He talks about the energy, the feeling, being able to do it with your eyes closed. It’s not what you’re thinking, though. He says it’s better than that.

For Eric Mills, lead singer and keyboard player for Punkinhead, being up on stage and making music is something that he loves to do.

“Sometimes it’s even better than sex—when you don’t have to try or think and everything just comes to you,” Mills said.

Not trying is something that hasn’t come easy to Mills, who is a self-taught musician. As one of the founding members of the 5-year-old band Punkinhead, Mills said he didn’t know how to play anything when they first started.

What he did know how to do was sing— thanks to experience reaching as far back as being a choir boy in his southern Baptist church.

Some of that sound can still be found in the music once described as, “blending delta church shout and southern R &B with some serious uptown rhythm.”

But, in Mills’ words the style of Punkinhead is, “American rhythm music, soulful and from the heart.”

Whatever the sound, the message is clear. Punkinhead wants to be positive and self-empowering, two ideas that reflect in the music and lyrics.

However, Mills doesn’t have any

pipe dreams about moving mountains with his lyrics. What he does want to have is some sort of impact.

“I don’t really want to change the world with my lyrics but I would like to touch people with the music.” he said. “It’s just all about communication.”

Something in the music must be touching somebody because Punkinhead fans span the age range of toddlers to senior citizens and from metal heads to cowboys.

Punkinhead, with Mark Obana on guitar and vocals, Jason Cerchie on bass, Steven Setser on trumpet and Chuck Platt on drums and vocals has been able to reach a wide cross section of people from their travels westward. Playing in ski resort areas that attract diverse crowds, not just the same old college scene, they have managed to make new fans.

They have also attracted the attention of film makers. The sounds of Punkinhead accompany footage on some of ESPN’s extreme skiing videos.

All of this attention is a good thing Mills said, because Punkinhead doesn’t want to be a bar band forever. They are looking toward moving up and out, to the so-called musical “promised land” of big labels, MTV and videos.

But until that happens, you can look forward to Punkinhead, self proclaimed ambassadors from Arkansas, to liven up People’s Bar and Grill Saturday. Tickets are $3 at the door. Showtime kicks off about 9:30 p.m. with openers Peal. And, as usual, ID is required.