Matthew Morgis

This Saturday, when The Spill Canvas takes the stage at the Toyota Pavilion at Montage Mountain, the band will not be taking the opportunity for granted. The four-piece alternative rock band based out of Sioux Falls, S.D., is currently on tour with the Goo Goo Dolls and Switchfoot.

And The Spill Canvas is loving every minute of it.

“It’s so surreal,” singer/guitarist Nick Thomas said during a recent phone interview. “Actually, surreal doesn’t even cover it. It’s mind-blowing to walk off stage and say to each other, ‘Did we really just play in front of that many people?’ We are absolutely honored to be on the road with such amazing people.”

Touring is definitely something with which the band is familiar. The Spill Canvas has toured in support of popular acts such as Jack’s Mannequin, Yellowcard, Plain White T’s and had headlined with up-and-coming, pop-punk acts Sing It Loud and Motion City Soundtrack.

“Touring with an experienced band is just an endless thing in itself,” Thomas said. “Every day, whether you know it or not, you’re learning something. It’s probably one of the coolest things we get to do — tour with an experienced road band. Yet it’s always kind of cool the way the younger bands — that maybe we have been around longer than — ask us questions and learn from us. Then, we turn around and do the same when we’re the younger ones. Everyone is trying to learn how to do it and how not to do it.”

The Spill Canvas was the name of Thomas’ solo acoustic project. He wrote songs and played unaccompanied gigs in addition to touring and writing music with a metal band called Nodes of Ranvier. Thomas later decided to find band members to bulk up the acoustic act and The Spill Canvas, the band, was formed. Currently, the other members of the group are Dan Ludeman on guitar, Landon Heil on bass and Joe Beck on drums.

“I always wrote songs all through high school,” Thomas explained, adding that though he eventually wanted to start a band, he didn’t want it be under his name. He came up with The Spill Canvas, but soon put the project on the side when a friend needed a guitar player in his metal band, Nodes of Ranvier.

“I toured with them for a little and wrote an album,” Thomas said. “But then I said, ‘OK, I’m really not into metal, let’s go back to The Spill Canvas.’ Then I put together the rest of the band members and went from there.”

Writing music is also something the band does frequently. Since 2002 it has released six full-length albums — including the July 27 digital release “Formalities” — and five EPs, two of which were released in 2010. The Spill Canvas has been signed to Reprise Records since 2007.

Since signing with Reprise Records, the band has worked with acclaimed producer Neal Avron, who produced its major label debut “No Really, I’m Fine.” Avron has produced records for Yellowcard, Fall Out Boy and Weezer and many others.

“I just can’t say enough good stuff about Neal,” Thomas said. “He taught me how to be the musician I am today (and) how to be a better musician. He’s so down to earth and he’s definitely one of my idols.”

As for Spill Canvas fans attending the show Saturday, you can expect to hear a half-hour jam packed with music.

“We try to encompass some of the old stuff and the new releases so you can get a wide variety of what we are as a band,” said Thomas.

Thomas promised that the band will play “Staplegunned” and the new single “Our Song,” as well as other new tracks off of its most recent release. Fans will also have a chance to meet the band after its set when its members do a signing sponsored by The Weekender.