Silverstein finds familiarity's a fine formula

Gene Simmons once waxed eloquent about the approach Kiss has to music and business.

"They're one and the same," he said. "One of the rules is that you can't change your sound. You don't want to betray your audience."

Pop-punk-rockers Silverstein has never moved out of its sonic comfort zone. The Toronto-based band, which formed 11 years ago, hasn't changed much at all.

The group's latest album, "Rescue," is cut from the same cloth as its predecessors, and its range remains from catchy rock tunes to fiery punk cuts.

"But what we do is not by design," says vocalist Shane Told while calling from his Toronto home. "It's not like we're in a room and trying to be calculated. It's not a business thing. We just do what comes natural for us."

Told is cognizant of bands that do change their sound, such as punk-pop-rockers Thrice, who revamped what they're known for.

"I think Thrice sounds great," Told says. "But they took a chance. Will their old fans like the new sound of Thrice? Probably not. But if we were moved to do something completely different, we would. But the reality is that we're where we like to be."

Silverstein, which will perform Saturday at the Electric Factory as part of the Take Action tour, began as a side project, but the members of the band, which also include guitarists Neil Boshart and Josh Bradford, bassist Billy Hamilton and drummer Paul Koehler, enjoyed each other's company and its sonic output so much that it became a full-time gig.

"That's the best move we ever made," Told says. "We love being around each other. We've only had one personnel move (guitarist Richard McWalter left a year after the band formed). We want to be with each other and create. We're stable and we're having more fun doing this than we've ever had."

Told, who is a diehard hockey and baseball fan, is looking forward to coming to Philly since the Flyers and Phillies are the talk of the town.

"The Flyers are doing well, and I'm sure the town is buzzing about them and the Phillies," Told says." I'm a Blue Jays fan and you have our hero, Roy Halladay.

"People in Philly should realize how lucky they are. They have all these great sports teams and they have great venues. So many bands go to Philly. We love coming back there every chance we get since the fans there are so into it."

Silverstein appears Saturday at the Electric Factory, Seventh and Willow streets, Philadelphia. Show time: 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $18. Information: 800-745-3000; www.livenation.com.