Trip Spontain

Trip Spontain is a unique blend of the musical influences of each band member. Ranging from pop rock to blues to heavy metal, this band has turned a hobby into a live spectacle that can be felt, as well as heard. With catchy originals and accurate covers, Trip Spontain is band that you will want to hear over and over again. People that have already heard them will attest to that.

Trip Spontain began as a three-piece band going by the name of Groove Thumb. It consisted of current T.S. members James Berka and Jeremy Russell, along with a drummer by the name of J.D. Graudhause. As most beginning bands do, Groove Thumb played small parties for their high school chums, but they never did get a chance to play venues. In November of 2001, Groove Thumb would begin it's multi-stage transformation. T.S. member Bud Guffey contacted Berka about an audition for the band making Groove Thumb a four piece for a short time. However, drummer J.D. Graudhause had aspirations of becoming a Jazz drummer, and in December of 2001, he left Groove Thumb to chase his dreams. However, there was a chemistry brewing between Berka, Guffey, and Russell that inspired them to begin a three month period of writing music together. Groove Thumb knew it was time to start adding more ingredients to the recipe for success. Guffey knew of a band called Laid Back Manner, consisting of Calvin Compton, Brett Duniphin, Scotty "Bob" McLeMore, and Justin Garrison. They were an entertaining quartet of friends with a nice repertoire of music. However, Laid Back Manner was on a down hill run, as the members were starting to fight amongst themselves. Groove Thumb spoke with Duniphin and McLeMore about becoming members of their band, and shortly after, these five men formed a band called Somthin' Weiser. Somthin' Weiser had all the ingredients for a great rock band. Soon after forming, they began a fan base that was unequalled by some of the other bands in the area. The quintet wrote catchy tunes such as "Feel This Way" and "Trippy World" that left their fans with an insatiable thirst to hear the band play live. Somthin' Weiser played several gigs throughout the northeast Oklahoma area, acquiring new fans with each show. However, the Somthin' Weiser legacy would end as quickly as it had commenced. Fueled by egos, drugs, and alcohol, the band members began to have personal differences. In November of 2002, Duniphin quit Somthin' Weiser. A few weeks later, the band saw the departure of Guffey as he had personal differences of opinions with Berka. However, the band acquired current T.S. member Dustin Moore on drums. Also, the band had become Trip Spontain named after a fake band of a former girlfriend of Russell's. She and a friend had picked the name from an actor named Trip Fontain. Trip Spontain began it's quest to become the band that it is today. However, after a few months, the band received the news that McLeMore was leaving the band. However, Russell, Berka, and Moore decided to persist in their desire to achieve their dreams. Over the next 15-18 months, Trip Spontain experienced several line-up changes. They had Nelson Chouteau on guitar, Dustin "Skinny" Brunner on bass, a brief return by Duniphin on bass, and a one-night show with Steve Hixenbaugh from Aquarius Picnic/Electric Banana (now currently Riverside). However, in May 2004, the band would begin to come together the way it was meant to be. Though there was talk of a Somthin' Weiser re-union (which was scrapped because of personal differences between Guffey and Duniphin), Russell, Berka, and Moore pressed on. In May, they would again be joined by bassist Bud Guffey. Shortly after, they would be joined by Brian McDonald on guitar. The quintet is now enjoying playing together and becoming the band that each member had always wanted to be a part of. Stay tuned, there will be more to come...

We play live as much as we can. We are currently playing in the Northeast Oklahoma area, but are hoping to expand soon. We absolutely love it. Every show offers its special moments. There have been nights that we've played in front of 30 people, then nights when we play in front of 200. However, whether it's 30 or 200, we always put on our best show, and we always have a great time with every crowd. Our crowds are amazing.

In no certain order: Dave Matthews Band, Motorhead, Oasis, Clutch, Van Halen, Type O Negative, Pantera, Incubus, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, and a number of others.

We have our equipment listed on our website. It's too much to type here.

Come and check out one of our shows. You'll love it. And if you don't, hey, we'll be sure to catch you after the show, and...just kidding. We are certainly open to criticism. We criticize each other enough, that we are almost numb to it. So, come out and make fun of us, point, laugh, throw stuff, flip us off, whatever. It's cool.