VIDEO

The Pierce Duncan Band -- (from left) Blain Crawford, John Concannon and Pierce Duncan -- will performJuly 18 at the Market Place in Kokomo. All are 19, and hope to perform in more all-ages venues. (Dave Lindquist / Indy.com)

Although Pierce Duncan has never watched an episode of "American Idol," the vocalist-guitarist plans to go to Louisville, Ky., next week to try his luck at auditions for the TV talent search.

Duncan, 19, says he wants to network, not necessarily score a golden ticket to Hollywood.

"I think it will be a good opportunity to meet someone," he says. "Before, I thought, 'The last thing I want is to have Simon Cowell judging me.' But once you really think about it, it's a way to meet people and make more connections."

Duncan and his bandmates in the Pierce Duncan Band -- bassist Blain Crawford and drummer John Concannon -- are hungry for their break.

After building a following at Noblesville High School with the bands Three Piece Suit and the Spazzmatiks, Duncan says it's a challenge to find new listeners.

"We can't play 21-and-older clubs, because no one could come see us besides our parents," he explains.

But he has no plans to abandon the blues-rock sound that echoes British acts of the 1960s and '70s.

"I've always been serious about music," he says. "I decided that I didn't want to go to college when I was a sophomore in high school. I realized that I wanted to work on my band. My life started, I guess, when I started my first band. That's how I feel."

He cites Blind Faith -- a short-lived supergroup that included Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood -- and Queen as key influences.

While many musicians his age gravitate to punk or metal, Duncan says he's after a timeless sound.

"For me, having fun is listening to the blues and all the old stuff I love. I realize that you can't do the same thing over again. You have to put a new twist on it."

Concannon mentions John Mayer as a prime example of a modern artist who brings elements of pop and blues to the masses.

"It seems like through the decades, mixing pop and blues has been a pretty good idea," Crawford adds.

Pierce Duncan Band

When: 9 p.m. Friday, July 18.

Where: The Market Place, Kokomo.

Admission: Free. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/pierceduncanband