The story behind Canadian pop duo Wave is like so many others: Two guys meet, hit it off together and form a band.

The difference with their tale is a couple of small details: Two guys meet, hit it off together, form a band, get signed to a major label and have their song played ad nauseam before their debut CD is even released.

"You make it sound so easy," laughs 21-year-old Dave Thomson, one-half of Wave.

Oh, it wasn't that easy -- before they signed, Thomson, his partner Paul Gigliotti, and their manager, had to travel the short distance from their homes in Niagara Falls, Ont., to Warner Music's offices in Scarborough.

The vice-president heard the song California and apparently after 30 seconds of the chorus, Thomson said, 'I want to sign these guys.'

"They wanted us to come that day ... but I was at school until about 4 o'clock.

"So we went up the next day, played in their office acoustically, then we went outside and we were standing in the parking lot ... Not five minutes later, the vice-president stuck his head outside and said for our manager to come back in.

"Three minutes later, we had a record deal," says Thomson.

The result of that deal is the full-length album Nothing As It Seems, which hits stores tomorrow.

While Thomson may dispute the route the catchy composition California took to become a hit single was an easy one, he does realize it was one that many musicians aren't as fortunate to experience.

"It's cool to be a part of," he agrees.

As to why him, why Wave, why so quick and painless, Thomson thinks it comes down to the authenticity of the music.

"They heard the songs and they liked the songs, and they liked the image that Paul and I had," he says.

"But as much as that's important, you have to back it up with talent.

Calgarians will get the opportunity to see how authentic Wave is when Thomson, Gigliotti and the touring band they've put together perform tonight at the Dome as part of YTV's PsykoBlast Tour.