MOST bands follow a standard gruelling route to success.

Starting off small, they play smelly pub backrooms and grimy clubs before graduating to bigger venues, and tentatively moving on to other towns.

The Anydays, however, are a band who refuse to play by the rules.

Indeed, the incendiary Oxford retro-indie rockers have ripped up the rulebook.

Not for them the toil of graduating through a succession of dodgy backrooms.

Oh no. Taking matters into their own hands they took themselves into the studio, and hit the national and international circuit – playing to crowds of adoring new fans in Italy, France, Spain, and around the UK – including the seminal Water Rats in London's Kings Cross, and Cavern Club in Liverpool.

Along the way, they fitted in acclaimed support slots for the likes of 1990s, Alphabeat, and Vincent Vincent and the Villains.

Now they are bringing it all back home for a pair of gigs in Oxford, which they hope will spread their Ramones/Beatles/Jam/MC5/ Stooges/Oasis-influenced garage rock to hometown gig-goers.

Next Friday, singer Drew Atkins, Nate James (bass) and Cal Brumhead (drums) play a coveted instore gig at HMV in Cornmarket, Oxford, followed next Saturday by a headline show at the Bullingdon, in Cowley Road.

And, take it from us, Oxford is in for a treat. Bombastic, swaggering and technically brilliant, this super-tight threesome have eschewed hype and posturing in favour of old-fashioned hard work – honing their craft, hitting the road and gigging until it hurts.

“We’re a garage rock indie band,” says Drew.

“We write short, sharp catchy tunes, have lots of energy, and play like our lives depend on it.”

Drew, from Summertown, started off playing acoustic nights around Oxford, “doing 60s-type tunes”, before meeting original bandmates bassist and former Oxford Mail journalist Niall Jeger, and drummer Alex Bridges.

“We got ourselves some proper songs, turned the volume up and made ourselves a rock band,” he adds.

The band recorded their debut single Monday Morning at London’s Toerag Studios, where White Stripes recorded Elephant. The Hackney studio uses only 1960s recording equipment and still has the EMI desk from Abbey Road, which The Beatles used for Revolver.

Now teamed up with Nate, from Witney, and Cal, from Summertown, they have a new EP – 16 Days, which will be available at the gigs and at HMV.

“We’ve evolved over the past two-and-a-half years, says Drew, “and have a great line-up. I write the songs but I wouldn't get far without a great bass player and drummer.”

So what do they sound like?

“I’ve always liked bands like The Beatles, The Jam, Oasis, Blur and Arctic Monkeys, and am really into 60s music, as well as the scene and clothes,” he explains.

“I like songs with a good tune, which is what I write. I want people to remember my songs.

“They’re heavily indie with a retro feel. And they are fun. It’s got to be fun!

“It's all about pleasing the crowd – and that means not standing still, looking at your feet.

“We’re driven and have confidence in what we are doing – but, then, you have to be!"

And it's paying off. Among the wildest shows was a gig in London, where, he explains: “The front row consisted entirely of Japanese mods all doing air guitar,” and one memorable night in Perugia, Italy.

“There was free booze, with all the fans at the front offering us vodkas and cokes with straws,” he recalls.

“Then there was a stage invasion, followed by an incident with a very strange support band, during which their frontman came into our dressing room on all fours wrapped only in a leopard skin. It was pretty crazy.”

So why the Oxford shows?

“I think we’ve neglected Oxford a bit by playing Europe,” he says.

“Oxford audiences are very discerning and have seen and heard it all before, but are always great crowds.”

Cal agrees: “We've gone great guns elsewhere, but your hometown is always special.”

And his message to local gig-goers?

“Come along. We’re a great rock and roll band and we’ll make you smile!"

* The Anydays play an instore set at HMV, in Cornmarket, Oxford, at 3pm next Friday, and a headline set at the Bullingdon, Cowley Road, Oxford, next Saturday.

* 16 Days is out now. Earlier material is available for free download from theanydays.com