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P O W E L L, W y o. - There will be more than the usual cheers and whistles sounding off during athletic events in Northwest College's Cabre Gym beginning Friday, Nov. 16, when the NWC Trapper Show Band premieres.
The Trapper Men's Basketball Team takes the floor at 8 p.m. against Williston State College, and the Trapper Show Band will take to the bleachers at the same time with a sound reminiscent of a cruise ship band, according to Neil Hansen. Right down to their Hawaiian shirts.
Hansen, a member of NWC's music faculty, said the 11-piece ensemble features vocalist Spencer Nelson of Cody in a long list of groove-to-the-beat tunes like Marvin Gaye's "Grapevine," "Hit The Road Jack" by Ray Charles and Wilson Pickett's "Mustang Sally." And of course, the "Star Spangled Banner" and "NWC Fight Song" will accompany each event.
Unlike other college music ensembles, the Trapper Showband isn't the product of a class. The all-male group rehearses on its own time and is directed by NWC student Will Crompton of Powell, who also fills in as sound tech.
Other band members are Mike Hanich of Cody and Holden Vargas of Cora, Wyo., on sax; Andy Mrozinsky and Aaron Peterman of Cody on trumpet; Dustin Hunt of Laurel, Mont., on trombone; Caleb Van Gelder from Greybull on drums; Josh Paredez of Cody on bass; Nathan Smith of Hanna/Elk Mountain, Wyo., on keyboards; and Shawn Kebler of Greybull on guitar.