few times straight through, Curtis made a verdict.

“I like it more than “On Letting Go.’ It doesn’t sound like Anthony is holding his vocals back this time,” he said.

Curtis will be making the drive from San Francisco to see the performance at Sac State.

“I heard about the show on my spring break because my friend who goes to Sac State was home and he said they were playing, so as soon as I heard an opportunity to see them I hopped on it,” Curtis said.

He also plans on seeing Circa Survive the night before the Sac State show while they are in San Francisco with Coheed and Cambria.

“Circa shows are really high energy. Anthony is dancing around on stage – the crowd gets into it – it’s epic,” said UNIQUE member and senior business management major Lauren Pryor.

Pryor has been a fan of Circa Survive since her first year of college in 2006 and has already seen the group perform a couple times before. In anticipation for the show at Sac State, Pryor has been watching her favorite live videos of Circa Survive on YouTube.

Circa Survive’s upcoming concert at Sac State will be slightly different than the performances the group has recently done on tour with Coheed and Cambria.

“The set will be longer and tailored to a Circa Survive fan,” Frangicetto said. “I think immediately you’ll feel a difference there. Every night on tour there is really a good portion of the crowd that’s there to see us, but there’s an overwhelming amount to see Coheed and that’s why we did the tour, to turn some new people on.”

After its tour with Coheed and Cambria, Circa Survive plans to go out on a headlining tour of its own in the late summer. As headliners, they will have a say on who they will take on tour with them for opening support.

“We have an open-door policy on who we would go out with,” Frangicetto said. “Really, the only rule that there is, is now we’re going to headline much more often and when we do go out with other bands we want to go with bands we really respect and have admiration for.”

Tickets for Circa Survive’s performance at Sac State will cost $10 for Sac State students and $15 for the public. Local bands K Sera and Mozart Season will open for Circa Survive.

“I think it’s a good opportunity for people who live on campus to come see what Sac State has to offer,” Pryor said. “A majority of ticket sales are from people who aren’t students, so it’d be nice for students to come and see what is going on, and Circa Survive is a great band in general, so they leave with a new band to listen to.”

Cahil Bhanji can be reached at [email protected]