Chances are, if you’re reading this, you know someone who knows someone who is in Animal Suit Driveby – if you don’t know them personally, anyway.

They all went to Hampden Academy, for starters. They’ve played all over the state, from the early days, when some of the members were still in high school, to recent accomplishments such as opening for emo band Story of the Year in Portland. Lately they’ve been venturing out, playing shows in the Midwest and South.

And since getting together a few years ago, they’ve gone from being essentially a ska band to adopting a much more modern rock-influenced sound, which will be showcased when the band plays with other local acts at Ushuaia in Orono this Wednesday, Sept. 28. This isn’t a musical mutation that happens very often, especially when the band describes themselves as similar-sounding to heavier acts like Coheed and Cambria and Thrice, just “with horns.”

But why not? Not every band with horns plays ska, Latin music or swing. Animal Suit Driveby brings another Maine band to mind, with its careful balance of sax and trombone with multiple musical influences: the dearly departed Rustic Overtones.

These local boys have showed their promise on their most recent EP, “110 Miles,” a five-song blast of heavy rock, accented with the occasional reggae beat and singer Ryan Hannan’s impassioned vocals. On the brink of possibly breaking into a national audience, let’s hope ASD doesn’t go the route of Rustic Overtones and implode before it hits it big.

Playing with Animal Suit Driveby is Burning Valhalla, a Bangor-area five-piece who are busy recording their debut full-length album. Unabashedly melodic, Burning Valhalla’s musical kinfolk include Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory. Singer Camm Murray croons over a steady, solid rock foundation, anchored by bassist Mark McCrillis. The band may sound like a lot of other emo bands, but their sweet, energetic demeanor is enjoyable and fun.

Rounding out the bill is Third Floor View, a southern Maine-based band who are a bit heavier than the rest of the pack, and Soundbender, longtime local stalwarts who play to the more alternative side of things. More information on all four bands can be found on their MySpace Web sites, which can be reached by going to www.myspace.com, clicking on “music” and searching for any of the bands. The show starts at 8 p.m., and tickets are $10 at all Bull Moose Music locations.

Elsewhere in the state, folk troubadour Dar Williams will play at the Strom Auditorium at Camden Hills High School in Rockport on Saturday, Sept. 24, showcasing songs from her newest album, “My Better Self.” Tickets can be purchased by going to www.baychamber

concerts.com.

Turntablist Rob Swift stops into the Space Gallery in Portland on Sunday, Sept. 25, playing music from his latest album “War Games,” and showing the film that accompanies it. Swift has been called the “John Coltrane of turnablism,” and this will be his first appearance in Maine. Tickets can be bought at Bull Moose Music stores.

Emily Burnham can be reached at eburnham@bangordailynews.net.