Indie punk rock band Angry Planet has been slowly rising in the Southern Kentucky music scene, landing gigs across Bowling Green and other surrounding towns, as well as getting a spot on WKU’s radio station Revolution 91.7.

The band is from Leitchfield, a small town in Grayson County about an hour north of Bowling Green. Growing up in a rural town with little entertainment for the youth was an influence on the band.

“Grayson County is a unique community, and it’s made a bunch of weirdos,” Michael House, Angry Planet bassist, said. “With the complete lack of anything to do, you find a way to live inside your head. For us, that was music. You have to make your own fun.”

The members each grew to love music through different channels. Drummer Evan Wooden and vocalist Jessie Tyler Higdon both attribute their interest in music to family members.

“I was raised by people who were old hippies,” Higdon said.

As for guitarist Nathan Hardin, he learned to love music through Guitar Hero, a rhythm game that was popular when he was in high school.

In high school, all of the current Angry Planet members except for House were in a band together called Sounds Taken. Shortly after graduation, the band went their separate ways. After a few years, they regrouped as an unnamed band.

This unnamed band played a few gigs and was allegedly kicked out of Dublin’s after being too loud. House was inspired to name the group Angry Planet after watching coverage of Hurricane Andrew, a highly destructive 1992 hurricane.

“The planet was angry with humans,” House explained.

A television series shares the band’s name, though the band is not concerned.

“If they sue us, all they’re getting is a 1999 Nissan and a dog,” Higdon said.

Since forming the band, the group has toured and released a debut album, “One Day He Could Save the World.” The members have been promoting their band by passing out demo CDs, joining Facebook groups and befriending businesses and other bands.

“We’re like the nagging girlfriend of bands,” Higdon said.

The band has recently been played on Revolution 91.7. Despite not being native from Bowling Green, nor any of their members WKU alumni, Bowling Green feels like home to them.

“This place has been the most accepting of our weird music,” Higdon said.

As for the future, Angry Planet hopes to grow while staying humble.

“I want to pay one month’s worth of bills with money we make from our music,” Higdon said.

Traveling more is another goal for Angry Planet. So far, the furthest they’ve traveled for a gig is Nashville. They hope to expand soon to southern Ohio. For Angry Planet, this experience is surreal.

“We’ve been doing this for a decade, and people are actually listening to our music,” Higdon said.

Reporter Adam Sims can be reached at 270-745-2655 and [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @adamsimswriter.