The Scones
Few bands play more than the Scones, the popular Phoenix-based alternative pop group fronted by transplanted Londoner Martin Shears. The group has played more than 2,500 shows since its inception, often playing up to four nights per week. The Scones, a seasoned live band, pride themselves on their impressive dedication to songcraft and a work ethic rivaling that of any big-time pop star, and have taken their sound to many major U.S. cities, Germany and to Shears? native England.
On the spring ?95 demise of his popular power-pop trio Curious Walk, Shears enlisted Viola/Mandolin/Guitarist Ike Marr, then-Gene Pool bassist Jeff Owens and drummer Dave Schreck (ex-Hucklebones, One) for a new group combining adventurous instrumentation with finely-honed pop skullduggery.
Armed with a handful of Shears? artful, muscular original songs and the uncanny ability to play damn near any pop song ever written upon request (or demand, often), the Scones?so named for the very British-ness of it all and their early years playing coffee houses?got busy refining their sound and drawing an ever-larger audience of loyal fans.
A few line-up changes followed: Guitarist Ronnie Winters (also of Gene Pool) replaced the departing Marr in ?96; drummer Scott Seymann replaced Schreck in 2000. Marr returned in early 2001, making the lineup a five-piece. Marr left the band at the end of 2003. Seymann has recently been replaced on drums by Dan Hunt.
The Scones draw on an ocean of classic pop influences from the familiar to the obscure in creating their own fresh yet timeless sound. Echoes of acts like Crowded House, the Beatles, Elvis (Costello, natch), Squeeze, Toad the Wet Sprocket, the Pretenders, the Clash and others are effortlessly reborn in the Scones? own infectious songs.
All of which can be heard to magnificent stereophonic effect on the Scones? highly acclaimed, swift-selling 1999 independent debut CD Do You Hear? The disc?s 10 tracks include the Scones? signature song ?Everyday?s a Saturday? (heard on WB television series Jack & Jill), crowd favorites ?Alice Available,? ?A Lot Like You,? ?I Wonder,? and the emotionally stirring ?Wouldn?t It Be Nice.?
A follow-up to Do You Hear? is in the works, as are further plans to tour the United States and Europe. The Scones? commitment to making great pop music will remain an end in itself, and they?ll continue to spread the pop gospel with utterly missionary zeal, baby.