Oklahoma City-based Hush Hush, Commotion likes subverting expectations. During the band’s tour of the Midwest and East Coast last summer, they had plenty of opportunity to do just that.

“We were playing these shows to some small, and some decent sized crowds,” said keyboardist/guitarist Chris Lusk. “When the shows would begin, there was a little sense of apprehension from the crowd, but whenever we started playing, these kids would do sort of double take at us.

“I think who we are as a band isn’t what they had expected, and I love to see those double takes.”

Those who have heard of Hush Hush, Commotion might know where those preconceived notions come from.

HH,C started about 2 1/2 years ago. Bassist Dan Adamson and guitarist Andy Adamson came from another band that had grown stagnant, and long-time friend Lusk joined them in the hopes of starting fresh.

Vocalist Scott Michael tried out for the band and fit right in, and after the original drummer left the band to focus on school, Adam Wilkey stepped up to feel the role, Lusk said.

One month after its first show, the band won the March Bandness contest put on by radio station 94.7 The Buzz.

But HH,C found itself grouped into a genre of music that didn’t necessarily match its style, Lusk said.

“We were immediately lumped in with pop bands like Forever The Sickest Kids and All Time Low, and that’s who we were supporting at shows,” he said.

Lusk said he wouldn’t change anything about the opportunities March Bandness awarded the band and the fan base that those shows garnered it, but those preconceived expectations of the band’s sound sort of took over.

Hush Hush’s debut album, “It Could Happen” was the result.

“We had the feeling that we needed to sound a certain way, and some of the record just came out a little forced,” Lusk said. “Don’t get me wrong — I still love that album, but something about it just didn’t feel like we were writing it for ourselves.”

Last summer, when Hush Hush was at the tail end of their summer tour in Shamokin, Pa., the band members started to discuss where they were at and where they wanted to go. It didn’t necessarily mesh perfectly with what they were doing, Lusk said.

They decided trying to write a song that sounded like a certain band or track would never work, so they took a natural approach, and let the influences of the band just bleed through on their sophomore outing, “In Control,” he said.

Bands like Kings of Leon, Wilco and Limbeck are some of the band’s favorites, and these influences brought in a sort of Southern kick to some of the newer songs, Lusk said.

With “In Control,” HH,C is attempting a balancing act. The band wants that fun, poppy element to songs, but they want a more honest, rock ’n’ roll aspect to the sound as well. Lusk is anxious to hear what listeners think, he said.

“We definitely fall into a sort of gray area with ‘In Control,’ but from the positive responses we’ve gotten from our fans already, I’m really excited to see what happens,” Lusk said. “I just want everyone to at least listen to the songs once. Whether or not you like them, that’s fine. You can’t make music that everyone likes, and trying to ends in disaster. But I just want everyone to give it a chance, because I think it will surprise a lot of people,” Lusk said.

Listeners will get a chance to be surprised at Hush Hush, Commotion’s album release party 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8 at Bricktown Live, 103 Flaming Lips Alley in Oklahoma City. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door, and can be purchased at www.okctickets.com.