The Roustabouts are an acoustic trio from Harrisburg, PA, that specialize in rich harmonies and bringing a big sound into smaller venues. 3 voices are accompanied by 2 guitars, a bass, and drum loops to produce a sonically pleasing evening that your audience and eardrums will both be thankful for. A PA system is available when necessary, and we bring some extra low end to rooms with existing speakers to ensure a full, lush sound that you won’t have to scream over.

HOW WE GOT HERE…

Rich “The Urge” Wise came to use from the Tampa Bay Area in Florida, via Brighton, England. He was a touring machine for many years, and regularly passed though the NorthEast with his power pop/punk influenced band TenSpoke Indies. He and Curtis because fast friends while bonding over all things England, and Rich spoke of “missing seasons”, stating he hoped to move to PA one day. By their 2nd album, Rich’s band felt like it was growing in different directions musically, and management suggested they try something radical to get back to their roots for the new album. Through an unexplainable series of events, the band ended up moving to an artist/nudist community and holed up for 6 weeks to write songs. While the experience was “freeing” for all of them, the band realized its best creative days were behind them and parted ways not long thereafter. Rich showed up in PA about a year later with his wife and kids in tow and hasn’t looked back since. Curtis seized the opportunity to form a band (actually several) with Rich – in part due to his immense talent as a songwriter/producer/engineer, and in part because Rich adds credibility to the band simply by being English.

Things happened very quickly for Matt “Ducky” Schmohl. After recording an EP with the now famous Zade Wolfe in the music Mecca of Nashville, TN, Ducky was selected for an appearance on NBCs The Voice. Although eliminated early in the televised rounds, co-host Carson Daily took a liking to Ducky and flew him back out to LA to perform as a guest on his Late Night show. The sky was the limit, and all signs were pointing to a national tour. It was at this time that Ducky’s management abruptly fired his band (Curtis, Rich,and drummer Jimmy were deemed “old”, and “just not very attractive”) and hired a group of young guns more suited for the road. Ducky soon learned he would be co-headlining a 40 city tour with the band of famed child actor Frankie Muniz (The Wonder Years, Malcom In The Middle, Agent Cody Banks. Yes, THAT Frankie Muniz). While the novelty was great for drawing large crowds to the shows, the paring was the equivalent sending Metallica out with Celine Dion, and left something to be desired for all parties involved. From here, The Duckster unfortunately came to the realization that he loved and missed his girlfriend Amanda (now wife) and dog much more than expected. To add insult to injury, he also discovered that drinking and getting stoned (once considered the whole point of touring) just made him feel “tired, alone, and scared” while on the road. Hence, things fizzled out and an indefinite break from music and acting was taken upon arrival back at the ranch.

Inspired by a U2 show he somehow talked his parents into dropping him off at age 11, Curtis “Tank” Tankersley was onstage at Gulliftys with his first band the very next year. A “jack of all trades/master of none” multi-instrumentalist, Curtis has played guitar, drums, and bass in various bands though out his musical journey. His most successful project, Condition K, held the #1 one spot on the Sirius/XM Radio Unsigned Band channel for several months, which helped the band land slots on a handful of national shows. It was at the biggest of these shows (Wells-Fargo Center opening for Bon Jovi) that Curtis looked around and realized he just wasn’t enjoying music anymore. A few months later he decided to take indefinite break from music. Flash forward 5 years, and Curtis came out of retirement to help Ducky with a recording project for his band at the time Ducky and the Vintage. Curtis felt immediate relief when he discovered it was not music he was tired of, but actually just his old band.

BANDS THAT PLAY TOGETHER STAY TOGETHER

Curtis, Rich, and Ducky get together regularly for shows, but also enjoy getting into random mischief outside of their musical endeavors as time allows. When not on stage, the band can be found eating sushi, training for triathalons, bowling, camping, flipping houses, traveling, randomly staring at their phones for hours, and taking the band boat out on the Susquehanna River.