There is a restrained giddiness on the faces of Travis Stearns and Josh Bendell whenever they are allowed to dream about what their future might hold.

With stars in their eyes, smiles creep quietly across their faces as they envision the hot lights, the wail of a guitar warming up, the din of an excited crowd.

Most young boys dream of being rock stars. Stearns, of Chaska, and Bendell, of Eden Prairie, were no different. But unlike most boys, they are now on the verge of seeing their dreams come true.

In May, Stearns and Bendell – along with fellow bandmates Eric Arjes, Kyle Lindsay and Tim Nustad – had their alt-rock-pop band Camera Can’t Lie signed to Atlantic Records.

Next month, they’ll head to Los Angeles to record their debut album and join the likes of Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones – just a few of the musical legends that have called Atlantic Records home over the years.

“It’s pretty shocking,” said Bendell, 20. “I still don’t realize it. I won’t until we go into the studio.”

Big break

Stearns, 21, a 2005 Southwest Christian High School grad, still recalls the moment they found out Atlantic Records wanted them. It was the morning after they had performed at a showcase in New York City.

“It was so casual,” he said. “Our manager was like ‘Do you guys want lunch?’ We were all ‘Yeah’ and then he went on about how they were going to draw up the contracts later that day.

“I looked at Josh and said, ‘Dude, we finally did it!’”

It was a culminating moment for the band that had finalized its members only a year prior.

Arjes, Lindsay and Nustad, all from Owatonna, were originally in a band called Forgetful Grace. They eventually changed the name to Camera Can’t Lie, but lost their guitar and drum players shortly thereafter.

“They were terrible,” said Stearns, who was in a hard core group called Fragile Campaign at the time. “They had no fans.”

“Can we say that?” Bendell asks Stearns. “Yeah, they know,” Stearns replies.

Camera Can’t Lie called Stearns, who they had met previously at a battle of the bands, and asked him to play with their group. Stearns said he would bring Bendell with him.

“I just like playing with Josh,” he explained. “We’ve been best friends for a long time.” It turned out to be a good move for everyone involved.

“The chemistry was there,” said Stearns. “It was something I’d never experienced before.”

Stearns and Bendell joined the group in April 2007. The following month they recorded their self-titled EP and hit the road, doing shows in Nashville, Atlanta, Texas and Montana among others.

Their “tour” of the Midwest made for a lot of memories for the fledgling group. “We would spend 12 hours driving to play in front of 10 people,” recalled Stearns.

“I remember sleeping straight up in a van in a Wal-Mart parking lot during an ice storm,” offered Bendell.

There were fallen singers, blown over drum sets and flat tires all working to initiate them to life on the road. And they managed to collect a few fans collected along the way as well.

15,000 and counting

Today, the band boasts more than 15,000 fans on its MySpace page. It’s a relationship the group works to foster every day.

“It’s all about networking,” said Stearns. “The guys personally comment back on their pages.”

It may not be something the group always has time to do, but they are trying to enjoy success as it comes slowly. “We’re taking it one step at a time,” said Bendell.

Travis’s mom Lisa Stearns said the success couldn’t have come for a nicer group of guys. “These are kids you would have no problem inviting into your home,” she said.

The music isn’t half bad either, she concedes. “I have this stuff playing on my iPod,” she said.

Atlantic Records is describing Camera Can’t Lie’s sound as a mix of “Switchfoot and Third Eye Blind, Goo Goo Dolls with Dashboard Confessional, and Coldplay flavored with All-American Rejects.”

Their new songs, some of which can be heard on their MySpace page, sound like they would be perfect on a teen soap opera like “90210,” “One Tree Hill,” or “Gossip Girl” – the latter whose soundtrack is part of the Atlantic Records family.

But right now, the group isn’t worried about getting a primo spot on any teen dramas. They’re focused on the music. “It’s a waiting game right now,” said Bendell.

Days are filled with practices, song writing and music lessons. Though as musicians, they have been playing for years, the label wants them to be at their peak when they enter the studio next month.

“We’re becoming the best musicians we can so when we get there, we’re ready,” said Stearns.

Rumor has it that a top-notch producer is already on board to help them record their album which they hope to have in stores by spring 2009. That release will be followed by a busy schedule of more than 250 appearances.

“There’s more pressure now,” said Bendell. “Now that we’re signed.”

Continuing to have fun is also an utmost priority for Stearns and Bendell. But finding a balance between having fun and being serious is often a topic of argument among the band members, Stearns admits.

“I say you’re in a rock band,” Stearns explained. “Some people work 9 to 5 and put this (CD) in at home to escape. It better sound like you’re having fun.”

Dreaming big

Stearns and Bendell know there are a lot of changes ahead for them and the band. While they dream of dressing rooms stocked with masseuses, energy drinks and hot meals as well as collaborations with Matchbox 20, Jason Mraz and Coldplay, they know there will be challenges to face.

“I’m afraid of changing who I am,” said Stearns. “I’m just concerned with staying humble, nice, level-headed.”

Stearns is also worried about how life on the road will affect his relationship with his 3-year-old daughter.

“She already asks ‘Why do you have to go on tour daddy?’” Stearns said.

But Stearns is determined to see that their group does some good. Over the next few weeks they will go on a mini tour with Jon McLaughlin to benefit breast cancer. They also hope to volunteer with Teen Challenge, a drug and alcohol rehab organization for teenagers.

“It’s important to show people we actually care,” said Stearns.

They understand image is important and hope to continue to spread uplifting messages to their fans.

Stearns and Bendell are less sure what an image maker might try to make of them individually. “We already have our own identities,” said Stearns.

He described himself as the “bad boy” with a tendency to go against the grain. Bendell is the “crazy, insane” drummer. Arjes is the “deep-thinker” (who consequently writes all of their lyrics). Lindsay is the “class clown” and Nustad is the “cute, quiet guy.”

The Twin Cities will get a last chance to see the guys play before they head into the studio next month when they join QuietDrive on Oct. 9 at First Avenue.

From there, the group’s trajectory is anybody’s guess.

“I guess he’s not going into engineering like his father,” Lisa resigned to herself with a laugh. “But seriously, I can’t believe what these guys have accomplished so far.”

Stearns isn’t as surprised.

“It sounds prideful but I knew it was gonna happen,” he said. “I knew it was meant to be.”

-Mollee Francisco, staff writer