The drive from Grandview College in Des Moines to Northwest Missouri State is about a two-and-a-half-hour drive. That may be a perfect drive time for a weekend roadtrip but it becomes a hassle if it has to be driven every weekend.

The band members of the McKenzies get to experience the drive every weekend.

Generally performing in the Des Moines area, “the drive is difficult when it is time for practicing,” drummer Jason Smith said. “You can’t just call up and decide that it is time to practice.”

Smith is referring to the fact that practicing is a unique situation for the band — with lead vocals/rhythm guitarist Austin Howell and base guitarist Darin Casey attending school at Northwest Missouri State, lead guitarist James Biehn at Southwest Community College in Creston and Smith himself attending Grandview — the band has to be more dedicated.

“Everyone knows that every Friday and Saturday night they are booked to play,” Smith continued. “We spend a lot of time practicing right before the shows — during sound checks. Although, we usually don’t practice our new songs and then play them that night.”

Deriving their name from the movie “So I Married An Axe Murder” (Charlie McKenzie), the McKenzies has been playing its “straight-forward rock-and-roll” at bars and clubs in the Des Moines area for three years, Smith said.

The band has also played in Lincoln, Neb., Maryville, Mo., and for special events, Smith continued.

“We were the featured entertainment for the Principal Financial Group this summer at a company party,” he added. “There were about 3,000 people there. We have also done stuff with the Make A Wish Foundation and the Ronald McDonald House. All to help out the children.”

With covers, we have the ability to play a five-hour show, Smith said. With originals, we can play a two-hour show.

Currently promoting the band’s first CD release, “Collective Sigh of Relief,” the group is dealing with a distributor in Kansas City for nationwide distribution with Best Buy and Sam Goody.

“We’ve sold over 500 copies since the end of September,” Smith said. “With nationwide distribution, we hope to sell over 1,000 copies within four months.

“Selling that many copies is pretty good,” he continued. “We talked to some local places and they say that’s good.”

The band’s success has been beyond the selling of CDs.

“It seems that every week a radio station sneaks us into the regular rotation,” Smith said. “We’re on regular rotation on a station in Kansas City. It’s kinda like we’re every other band.”

As for the McKenzies’ future, the members are focusing on school and waiting for the summer to begin to tour.

“We’re looking for club tours,” Smith said. “No big arenas. We want to make a living with it but not so much for the money but to keep our emotions and music going.”

The McKenzies will be playing an all-ages show tonight at State Gym.

The show is sponsored by Commitment Sound and Lighting, Kappa Sigma and KCCQ. The show is scheduled from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.