One Step Farther features hometown boys
Band to perform two concerts
Saturday night is the second concert of three in the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce summer concert series. Acrostic and One Step Farther, a local band, will perform in the Pavilion at the fairgrounds.
One Step Farther's performance begins at 7 p.m. and features five young men from Hillsboro: Jordan Allen, electric guitar; Lance Bartel, bass; Caleb Marsh, vocals; Derek Mayfield, electric guitar; Michael Suderman, drums; and Tyler Suderman, vocals.
The band began when Allen and Bartel wanted to play music and express themselves musically. Marsh and Mayfield also were looking for a creative outlet and joined them. Thus they formed the band in the summer of 2003. The group went through a series of names before settling on One Step Farther.
"This was the first decent name we came up with," said Mayfield.
This summer the group added the Suderman twins, Michael and Tyler, who also were looking for an outlet for their music.
"We were looking for someone to play music with and we told them," said Tyler.
"And we said, 'Hey, you're in the band now,'" said Allen.
The addition of Michael and Tyler comes none too soon as Marsh begins classes at Tabor College in a few weeks and Mayfield heads west to Fort Hays State University next week.
Allen and Bartel will be seniors at Hillsboro High School and Michael and Tyler will be sophomores.
The group is an alternative rock group but they play almost everything.
"We like high energy music," said Allen.
They also write and perform their own music. Allen writes most of the instrumentals and Marsh the lyrics. The entire group fine tunes the pieces until they're all satisfied.
"Someone brings an idea and we all work on it," Mayfield said.
One Step Farther has played 10 concerts this past year including at Chingawassa Days at Marion, Little Pleasures, church groups, and private parties.
"We'll play for anyone who asks," said Bartel.
Of course, they like to get paid for making music. The not-for-profit band invests any money they make in new equipment.
The band practices once or twice a week, even during the busy school year, which is commendable considering they are active in school activities, have jobs, and are frequently named to the high school honor roll. Some of them have participated in instrumental music programs in school and most are currently taking vocal music classes.
The self-taught musicians practice at the David and Cheri Marsh home south of Hillsboro. Their music studio is a 12'x20' outbuilding in the shadow of the Marsh home. The practice hall comes complete with refrigerator, overstuffed chair, couch, a big black dog, and kittens.
Apparently the Marshes are good sports about the noise and activity around their place.
"They don't complain before 10:30 at night," said Mayfield. "All of our parents are supportive."
"We're far enough away from the house," said Marsh, "that they really can't hear us."
Although playing in the band as a career would suit all of them, they aren't making plans to give up their other lives, yet.
"I'd like a career in music," said Tyler. "What happens happens."
"We'll go as far as possible," Mayfield said. "But this is not something I'm willing to base the rest of my life on."
They all want the band to be successful. However, their philosophy is if it is supposed to happen it will all fall into place.
One Step Farther performs Friday night at 150th and Eagle at 8 p.m. Admission is $5 and includes them playing their music, CD playing for dancing, and a slip and slide. Admission is restricted to students entering high school or the first year of college.
If the group is as enthusiastic and energetic in concert as they are in practice, concert goers can expect a good performance and the band will have taken one step farther into its future.
