The members of Think About Life may have grown up a lot in the four years since their self-titled debut CD was released.

"I was 21 when the first album came out," says vocalist Martin Cesar. "Within that I think we've had time to mature and discover the path we want to take."

But Cesar admits the band still doesn't have any real game plan regarding the creation of their music.

"We've sort of decided to keep everything on an experimental level," he explains.

"Let the band itself be an experiment. There's no direct thing we want to do. We're always trying new things. Depending on how it works with the crowd and we feel on a personal level, that's what we'll end up doing."

Think About Life's energetic and melodic mash-up of indie rock, hip-hop and electro-pop has won praise from critics and fans across North America. The Montreal band recently returned from the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas, where they became one of the most buzzed-about acts of the week.

"It was mindblowing," says Cesar, from the deck of a Seattle-to-Victoria ferry. The band is on tour in support of their sophomore album, Family.

"We had people from ages 15 to 65 and everyone was there to see us play. It was a great atmosphere."

Cesar can't say the same thing about the group's first SXSW visit in 2007

"I found it weird," he says. "It was too much of a cacophony of bands competing for attention. Especially because around that time there was a lot of neon indie techno. Everyone was wearing neon. It was a bit more comfortable this time, a bit more organic."

Think About Life -- rounded out by Graham Van Pelt, Greg Napier and newest member Caila Thompson-Hannant -- put a lot of emphasis on their live show, which has been described as a celebratory, high-energy dance-rock sermon.

"We're always having a good time on stage and it's always been amazingly fun," says Cesar. "As long as I'm having fun and there's a good vibe on stage there'll be a positive atmosphere for audience. You can't win over the crowd every night, but we try."

Think About Life play The Palomino Saturday night with guests Axis of Conversation and Hot Panda.