Zane Miller and Mark Bolus both have strong musical talents, as well as a past that almost landed them both in deep mud.

Miller and Bolus, both 18, are the backbone of Mudpuppy, a Chugiak based punk-grunge-rock band trying to get some attention in the frustrating music scene of the Mat-Su Valley and beyond.

Bolus states on his Myspace page that he is just another normal, nice guy and is “only mean to people when he has to be.” He started jamming when he was in eighth grade, realized he was quiet good and derived the name of his future band from something he heard playing Final Fantasy 10.

Photo courtesy of Mudpuppy Mudpuppy'��s musical influences range from such artists as Nirvana and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Mick Jagger and Billy Corgan, of the Smashing Pumpkins.

“I just made something out of that cause I liked the way Mudpuppy sounded,” Bolus said.

As one of the lead singers and lead guitar player for Mudpuppy, Bolus said he considers himself to be just another lover of good music, currently living out his dream that one day his undiscovered band will hit the big time.

Bolus, along with drummer Jerry Lewis, eventually began asking around their school for additional musicians, namely a bass player, eventually coming across Miller in 2005. Miller had been a member of another local band, the Lusty Wenches, but left shortly after being asked to join Mudpuppy.

“When we realized we didn’t have any bass, our friend Russell told us about Zane and he gladly accepted,” Bolus said.

The three began practicing in each other’s garages in Eagle River and Wasilla. Too young to play the bar circuit, Mudpuppy moved from the garage to playing small school parties and on to landing gigs at any place that would take them, including Bitoz, a pizzeria in Anchorage, and the Paddle Boat Cafe.

Miller and Bolus began extensively writing and composing new songs and revamping cover tunes. Mudpuppy had become a semi-reality. They were adding more shows to their bill and living in the fast lane, all while still in high school.

“People were saying we sounded like Nirvana, which was nice,” Miller said. “I think it’s a compliment.”

Curiosity eventually caught up with Miller and Bolus, who began a short, yet effective, journey down the dark path of excessive alcohol and drug use. Both ultimately admitted they were struggling with addiction and turned themselves into a long-term treatment facility in Idaho.

“We’ve definitely had a couple of mini-hiatuses over the years,” Bolus said. “Drugs influenced the lack of music we produced, that’s for sure.”

Miller said the treatment center and admission that he had a problem with drugs was “somewhat of a roller coaster,” but completely necessary as friends and families were noticing a huge change of behavior.

“We have songs that are drug related for sure,” Miller said. “Now it’s really not one way or the other, but the outlet is better than before.”

Miller said Mudpuppy songs are written with emotion, whether angry, sad, happy, or on Cloud Nine, the writing process gets them to the point.

“A lot of the songs are random,” Bolus said.

Not surprisingly, Mudpuppy sites its musical influences from such artists as Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), John Frusicante and Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Mick Jagger, and Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), most of which can be heard in their music style.

Mudpuppy has created more than 80 original songs for the stage, some of which were recorded for a recent unreleased demo. Selections can be heard on their Myspace web page, including the on-stage popular “Roses are Red,” a dead ringer for an early Nirvana cut, filled with rich screams and heavy guitar rifts.

A bass heavy “Anorexic,” the acoustic “Organic,” and “Wax Skeleton” also play for fans on Mudpuppy’s Myspace page, where Miller and Bolus have also been known to give away copies of burnt CDs of their music.

“The recording quality sucks,” Miller said. “But it’s a start.”

Recognizing that the music scene in Alaska can sometimes stagnate its talent, Miller and Bolus said they plan to move Mudpuppy down to Seattle next year, where their influences, including Nirvana, got their big start.

“The plan is to play as many shows as possible to pay off all our debts and move to Seattle and stick to it,” Bolus said.

Both Miller and Bolus said Mudpuppy has a good fighting chance with the hundreds of other young, up-and-coming talents in Seattle, in part due to their originality.

“The music scene isn’t as terrible as it seems in the states,” Miller said. “Besides, it’s fun to have competition.”

Booking more Alaska gigs is first and foremost on Mudpuppy’s list, with a half-hour gig booked tonight at Sophia’s Kafe Neo in Palmer along with Art of Treason, Stubbl and Pieces of Planes.

“Kafe Neo is nice and small,” Bolus said. “We never turn down a show.”

Miller noted that his father is very supportive of his decision to pursue Mudpuppy at such a young age. He said his mother is there as well, but not as much.

“My parents don’t think it will pay the bills,” Bolus said. “But patience is a virtue.”

Miller and Bolus agree that their shows are high-energy and original, worth checking out.

“We’re different,” Miller said. “We like us, so we basically think everybody else should too.”

Mudpuppy plays tonight at 8 p.m. at Sophia’s Kafe Neo in Palmer.