Playing their distinct brand of ska, this eight-piece band was like no other in Manhattan, Kansas. Guitarist David Spiker began playing with drummer David Darby and keyboardist Donnyves Laroque in fall 1995. Shortly thereafter, they added a 3-piece horn section and bassist Jayson Sullivan. Ruskabank went through two other horn players before settling on the classic lineup of Dave Studnicka (trombone), Jamie Rogers (trumpet), and Ben Schierling (tenor saxophone).