Some call it a shit hole, some call it a haven for art.
For the longest time, I had a strong digust towards Lancaster county. There was little to no music scene and what I knew of, I didn't like.
Then, after finding the "Spinart" compilation "One Last Kiss", going to more shows, and doing some research, I started to love my hometown.
Lancaster actually had an amazing music scene in the 1980's and 1990's. "Spinart Records" was founded in Lancaster county before moving to New York and features some of the most creative and talented musicians like "Lilys" and "The Apples In Stereo".
"Lilys" recorded their debut album "In The Presence Of Nothing" with the members of "Suddenly, Tammy!" at their recording studio "Cat Box" located in Lancaster, PA.
A lot of artists recorded at "The Cat Box". "Velocity Girl" recorded "Crazy Town" there and nearby locals from York, PA "Live" recorded a few demos there.
Bands like 'Suddenly, Tammy!" were from Lancaster and so is "The Innocence Mission".
"The Chameleon Club" is a nice venue in Lancaster and has been around for a long time. They featured many amazing bands both local and far away!
After the 1990's, the music scene started to change.
A bunch of metalcore bands became huge. Bands like "August Burns Red" and "Texas In July" were getting a lot of recogogniton. Then, the "folk punk" scene got huge.
Then, you have your indie rock bands and jam bands that want to be the next "Led Zeppelin".
I'm not trying to talk smack on these bands. They do what they want, a lot of them have talent and energy, and I respect that. I even like a few of them.
However, a lot of these bands are not my cup of tea and it made being a musician in Lancaster very difficult for me at first.
As I started to write the first "Vicious Blossom" EP, "I'm Disappointed In You", I was thinking to myself, "Who the fuck are we going to play with around here?"
Most bands did not have a sound similar to ours. I also felt that a lot of bands in Lancaster were typical and boring, and lacked emotion, creativity, and energy.
Then, I started to discover bands who shared similar sounds with us and soon, more bands began to form.
This here is a compilation of all the modern bands in Lancaster, PA that not only have a dreamy sound, but also contain an abundance of creativity, talent, energy, and emotion.
I want to thank these bands not only for contributing to this compilation, but for also restoring my love and hope in Lancaster.
Enjoy!
-Nate Zerbe
PS - Much love to Renato from "The Blog That Celebrates Itself" for making this happen and to Rachel Adshead for providing the photo used for the album art.
supported by 6 fans who also own “The Lush Sounds Of Lancaster”
The latest in their series of monthly releases finds SPC ECO very present, very much in the moment musically and lyrically.
Resplendent in the dream-y and beautiful warmth that I've come to expect from their sound, "4月EP April" is a rich blend of tones that sends the listener on a fantastic sonic journey.
Highly recommended. rikm
supported by 6 fans who also own “The Lush Sounds Of Lancaster”
I love Waking Up Again. Listening to it gives me this feeling of having felt sad for a while, then waking up, knowing that it'll change soon. cephalopoid
Melodic alt-pop in the vein of Soccer Mommy is driven by winding guitar lines and augmented with dreamy shoegaze elements. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 14, 2021
One-man project Vlimmer exists in the borderlands between post-punk and industrial/EBM, creating danceable darkness. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 8, 2022
L.A.’s No Swoon offer dazzling dreampop on this, their debut album, with feather-light melodies drifting over rolling guitars. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 9, 2022
supported by 6 fans who also own “The Lush Sounds Of Lancaster”
Wow! Y'all have outdone yourselves on this one. It is pure shoegaze noise bliss. Swirling like I did in my acid days to MBV. It's retro, it's modern, it's disconnect jagged edge. Custom Made In 1968