The year was 4312, and a group of intergalactic all stars were traveling through the cosmos, liberating enslaved planets with the awesome power of their grooves. On their journey, they stumbled upon what had to be the most enslaved planet of all: Earth.

At least, that’s what members of Captain Funkatron and the Intergalactic All-Stars will tell you is how the band was formed. Composed of seniors Nathan McClendon, Ethan Levin, and Rachel Chang and junior Jack Matthews, Funkatron has made their presence as a band known throughout Manhattan High. From performing at Battle of the Bands to smaller gigs like Orange Leaf and Sisters of Sound, the band has been spreading their funky wannabe-metal thrashcore sound across Manhattan.

“It was definitely fun,” lead guitarist Levin said. “Once we started writing and getting together we knew we were going to be a fun group.”

Their practice space is just as unique as the band themselves. Surrounded by dismembered mannequins, coffee and trash, Funkatron’s practice may look like chaos to some, but to the band members it is perfection.

“It’s really like us just hanging out,” Levin said. “It depends really. If there is a gig coming up it can be really high intensity, as in we all try to stay focused on something and work until we get it right.”

Despite the high intensity of some practices, squabbles among band members are rare according to Levin. On the opposite end of the spectrum, most of the band’s practices are just the four members goofing off and having a good time.

“Practice is alternating sections of really focused practice and being really stupid,” drummer Matthews said. “Lot’s of inside jokes, goofing off. We have two modes–we’re either extremely dedicated or we’re getting nothing done.”

Despite the fluctuating productivity of their practices, Funkatron brings tons of energy to the stage and puts their everything into each performance.

“Performing feels like you’re falling apart the whole time,” Matthews said. “Every gig is unique, and no gig is going to be as good as your best practice.”

While performances and shows can be fun, not every show is the best, and every band has their favorites.

“Battle of the Bands was the most fun because we got a stage and an audience,” McClendon said. “The worst performance was probably at Orange Leaf, if you can even call it that. We didn’t ever really practice and we didn’t have our real instruments. We were making stuff up as we went,” McClendon said. “But we got $50, so there’s the yin and yang of doing that.”

At the end of the day, members of Funkatron want listeners to know a few things about themselves. They’re here to have fun and jam out. Listeners just need to “open their minds, and their third eye,” according to McClendon.

Shut down

Early February was a good time for Funkatron, when they made a splash at SubDeb with their mixed setlist of originals and covers. Dance participants had mostly positive reviews for the band, and Student Council was excited to have them back for this year’s prom.

After getting the vote from StuCo and the junior class, and as buzz began to spread about Funkatron at prom, the band was shut down by Manhattan High administration.

“Mr. Dunst and Rupe vetoed the Student Council decision based on that they don’t want to set a precedent,” Levin said of the counselor and activities director’s decision.

Administrators cut Funkatron from the list, in fear of this live performance making other student-led acts battling it out to see who would get to play at the next event. Basically, administration does not want school events to become a talent show.

The initial reaction from the band was confusion, according to McClendon.

“Everyone was so mad, we were like ‘what?’ Ethan wanted to do really passive aggressive stuff, and I was really passive about it.”

Despite the overall disappointment, the band hasn’t planned any sort of protest to their removal from prom.

“I think It’s so unfortunate that we can’t play but I respect Mr. Duntz even if I’m in a band and I’m supposed to hate authority,” Levin said.