Traveling around the Midwest is becoming second nature for 6240. In fact, they travel so much their permanent residence should be their 1977 Dodge Monaco station wagon.

“It’s built specifically to handle a three-piece band,” said Joe Brahmal, bassist for the band. “Everything fits perfectly.”

Although Brahmal praises the wagon now, earlier in the summer it gave them some trouble, something about a waterpump, a blown tire and the town of Milwaukee. “I think Milwaukee is the problem,” Brahmal said. “Two waterpumps and a spare tire later…”

Now that Brahmal, Dan Lodden on drums, and Andy Schneider on the other bass, have their transportation in order, they’re making the trek down to Des Moines to visit The Love Shack this Saturday after spending last weekend in St. Louis at the Mississippi River Music Festival.

“It was a pretty good time,” Brahmal said. “You play a 40-minute set, when those 40 minutes are up they shut you down.”

The band was picked to play the festival and played their one set Thursday night at a club called LaFite’s. “It was a real honor to get picked,” Brahmal said.

After the gig they spent the rest of the weekend networking. “We sat in the hotel lobby looking for famous people,” Brahmal said. “It was a real honor to get picked [to play].”

Now the band is looking forward to releasing their long-awaited self-titled debut CD. “The way we look at it phase one is over, where we’re basically playing everywhere and doing a lot of shows,” Brahmal said.

“Right now everything’s building up to the release,” Brahmal said.

Check out 6240 with special guests Rose Garden Funeral, from Omaha, at The Love Shack, located at 625 E. Court Ave., in Des Moines. Tickets may be purchased at the door and an ID is required. For more information call 280-1067.