Rob Hardin / Chief Photographer / rh124104@ohiou.edu

Jacob Theobald, Gaelan Mullins and Scott Spice (left to right) perform during a Casual Future show in Casa Cantina Friday, May 23.

Casual Future lives up to is name by playing carefree, laid-back indie rock — even without its pet plant.

Scott Spice is the soulful, vivid voice behind Casual Future’s laid-back delivery, with Brian Koscho on bass and sound effects, Ohio University seniors Jacob Theobald on guitar and Gaelan Mullins on the drums.

With sounds closely mirroring R.E.M. and Beck, Casual Future’s aim is to have a good time and make sure its audience does the same, Spice said.

“We’re kind of like your normal indie, college rock band — with our own spin on it,” Koscho said.

The band got started four years ago, but the only original member of Casual Future is Spice. In the past two years, members joined to form the current lineup, Spice said.

Casual Future is the band’s name and its mantra. The name is the band’s way of conveying that it is relaxed and carefree, Spice said.

The band enjoys a few drinks before their shows, Theobald said.

“I’m going to have a good time so then when we get on stage it’s just like, whoa we’re playing!” he said.

“People respond better when we’re kind of drunk and sloppy,” Spice said. “It’s like hosting a party. We just want to make sure everyone has a good time.”

Some of the band’s friends like to play covers of their music after the shows. One fan enjoys singing the band’s songs, knows all the words, but is usually too drunk to remember them, Spice said.

Casual Future talked about the loss of their band mascot. “It was like a member of the band,” Theobald said.

While playing one evening at Casa Cantina someone stole the plant. The police showed up in the middle of the band’s performance, waited for them to finish their song, and asked if they wanted to press charges. The band decided to let the plant kidnapper go free.

Casual Future released one CD, Footnotes in the City Lights, and plans to debut another late this summer or in early fall. Footnotes released digitally on iTunes in December 2006 and as a CD in March 2007.

The band recorded Footnotes in Cleveland’s Zombie Proof Recording Studios.

“Recording is always interesting in the general sense that you sort of lock yourself up in this warehouse,” Spice said.

They described Zombie Proof as reminiscent of The Shining because it is old and isolated with boarded up windows.

“I think it’s kind of necessary but it gets pretty wacky — you don’t sleep, you get really drunk, and play the same song fifty times and you hope that in the end of it you come out with a record,” Spice said.

Casual Future is playing at 10 p.m. tomorrow at Casa Cantina with Southeast Engine.