A multi-colored room in Oakland’s Soundwave Studios is crowded with stacks of amps and speakers amid criss-crossed cables and cords. Two drum sets take up opposite corners, and empty beer cans sit on top of a poster for “Debbie Does Dallas the musical.”

Eight serious musicians are about to get down. They’ve met here to practice every Monday and Wednesday night for the past two years, some traveling from as far away as Santa Cruz.

Forrest Day consists of Forrest Day on vocals and alto sax; Terrell Liedstrand on guitar and back-up vocals; John Sankey on bass; Jasper Skydecker on drums; Nick Wyner on keyboard and back-up vocals; Dave Bullers on tenor sax; Dave Eaton on baritone sax; and Travis Whalen on percussion.

Three of the band’s members – Day, Liedstrand and Whalen – took classes at DVC, including some in the music department.

They have played San Francisco’s The Independent a number of times, as well as other Bay Area venues, including Love Fest last year in Union Square. They have done shows in San Diego and Los Angeles and as far away as Boise, Moab and Salt Lake City.

As practice begins, conversation turns to a Halloween show at a lodge just north of San Luis Obispo, a possible performance at the Monterey Rock and Art Festival, and a potential trip to Colorado.

As the saxes tune to the keyboard, the guitar and bass tune to each other, Day mentions recording and studio time.

He attended DVC on a jazz scholarship and played in the school’s jazz band. He also took a class in multi-track recording, which is how he makes his music now.

Day brings in his ideas, usually little more than a beat and a short bass-line, and from there a well layered song is born.

As one of the songs on this night progresses, Day shouts directions.

“Let’s speed this up,” he says of the tempo.

“That’s it, it’s perfect! Yeah!” he exclaims when Skydecker finally finds the exact beat Day has in his head.

Slowly the song becomes cleaner and more complex, as Day decreases volume here, adjusts tone there and runs around behind the keyboard.

Humming and singing, he adds in lines between a chorus and dances as intensely as at a show.

Liedstrand and Whalen took a MIDI class that focused on electronic music from instructor Mark Stidel.

“DVC has an excellent music program,” Liedstrand says of of his music history, music theory, and recording classes.

His parents, both musicians, play a style of music called, “Old Time.” Liedstrand grew up playing with them and performs on guitar, mandolin and banjo.

Day, Liedstrand and Sankey first played together in the Stanley Middle School band under the guidance of award-winning music teacher Bob Athayde.

Forrest Day started as Day’s solo project and drew members from another project of Day’s, Sitting Duck.

Day and Liedstrand were also in a band together at Acalanes High School and played house parties and town halls regularly with Sankey’s band.

Wyner, Skydecker, and Eaton are originally from the Monterey area.

The band plays Monterey Live regularly, selling it out at the most recent show.

These guys bring the party with them whether it is Boise, the Bay Area or Monterey.

“We have some good afterparties in Monterey, facilitated by Jasper’s mom,” says Whalen. “She’s an awesome woman.”

“All we’re doing right now is making runs outside the Bay,” Whalen says of their current performance schedule.

“There’s gonna be more recording, there’s going to be new EP releases, and next spring head out on tour.” T

he band’s next local show is Oct.17 at the Timeout sports bar in downtown Concord.