Lancaster

Lancaster says goodnight.It is my sad duty to acknowledge/announce that Lancaster has decided to say goodnight. This particular incarnation of the various Stone/Thwaits projects has been exciting and memorable and we are proud to have played with some of the great bands that make up the current Phoenix valley music scene. Most of you don’t really know who we are so you won’t care, but to those of you who have been our friends and have supported our few shows in the valley (especially our friends Maypop)—thank you. Reasons vary, but center around the fact that both Jon and I are approaching 30, have four kids between us, and are busied by many of life’s other (dare I say more important) engagements—like supporting a family.This is not the last you have heard of us, however. Jon Thwaits is currently playing bass in a great, if more traditional (and better paying), “bar” band called “3 Second Delay” who are playing shows regularly around the valley. Jon Stone will be busy over the next few months applying to various graduate programs in English where he hopes to begin study in Fall 2007. He is never one to quit the tunage though, so keep an ear out.Here are links to our other various projects:Jon Thwaits’ myspace site Jon Stone’s myspace site Jon Thwaits’ other band 3 Second Delay on myspaceTo achieve that super groovy sound, Lancaster follows the following recipe: mix some rockin' guitar parts with hot drum samples and poppy keyboards, then on top of it all add meaningful lyrics paired with melodies that you don't mind getting stuck in your head. Although drawing on a mixed bag of tricks, the band has an underlying thread that ties it all together, a thread that echoes the teenage rock band that started it all years ago.The 1990's had just begun and a friendship between 2 young musicians was just beginning. Jon and Jon met at a party in Tucson Arizona with acoustic guitars in hand, and they, along with 3 other friends started a band that would be the highlight of their high school years. They shared the roles of songwriter and singer, creating a full alternative rock sound laden with moody and introspective lyrics. It sounded like a mix of The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins and Weezer. Over the next years they continued collaborating on musical projects, though somewhat interrupted by life changing events such as family, college and moves.In the fall of 2004 came a bit of good fortune; they both found themselves living in the Phoenix area feeling more eager than ever to start a new project. Inspired by the distorted sound of a vintage casio keyboard cranked through a guitar amp, they put their equipment together and discovered that between the two of them they were making a really good sound. With the newly added electronic elements they put together a bunch of new songs and then they knew it was time to go public.