Local band looks for younger audience
Nate Billings

Staff Writer

For almost a year and a half, Brandon Nivens, senior mass communications major; Phil Burkhart, senior biology major; and Devin Krtek have been together as One Track Mind, a  funky  rock band.

Two years ago, the trio won the Battle of the Bands competition. It was their first time as a group.

 We just walked up on stage, played and we won,  Burkhart said.

Last year, they received third place. The group plays in other places around the area, but most are 21-and-older bars such as The Green Room. Today, the group has around 40 songs it plays, and One Track Mind practices twice a week. Playing in the band is not the members  main source of income. All three have jobs around the area.

Nivens and Krtek grew up together in Carthage. After the three joined separate bands, they decided to make their own band, something they enjoy.

 It combines expressing yourself and what you love to do,  Burkhart said.

Although the group plays for many different occasions, the group has trouble getting younger people to hear its music.

 It s a pain in the ... not having enough places to play,  Krtek said.

Krtek wants to be able to reach a younger age group. One night, a band was canceled right before it went on stage because not everyone in the group was 21.

 I think there should be a way to regulate those who don t drink,  Krtek said.  I think the management thinks it s too much trouble. 

Krtek suggested the bars add a separate room for shows so people under 21 do not have to go to into the bar area.

 It s unfortunate for eager listeners,  Burkhart said.

In Seneca, the group was booked for the Fourth of July festival, but the show was canceled, supposedly because the crowd was getting too rough.

One of the hardest things for the group is getting people to understand its music.

 It s not like we need to tell people that it s OK to like our music,  Krtek said.

The band had a song in the play Down the Road. The intro song for the play was the band s  Ode to Lost Souls. 

A few of the band s songs are  Liberappurtance,   Complacent,   Ol  Motel 69  and  My Vortexual Dolly. 

The group will play at The Green Room on Friday, Oct. 4.

Rock 105 plays the group s songs on Sunday nights during the local radio show. The group encourages all those who can t come to the bars to tune in and request its songs.

Andy Tevis/The Chart

Bassist Devin Ktrek, 21, left, drummer Phil Brukhart, 23 and guitarist/singer Brandon Nivens, 22 all Missouri Southern students, have been playing in the band One Track Mind for almost two years. The band's next show will be at The Green Room Oct. 18.