In many ways, Ryan Lindsey of Oklahoma band Broncho is living the rock-star dream. He and his bandmates, Ben King and Nathan Price, have been kicking up sparks with their sophomore record, Just Enough Hip to Be Woman, their melodic chops earning them praise, festival dates, and an opening slot on Billy Idol’s tour last month.

“I didn’t go in with too many expectations, although at one point I thought, ‘This is a professional tour, you’ve got to get your shit together,’ ” says the frontman, on the line from the middle of L.A. traffic. He pauses the interview once or twice to switch vehicles or take band photos—presumably with a Djarum Black or Jack Daniel’s in hand, all very rock ’n’ roll. Or maybe not. “But I probably slept more on that tour than I ever have before. I went to bed early. It was really laid-back. It was actually kind of a no-pressure situation, because it’s not really your show. You just play a nice tight set and then you get to chill.”

Since its 2011 debut, Can’t Get Past the Lips, Broncho has been building a reputation as a trio of down-to-earth punks who are more than capable of polishing up their sound. The effortlessly catchy Just Hip Enough to Be Woman is solid proof of that. Songs like the ’60s-garage-tinted “Deena” and “Taj Mahal”, with its thumping cosmic beat, add power-pop gloss and glam-rock glitter to Broncho’s banner of DIY indie. Breakthrough hit “Class Historian”, aka the one with the chirping “doo, doo, doo” refrain, achieves Broncho’s fusion of styles best—and is goddamn impossible to get out of your head.

“It’s all part of our plan,” says the singer. “We have a four-point plan, and it’s very evil. I can only really talk about two of the points. But I can’t even talk about those. It partly involves world domination, although we don’t necessarily want to dominate. I mean, no, we do want to dominate.”

Crediting legendary tunesmith Roy Orbison as his most constant inspiration, Lindsey describes the method to his own madness as writing for himself first, his audience second, and taking each song as it comes, like an isolated incident. And if an idea doesn’t make total sense, use it anyway, as long as it feels right. Above all, simplicity is the golden key, as well as the magnet that attracts Broncho to the classic eras of rock ’n’ roll.

“It is partly aesthetics, the laid-back living,” Lindsey explains. “There’s something about the visuals that come out of music like that that are really comfortable to me. And that’s probably just as much the reason as the music itself. I like all kinds of music, but I think this feels more natural. It’s comfortable claustrophobia. And as long as people are open to progression, then I don’t have a problem with them classifying us. I’m bad at describing myself, so I like when somebody else does it.”

As Broncho enjoys its time in the limelight, Lindsey’s quirky, charismatic persona grows too, garnering attention from critics and fans alike. The way its career is launching into orbit, the band is going to have to get used to it.

“I understand it,” says Lindsey. “Sometimes it makes sense to make fun of yourself, and sometimes people want to see you be confident. Sometimes the situation calls for me to be self-deprecating, and sometimes the opposite. So I try to have a balance of that, subconsciously. But when I’m off-stage, I’m the same. I’m always kind of putting on a show.”

Broncho plays Electric Owl on Saturday (April 4).