Minutes after an early evening sound check on Nov. 5 at The Fillmore, Vedera excitedly and collectively headed back into the small and stuffy backstage area to set one more thing straight before the show -- open a bottle of red wine.

A few years ago, the rock band from Kansas City, Miss., consisting of lead singer and songwriter Kristen May, husband and guitarist Brian Little, bassist Jason Douglas and drummer Drew Little, might not have dove into this optimistic pre-gaming.

After a new contract with Epic Records, the digital release of their third album "Stages" and an appearance on MTV's "The Hills," the members of Vedera finally believe they have something to celebrate.

"It's been amazing," May said with a grin. "Releasing the album digitally makes us more comfortable. We've toured for five years and so our show is more refined."

Vedera's recent appearance on MTV certainly drew the spotlight and attracted more fans.

"We were amazed at how many downloaded our album after that," May said.

People previously unaware of the band were given a taste of them on national television as they played a private show in Los Angeles to a room full of fans and celebrities.

"I had no idea who they were before I saw them on TV, but I thought they sounded and looked great," said Chelsea Pearsall, 22, a student from Los Angeles, before Thursday's show. "Right afterwards, I searched and got the album."

Moments before they opened for Matt Kearney, the band began to warm up, with their breathtaking vocals, heart-wrenching chords and guitar riffs capable of bringing Carole King to her knees. May softly strolled around singing to herself, hoping to get her voice in top shape while she applied makeup in a room full of her bandmates.

"Stages," released online in October of this year, is a sensitive blend of both soft and hard rock. During the performance, the band constantly escalated into emotional climaxes where the instruments followed the lead of May.

The songs compiled in the show were mostly off their new album, which addressed the challenging aspects of relationships.

"It's definitely about relationships and, I think, about enduring those relationships," May said. "The stages you go through with that person. There's hope on the record -- I hope. Albums that influence this album are the ones like therapy and how you can relate to them in daily life."

Little and May create an irresistible songwriting combination.

"We're both in love with music and in love with each other," May gushed. "We live together and are constantly thinking about writing. Both of us are so eager. You don't really take a day off."

Even though their life as a band and family consists of touring and creating music that they're passionate about, they've also had to endure some misfortune, including a near-fatal car accident in South Carolina and the theft of their van in Detroit, Mich.

"We were driving to make this radio show when we hit some ice and flipped our van," Little recalled. "Kristen broke her nose and I got knocked out. Cory, our friend, was in the hospital for a couple days. That was a life-changing experience."

The incidents brought a feeling of complete negativity they had for one week, according to Little.

"We were pissed off at the world," he said. "When we look back, it was a big time in our lives."

Now, with a new record and all their equipment and love for each other intact, Vedera can't wait to take to the stage, even if there is another road bump in their future.

"Sometimes I get worn out, but we really consider ourselves a team," May said. "It's what we want to do. We're just so thankful that we have a job. Every day is a different experience."