Note-worthy in Plymouth: The Okay Win

The five members of The Okay Win - including Ryan Ward, J.M. Craven, Adam McElreath, Dave Chardo and Plymouth’s Stephen MacDonald – believe in producing folk-based rock albums that harp back to the music of the past. The band tries to channel the work of Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen while adding modern influences.

Lead singer MacDonald said the folk music of the Dylan generation is at the heart of every song he writes, as they each begin with simple chords and lyrics on his acoustic guitar. Gradually, the other members of the band add their influences, bringing the song into contemporary times.

“Our influences are a lot more modern than the root of the song,” MacDonald said.

Typically, the band only performs original music during their Boston and Cambridge shows. However, their occasional cover songs always come from the 1950s and 60s. Although their fans are generally in their mid-20, Chardo, the band’s drummer, said he believes these songs can still speak to a younger crowd.

“I feel like the mindset and the nostalgia of the 50s and 60s is coming back, especially for my generation,” he said. “It actually fits really well. We all try to harp it back to an older time. People are really receptive to that type of music because it speaks to everybody.”

While their music is a reflection of the past, the band believes that their album should be a full representation of its members, meaning that from start to finish everything is created by them.

Their latest album, “Common Nature” was released in April and completed in Chardo’s parents’ basement recording studio. Chardo did all of the producing. Then, using recycled CD cases, MacDonald created the album art for each and every case using silk-screening.

The former Plymouth resident crafted a homemade screen with an elaborate tree design and added the shape to hundreds of CD covers one by one. Although it was a time-consuming process, MacDonald said that the increased ability to express himself as an artist was worth it.

“I feel like as long as I am putting out records, that’s how I want to do it,” he said. “I want to have that type of control and oversight over the whole thing.”

MacDonald said the purpose of his band is not to make money, so generally, at the end of the long creation process, the CDs are given away for free to fans at their shows.

While The Okay Win typically performs in the Boston area, with occasional trips to places like New York, New Jersey and West Virginia, MacDonald said he will return to his hometown on July 29 for the .

On the Hedge House lawn, the Plymouth native will perform an acoustic set for his band at 6 p.m. MacDonald said he is looking forward to returning to the area for the show.

“We have gotten to play Plymouth a few times and it’s something that I really like doing because it’s my hometown,” he said.