Big Back Forty has been described as blending the elements of rock, pop and country into one unified sound — a characteristic that can be both positive and negative.

The Columbus, Ohio, foursome is not limited to certain clubs or radio stations and can draw listeners from a wide array of ages and personalities.

“It’s only a problem when we are trying to decide which cover to learn next,” lead singer Sean Beal said from his Lincoln, Neb., hotel room.

The band, which “usually plays one cover a night,” has been known to do anything from Waylon Jennings to Beastie Boys.

“We have been throwing around the possibility of doing a Prince cover, but I just don’t think it’s going to work with this band,” Beal said.

Big Back Forty formed in 1995, when Beal, who was playing with Train Meets Truck, hooked up with guitarist Barry Hensley, who was playing with Sparks From The Wheel.

The inspiring musicians decided to start a band that would allow them to blend their rock influences with the bluegrass, country and gospel music of their childhoods.

“I think we walk along a few different fences with this band,” Beal explained. “The way we listen to whatever we want to has a lot to do with it. I don’t think anyone can pigeonhole us too easy.”

Beal and Hensley soon recruited two local musicians and hit the road as Big Back Forty, a name one of Beal’s previous bands had considered.

“A friend of ours, who is now a guitar tech with The Wallflowers, came up with it,” Beal said. “Finding a band name is such a ridiculous process anyway, I think I was already partial to that one.”

Big Back Forty recorded a demo tape that eventually got the band signed to Polydor records. After hitting the road on a Midwestern tour, the band returned home where it regrouped with old friends, bass player Dan Cochran (who had played with Beal in three previous bands) and drummer Mark Boquist (who was playing with New York’s Disciples of Agriculture).

The reformed Big Back Forty launched its second tour, this time heading as far west as Seattle and San Diego — two cities not known for having an Americana music scene.

“We’ve been out West a lot more than I first expected,” Beal said. “Our style of music primarily comes out of the Midwest and I thought about that in the beginning, but they have so many different places to see live music out there, they can pretty much see whatever they want.”

And Big Back Forty has been lucky enough to be one those bands. Back home, Beal said, there are dozens of bands doing the same thing Big Back Forty is doing.

“They’re one lucky brick behind where we are,” Beal said. “The right guy just happened to hear us. The same thing could happen to any of those bands.”

Big Back Forty owes a portion of its success to Beal’s lyrics, which have been described as rich in imagery and emotion.

The singer/songwriter said he often writes his lyrics without thinking about it.

“I just try and write ideas down without being too clich‚,” he said. “I would say a lot of my lyrics are relationship based or simply dealing with people.”

Beal said writing music has always been a pleasure for him.

“It’s never been too hard,” he said. “It’s easier with this band than with any other band I’ve ever been in because this band has more dynamic ranges. When we write a song it is free to be whatever it wants to be.”

Big Back Forty’s writing process almost always begins with the music and the lyrics are added later.

“I haven’t discovered a formula yet; it’s all pretty random,” Beal said. “That’s probably good though. It seems like the harder you try on something the worse it turns out. I usually sit on a song for a while and let it work itself out.”

Beal will have a chance to showcase his band’s latest tunes on its debut “Bested” tonight at People’s Bar and Grill at 9 p.m.

Minnesota’s own The Honeydogs will be headlining the show.