Old search, starting band (5)
I believe the answer is:
combo
'band' is the definition.
(combo can mean a musical group)
'old search starting' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'o' (common abbreviation eg in OE for Old English).
'search' becomes 'comb' (combing is a kind of searching).
'starting' says to put letters next to each other.
'o' after 'comb' is 'COMBO'.
(Other definitions for combo that I've seen before include "Small (jazz or rock) band" , "Small jazz group" , "Small pop group" , "musicians" , "Small jazz or dance band" .)