At first glance, Slices of Home’s Mason Rothschild and Joseph McCarthy seem like an odd pair. Rothschild, a Music and Performing Arts major with a curly halo of brown hair, gets almost manic when speaking about being a fan of leftfield rock artists like Fugazi and the tragically overlooked Archers of Loaf. McCarthy, who has his dark hair cropped close to his head, is more reserved when talking about his love for more straight-ahead rock artists like Steve Vai and Jeff Beck.

But the two have a common interest. Their band, Slices of Home, creates mostly instrumental songs like “The Grail” and “Song One,” which build from atmospheric soundscapes to hammering guitar riffs. Both Rothschild and McCarthy are big fans of melodic, ambient electronica artists like the Scottish duo Boards of Canada. “We are fanatical about them,” Rothschild admits.

The two met about a year and a half ago at an after-party for a show by Santa Cruz reggae rockers The Expendables. After drummer Jonny Ugale joined the duo six months later, Slices of Home played their first gig at the Black Box Cabaret after being together as a trio for a mere six weeks. Since that first show, Slices of Home have become one of the most prominent CSUMB bands in the local music community by playing shows at off-campus locations like Salinas’ Cherry Bean Coffeehouse and Monterey’s Lava Lounge.

Recently, the group, which has replaced Ugale with new drummer Evan Diola, is going in a new direction by adding lyrics to some of their songs. In the CSUMB house that Rothschild and McCarthy share with three other roommates, the two explain their band’s recent transition. “This guy made me sing,” McCarthy says, while pointing towards Rothschild.

“I just like Joseph’s voice a lot,” Rothschild responds.

McCarthy has plenty to write about. The ethics major volunteers about four hours a week at Salinas’ John XXIII Aids Ministry, where he passes out clean needles and condoms to at-risk individuals. On songs like “Technocality,” McCarthy sings that he seeks to “rehumanize the demonized” by telling the stories of drug addicts and the homeless.

The two musicians admit to jamming together every day, and envision keeping Slices of Home together after they graduate CSUMB. “We hang out all the time, though I have a girlfriend now,” McCarthy says.

“She is cutting into my time,” Rothschild complains. “I joke that she stole my boyfriend.”