Tuesday night March 20, I ventured out to the Funhouse to see a ska band calling themselves the Opskamatrists. With a name like that, I knew I had to check them out. I wasn’t disappointed either. This five-piece from Idaho Falls was non-stop fun. Though they hail from Idaho Falls, for some reason their front man/trumpeter Bruce Christensen – claimed they were from Oklahoma City and I was going to ask for my NBA team back. They stole our NBA team some years back. But no, they’re from Idaho so I can’t demand they return my team.
The aforementioned Bruce Christensen was quite the dynamo with his congeniality and humor. When he wasn’t blowing his trumpet, or performing lead vocal duties, he was gyrating and twisting all over the stage. The rest of the band were not slouches either in the high energy department. The horn section often choreographed their moves and the bass and lead guitarists were constantly running back and forth across the small stage. Drummer Jake Hartner worked up such a sweat he nearly created a whole new weather pattern.
At one point the horn section leaped off the stage and danced about the club much to the delight of the sparse audience. Besides the aforementioned, Opskamatrists are, Chad Christensen -Rhythm/lead guitar, backup vocals, Terry Wright – Trombone, backup vocals, Aaron Pearl – Bass, backup vocals.
Playing prior to Opskamatrists was It Gets Worse, but they aren’t It Gets Worse any more. They changed their name to Mr. Blank. They’re still the same fun band though. Bass player, lead vocalist, James Sweazea is still the perpetual class clown. He emotes big time, his long hair whipping about and into his face. The horn section wasn’t slacking in the lively department either. They also jumped into the crowd and danced about the small club without missing a note on their respective horns. Their new guitar player (Aren Cederlind) is outstanding and very cute. Mr. Blank, besides the aforementioned, is:
JR Sorrells – Drums
Frank Smith – Tenor Sax
Samuel Trowbridge – Trumpet
Peter Fink – Trombone
MTA – Bari Sax
