Lead singer/guitarist/banjoist Dave Bielankos says he and his brother Serge formed the band Marah because they love music.
"Our influences are many," Bielankos said by phone from Philadelphia. "Little Richard, Kiss, Bruce Springsteen and the Replacements were some of our biggest. We pretty much listened to anything that was on FM radio when we were growing up.
"When we decided to get a band going when we were 15, we thought of ways to pay tribute to our influences but do something for ourselves. We wanted to write songs and play songs that we thought were cool."
The goal of the band is still to see how far it can get, Bielankos said. "The only really awkward time we had was right after high school graduation. We had to tell our parents we were going to play music instead of going to college."
The biggest challenge, said Bielankos, is the business side of being in a band. "It's hard being an independent band. You have to do everything yourself. But when you're signed to a major label, you have to do what they want. So I'd rather have the freedom and do what we want."
Marah's new album "20,000 Streets Under the Sky" is sort of like a rock opera, said Bielankos. "We wanted to write songs through the eyes of a couple of different characters. We wanted to tell a story that would work like a musical-visual."
The band has gained a loyal following since its formation in 1993, said Bielankos. "The fans are passionate about our music. And they allow us to do what we want to do. We're a band that will do what we want to do, but to have a fan base receive it with enthusiasm is one of our biggest rewards."
Right now the focus is the tour. But that doesn't mean new ideas aren't coming. "We don't actually plan ahead, but we are finding a couple of holes to fill in, to record new music during our break. I'd like to make a record that steps up the emotion. And that's what we are trying to do with each of our albums."
If you go. . .
What: Marah
Where: Club Halo, 60 E. 800 South
When: Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.
How much: $12
Phone: 363-4522
E-mail: scott@desnews.com