By making a pit stop at Bernie’s Distillery tonight, one of Columbus’ overlooked bands will reveal why it is one of the city’s growing music scene’s best-kept secrets.

THE-PITS, made of band members Jonathan Julca, David Julca, Jack Houston, and Joshua Hundt ranging in age from 17-20, has the talent to produce music well beyond its years. The band’s innovative sound creates refreshing and new ways to hear rock music.

THE-PITS’ precocious talent and marketability has made two record labels sit up and pay attention. Tom Dunn, owner of Angryson Records, signed THE-PITS this summer and is releasing its first CD “RATIONAL-ORDER” on his label next month.

“These guys are an incredible band,” Dunn said. “When I heard their demo, I knew immediately they were going to be big, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

Dunn was not the only record executive who noticed the band’s extraordinary aptitude. THE-PITS are negotiating a contract with indie label Tooth & Nail Records.

“Tooth & Nail is a label we have always known about, and we have watched bands on this label become bigger and bigger,” said bass player Houston. “They are one of the biggest indie labels, with national distribution. We are blessed to have this opportunity.”

Dunn said he knew it was only a matter of time before THE-PITS were signed to a bigger label, and he didn’t want to stand in the way of the band’s success if his group had the chance to do work on a larger scale.

“I made an agreement with the band not to hold them back if something bigger came along. That would be selfish of me,” Dunn said.

The band was excited by its new opportunity but found it difficult to tell Dunn.

“Tom said he knew it would happen eventually, but it was hard to tell him anyway,” said lead singer David Julca. “He was cool about it and said it would be good for him too.”

THE-PITS formed in January of 1998, two years after brothers Jonathan and David Julca moved to Ohio from Panama in 1996. The boys, who spoke no English except for the words “hello,” “yes,” “thank you” and “bye,” picked up the language while going to school in Worthington.

Soon after David Julca met Houston while attending middle school in Worthington. They started playing together and formed THE-PITS.

Jonathan Julca describes THE-PITS’ sound with a little hesitation. He said if he had to pick he would say they are a progressive rock band.

“I don’t like labeling because it’s not easy to put us into one category,” he said. “We don’t like being restricted. I can guarantee what we play next year will be different from what we are playing the same day today.”

The band originally was a four-piece band, and last October switched to a three-piece when a guitar player quit. Less than a month ago, the Julca brothers and Houston again added Hundt to try something new.

Hundt joined to take over for David Julca, the drummer for the past four years. David Julca said he has always had an itch to sing, and although he loves to play the drums, he wanted to see what it would be like to front the band. Jonathan Julca then stepped aside and now focuses mainly on playing the guitar and writing.

“It was hard to choose if David should continue on the drums or sing,” said Jonathan Julca. “He is an amazing drummer, but we knew we needed a change, and my brother wanted to do more.”

The band knew they made a good decision when Hundt met the challenge of learning the band’s material in a few practice sessions before his first show as a member.

“We only practiced three times and then played a show,” Houston said. “He learned fast, and I was really impressed.”

They plan to keep playing by touring and making records. Dunn said he can’t wait to hear THE-PITS’ music years from now.

THE-PITS play tonight at Bernie’s Distillery, with all ages welcome, inside a show including Prevent Falls, Second String Hero and Watsonville Patio, with the first band taking the stage at 10 p.m. THE-PITS can also be seen Saturday at Red 16.