If you haven’t heard of The Lancasters yet, you’re missing out big time. This three-piece rock band have the ability to combine old and new, tradition and innovation in a blend that ranges between the best 1970s British rock and more recent expressions of volume driven rock’n’roll sounds. This is the field in which The Lancasters play their game, and they do it damn well. They have just release a brand new single called “Scallywag”, along with a crazy, ironic and exuberant video created by Stefano Vanoni.
How long have you all known each other?
We have known each other since we were lads rambling around the streets of Brescia, meeting with some friends at at a crowded fast food restaurant, listening to music and going to the same venues on Saturdays. It was like 10 years ago.
When you first started the band, did you have a sense of which type of music you wanted to make, or did it take a while to land on a sound?
We might say we already knew what we were searching for before the very first rehearsal and as a matter of fact that time we heard what The Lancasters would actually sound like. No filters and clear intentions to fuzz everything down to riffs and grooves.
You guys are based in Italy, but you seem to be influenced by British and American music a lot. What are your main influences?
They come mainly from British 60s/70s rock and progressive: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Weed, Orang Uthan, Rory Gallagher, King Crimson & many more.
What are some contemporary acts you follow?
We’re in love with new psych tunes like the ones from Tame Impala, Ty Segal and others more on the doom side like Electric Wizard and Sleep.
In an age when many young people prefer digital and virtual instruments to produce their music, why do you prefer the old school? Is there a way to make new technology and old technology work together?
We got tired about producing our music behind a computer screen, summing it all up to a comprehensible result. Dave and Steve love tape because they use tape machines to process almost everything they’re used to handle, so it came easy to think it all far from digital stuff from the very beginning of the recording sessions.
What is the most common mistake young bands make when they want to make their music heard?
They’re often pushed by excitement, to publish stuff forgetting what is the true value of their own tunes. We are used to turn on the radio or stream cold-heated songs which are always making their own way to a kind of social and artistic famine.
Is there a moment or memory in your life as a musician that you always want to hold onto? Or a moment that has taught you a lot?
We have great memories of our first LP premiere night at Lio Bar, so warm and crowded.We cheated with the promotion: we posted 8 billboards across the city of Brescia, in which we were going to be the opening act for The Strokes, so the people came asking for Julian and friends…we’ve blasted them out with our roaring watts.
Is there any band or artist that is completely outside of your usual references that somehow worked as an influence in your songwriting process?
Prince and his wise hands.
Scallywag and Goodnight are your new singles. They are very different from one another. Which one do you think represents the Lancasters’ sound better, if you had to show one or the other video to anyone who’s not familiar with the band?
Maybe the best way to introduce people to the sound we’re exploring is to let them listen to Goodnight because of its gritty vibes.
Will an album follow these two singles? When can we expect it?
We’re about to go to the Italian mountains in the North, to record our second LP. but before that we’ve got some fresh tunes to put in everyone’s ears.
Any fun facts or hidden talents you would like to share?
Steve is a fucking genius.
Any final thoughts or comments?
“Give me your shoes, I’ll be back soon!” Scallywag
