Ska band Wondershop Showdown consists of a pair of current roommates, a pair of former roommates, a set of twins, one couple and two guys named Tim.
All in all, nine members.
“You had so many people to hug!” jokes Tim Gould (junior- geobiology), the band’s bassist, about their Battle of the Bands victory. The win scored Wondershop Showdown an opening slot at this Friday’s Movin’ On music festival, just after their fellow winner DJ Keegan Tawa.
“It’s like a dream come true,” says Kyle Ennis (junior- chemical engineering), who plays both trombone and guitar for the band.
For the band, Movin’ On isn’t just another cool gig. Less Than Jake’s Movin’ On performance in 2010 originally inspired its founding members to launch a ska band. Two years later, Wondershop Showdown can finally scratch the Penn State music festival off its bucket list.
As a band, says Ennis, “There’s three things we want to do: play at Movin’ On, play at THON, play at bars.” With bars already done and Movin’ On almost here, THON’s the only thing left. Entertainment captains, take note.
Saxophone player Alex Hesse (junior- mechanical engineering) calls Wondershop’s musical style “really upbeat rock,” and Ennis adds that it’s “more than just ska.” For newcomers to the genre, band members describe ska as peppy, upbeat rock with a lot of horns. In short, it’ll make you dance.
If you want a taste of their musical influences, Hesse, Ennis and Gould pieced together a playlist of their favorites:
St. Walker by Young the Giant
Somewhere In The Between by Streetlight Manifesto
Beer by Reel Big Phish (Hesse jokes you can’t not play this for college audiences.)
Movin’ Out, a Billy Joel cover by The Supervillains
Can’t Stop by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Movin’ On starts this Friday, April 27 at 3 p.m. with DJ Keegan Tawa, and Wondershop Showdown is slated for 3:30. Stick around for Ludacris, the Avett Brothers, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Young the Giant and the David Mayfield Parade.
