Fans of The Homeschoolers, a Holmen-based musical quintet, might want to make an effort to catch the band at one of its two concerts next week. Although the band has been performing quite a bit over the past six months or so, drummer Travis Fischer said the band is getting ready to take a break from performing to work on its second recording project.

The Homeschoolers have sold about 700 copies of their self-produced debut CD, "Putting the Cool Back in Homeschool," a pretty good indication that people are liking it. The band members, though, feel differently.

"We recorded it a year ago, so we hate it by now," Fischer said. "They're fun to play live, though, because kids know the words to them so they sing along to them."

The band already is performing six or seven songs live that are likely candidates for the band's next CD, Fischer said, including "The Battles You Face Without a Fight" and "17," a song that features mandolin.

"I don't think we've named any of our other ones," Fischer said. "We have names we call them to each other, but we don't like those."

Although their first release featured some departures from the pop-punk alternative rock (with a Christian lyrical edge) vein, the band is hoping to branch out a little with it's next CD, another independent effort that they hope to have out by next spring.

"We're kind of trying to get a little bit away from the clichÈ pop punk sound, so we've incorporated more classic rock sounds," Fischer said.

The Homeschoolers, who are headlining the show, include bassist Jeron Moe, a Holmen High School graduate, and singer Jon Metzger, who finished his homeschooling in Dakota, Minn., last year and is now attending Western Wisconsin Technical College with Moe.

Fischer's brother Tylor plays lead guitar while Andrew Deleeuw adds rhythm guitar. The Fischers and Deleeuw all hail from Holmen and, as the band's moniker implies, are homeschooled.

The Homeschoolers might not have much time for studying next week, with two shows planned.

Wednesday night, the band will put on a Reach Out Concert from 9 to 10 p.m. at Holmen Lutheran Church.

Tickets are $4 in advance or $5 at the door, with a portion of the proceeds going to fight world hunger through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Stand With Africa campaign.

Advance tickets are available from Jennifer Hicks at Holmen Lutheran Church, 228 Morris St. Hicks can be reached by phone at 526-3621 or by e-mail at jenhicks@holmenlutheranchurch.org.

On Friday, The Homeschoolers will headline a lineup of four young, local alternative rock bands at the Presbyterian Church of West Salem.

The concert, called "Bands in Our Backyard" will go from 7 to 10 p.m. and feature the Reckless and Zetus Deamos, two West Salem-based bands, and Just David, which is made up of students at La Crosse Central and Aquinas high schools.

The concert is being organized by the church youth group. Proceeds will go towards funding mission trips for the youth group.

Anyone is welcome to attend the concert, although children under age 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at Hansen's IGA in West Salem, Pickerman's Soup and Sandwich in downtown La Crosse and from the La Crosse Radio Group office in Onalaska.

Each ticket holder will receive a raffle ticket for the prize drawings that will be held throughout the evening.

AT A GLANCE

WHO: The Homeschoolers, a Holmen-based musical quintet that plays pop-pun alternative rock with a Christian lyrical edge.

HOLMEN CONCERT: The Homeschoolers play from 9 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27, at Holmen Lutheran Church. Tickets are $4 in advance, $5 at the door. Call the church at 526-3621 for advance tickets or more information.

WEST SALEM CONCERT: Bands in Your Backyard featuring The Homeschoolers, Zetus Deamos, the Reckless and Just David, 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, at the Presbyterian Church of West Salem. Tickets are $5 in advance, $7 at the door, and are available at the La Crosse Radio Group office in Onalaska, Hansen's IGA in West Salem and Pickerman's Soup and Sandwich in downtown La Crosse.