It is a shame that 75 percent of Colour Revolt’s audience Thursday night at The Highdive was from other bands on the bill. It was a small turnout for a band that did not deserve it

Nevertheless, Colour Revolt did their business well during their 45 minute set. The band’s three-guitar attack worked even better live than it did on their record, “Plunder, Beg, and Curse,” and to their credit, they came off like a Southern-y, poor man’s version of Built to Spill. They noodled around quite a bit, taking the songs to a better place.

Lead singer and guitarist Jesse Coppenbarger stayed glued to his microphone for the majority of his set, but there was an intensity in his performance that was matched by the rest of the band. Their noodling and strong interplay gave songs space to breathe, and songs like “Naked and Red” and “Moses of the South” sounded fantastic. Meanwhile, the rhythm section of Patrick Addison and Len Clark also kept a steady groove going as well, and they were loose but interlocked the whole time.

Unfortunately, not all of Colour Revolt’s songs are as strong as the aforementioned ones. Their performance was strong, and the record is no doubt good as a whole, with some songs being quite exceptional. Still, not all of them reach the high levels of their highs.

I am convinced, however, that the band is on a good path and will really flourish if given the chance. They come off as a career band, and I wish them the best of luck. I just hope other people wish them luck as well as they continue to tour, because they deserve an audience larger than 10 people.

The same, however, cannot be said for opener Robots Counterfeiting Money. The band consisted of Patrick Mangan and his acoustic guitar, but the music was played in the style of post-hardcore bands such as At the Drive-In and Fugazi. The songs just were not there though, and unfortunately Mangan came off as, well, annoying. He’s a good guitar player, and may be a good singer, but Robots Counterfeiting Money did not cut it.

DeKalb band Light Pollution fared better, with a good mix of smart songs and eclectic instruments (violin, mandolin, trombone and accordion, more than one often used in the same song). Finally, Javelins provided an energetic set full on propulsive drumbeats and yelp-y vocals. The songs weren’t there though, and I didn’t find myself humming any of their tunes after their set was over.

“It always surprises me when people are there. It’s like we are far from home, but these people know who we are.”

Truer words could not be said. Colour Revolt has been away from home for quite a while now, and will get even farther away as they turn up at The Highdive in Champaign Thursday night. The Oxford, Mississippi rock band is currently on tour supporting their debut record “Plunder, Beg, and Curse” (any relation between the city and the Oxford comma in the album title?), released in April on Fat Possum Records.

The record is a dark affair, with many religious and biblical references scattered in the lyrics. The music is at some points bombastic, other points slow and brooding. The band’s interplay on the record suggests that something greater can be achieved live, and Thursday will test that hypothesis.

Bassist Patrick Addison said that with this record, the band tried to sound more organic, after the DIY approach of recording their self-titled EP.

“We just wanted our live sound to translate into the studio,” Addison said. “It helped with the chemistry we have.”

The results have proven successful. While “Plunder, Beg, and Curse” is by no means a sterile recording. The instruments are clear and defined, and there is a level of bombast that can only be produced by playing live in a room with a band. No amount of studio wizardry can fake what this band creates together on songs like “Swamp” and “Naked and Red,” and that is to their credit.

As for the religious undertones, lead singer Jesse Coppenbarger said he did not realize how much they did end up coming through in the lyrics.

“It wasn’t meant to be in every song,” he said. “It came out more than I realized and people picked up on it.”

Despite all of this, Addison said they achieved what they set out to do in the studio.

“We wanted to translate our stage show, and we thought we pulled it off,” he said. “We couldn’t be happier.”

Now, Colour Revolt is doing the opposite, and trying to make a live-sounding record sound good live. Still, Addison said he and the band have grown accustomed to playing in their basement, so it is not that much different. An audience helps though.

“I’m still there listening to the other people’s parts,” he said. “Looking out and seeing people singing along just adds to it.”

Fortunately, touring is still something they can do. While other bands (and industries overall) fall prey to the $4 a gallon gas prices, Colour Revolt is still able to go on. It is something they are aware of though.

“We’ve been coming home for money,” Addison said. “It’s good for us on the road, but it definitely could be better.”

Addison said the band is enjoying it nonetheless, and it is still exciting for them.

“I’m into what everyone else is doing,” he said. “I’d rather be playing live than in my basement.”

Colour Revolt will be playing Thursday night at The Highdive, 51 E. Main St., Champaign, with Robots Counterfeiting Money, Light Pollution and Javelins opening. Show starts at 9 p.m. Ticket Fusion, The Highdive’s online ticketing service, is not currently selling tickets but says “Plenty of Tickets at the Door.” Show is 19+.