Stretch Armstrong was a popular third-wave ska band from Provo, Utah. Formed in 1990, Scott Van Wagenen, the lead singer, was the main constant in the band's initially oft-changing lineup. By 1994, the lineup had settled on Darren Hutchison (bass), Dave Thomas (drums), Mike South (guitar), Dan Nelson (sax), Ryan Ridges (keyboard), Brian Rowley (sax), and Sterling Acomb (sax). Their ska music included elements of punk, jazz, and circus music. Their concerts were full of energetic dancing and moshing.
Riding on the coattails of Swim Herschel Swim's success in the Provo ska scene, Stretch Armstrong opened for national bands soon after their formation: Skankin' Pickle, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Special Beat, and the Crazy 8s. In 1993, they released Old School and opened for Buck-O-Nine and Bad Manners. They released an album in each subsequent year: Lollygag (1994), The Lesser of the Two Weevils EP (1995), and Armstrong (1996). Combined, their four albums sold over 20,000 copies. In later years, they played in concerts with national acts like Skankin' Pickle, Let's Go Bowling, The Aquabats, Black Uhuru, and Cake. They opened for Fishbone and No Doubt in 1995. Brandon Smith, director of the documentary on Utah ska called The Up Beat, said that the band was a scene leader following Swim Herschel Swim's breakup. Stretch Armstrong broke up in 1997.
The band, based in Provo, Utah,[1] started playing together in December 1990. Scott Van Wagenen, the lead singer, had no previous singing experience. Van Wagenen recalled trying to write ska and ska-funk music, but said that their efforts to make music in those genres were unsuccessful, and that they were more successful than they deserved to be.[2]
Stretch Armstrong opened for the Specs and local acts Jonesin' and Swim Herschel Swim in 1991.[3][4] Stretch Armstrong opened in the first Skalapalooza concert in 1992, which featured Swim Herschel Swim and national bands Skankin' Pickle and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.[5] The concert had over 1,100 attendees.[6] In later concerts that year, they opened for The Crazy 8s[7] and The Special Beat, along with Swim Herschel Swim at the Ventura Film Studio.[8] In a review of the Ventura Film Studio concert, Jeff Vice said that Stretch Armstrong was "melding again" after several changes to their lineup.[9] By June 1993, they had also opened for Buck-O-Nine[10] and Bad Manners.[10]
Stretch Armstrong became known for their "maniacally energetic live shows".[11] Rick Anderson, guitarist for Swim Herschel Swim,[12] mentioned Stretch Armstrong as "Provo's most energetic band" in his "On Music" column for The Daily Herald in April 1991.[13] In a review of the Buck O'Nine concert, Scott Vice praised the group's dancing in "Borisoglebaska" and its succession of fast-paced songs.[14] Of their performance opening for The Skankin' Pickle, Vice noticed that audience members were "skanking and dancing up a storm" and that the band poured their "heart and soul" into the performance.[15] In a review of an April 1993 concert, Vice mentioned how Van Wagenen "cavorted around the stage".[16] A concert-goer from 1994 complained about the moshing.[17] The dancing at a 1994 concert was full of the high energy "that most aerobics programs strive for".[18]
Stretch Armstrong released their first album, Old School,[10] on cassette in 1993.[2] Writing for SLUG magazine, Scott Vice praised the debut album, stating "there are no stinkers on the tape". The opening song, "Pain", featured "classic ska instrumentals".[19] Hammond Chamberlain Brian Ibbott featured "Skeleton" on his podcast Soundography and complimented the horn section in the song.[20]