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ABANDONED SHIP 2003
All are Hempfield seniors:
-. Henry Koon, 18 (drums); Andrew
Molloy, 17 (guitar); Bryan Paradise,
17 (guitar and vocals);; Andrew
Simonelli, 17 (lead vocals,
guitar); Stephen Yeager, 18 (bass,
] vocals).
Origins: Freshman year, although
Henry, Andrew M., Andrew
S. and Steve played together
before that. That summer, Bryan
joined and the band started writ-
-ing music. Name came from: A seventhgrade
English vocab lesson.
Music: "We are still a cut-and paste-
type of band. We don't really
have a sound yet," says Andrew S.
But if they have to classify, then
"semi-progressive-indie-jam
band."
Rehearsal space: Henry's basement.
Places played: Hempfield's variety
show (opened; as freshmen
and closed ever since); the Syzygy
fund-raiser; the Hempfield Rec
Center, Coffeehouses; Eden Resort
and Mulberry Art Studio; and parties: birthday, graduation, pools,
firehalls.
CD: "Desert Drinking on the
Porch of Mr. Fihnegan's Diner,"
begun in November 2001 and completed a month ago. Has 11 songs.
Plans: to keep writing and recording
new material. - Lancaster New Era
In the local music jungle, the 900 lb. gorilla is "Abandoned Ship." Started as a project for music class in the seventh grade, their "semi-progressive-indie-jam band
sound gets them several shows monthly around the
Lancaster area. Onstage they mix a highly Improvisational
style with structured songs. Andrew Simonelli, 17, is responsible for lead vocals
and rhythm guitar. Andrew Molloy, 17, plays lead guitar. Steve Yeager, 18, plays bass and helps out on vocals and Henry Koon, 18, plays drums. What they're
doing now is a long way from their first performance of an instrumental song in
a middle school talent show. Their CD, Desert Prinking on the Porch of Mr. Finnegan's Piner has eleven of their original songs, well performed and produced.
All are graduating seniors at Hempfield High School and plan to continue to pursue music as a career, stay together as a band and continue to write music.
They practice at least once a week in drummer Koon's basement. When asked what
the most fun about their group was, bassist Steve Yeager says "We know how to
throw a great after show party!" Their musical influences include Phish, Yes, Grateful Pead, Dave Matthews Band and Oasis. Steve wants fans of "Abandoned
Ship" to know that "new songs are on the way, look for a new CD in the Fall." - Hempfield Suburban News
Discography
Frisbitar EP - 2004
Photos
Bio
Frisbitar Biography
Frisbitar formed in 1998, as a project for a 7th grade middle school class in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The instrumentation was two saxophones, piano, and drums. An instrumental song was written and performed for the school, the band performed under the name “Par 4”. High school brought a couple of member changes, a lot of name changes, and a few instrument changes. By junior year, 11 original songs were written and ready to be recorded. Recording took place and the result was an album called “Desert Drinking On The Porch Of Mr. Finnegan’s Diner” under the name Abandoned Ship. By this time the band was playing shows frequently and was able to sell a good number of CDs at shows. The band participated in many battles of the bands, talent shows, and competitions. They won nearly everything they entered and gained accolades in local press for their outstanding achievements at such a young age. They quickly became the outstanding local high school band of the Lancaster area, and won their high school’s talent show 4 consecutive years, as well as closed many local shows that had multiple bands on the bill.
• After graduating high school the next batch of songs that were written were distinctively more developed and mature. Each player’s skills had been honed, and the cohesiveness of the band was clear after five years of playing together. With a new and better sound emerging, and a new outlook for the future, one last name change was in order. The band is now called Frisbitar, and is a four piece “Semi-Progressive-Indie-Jam Band.” Almost all of the members are now through college with the singer graduating in 2008. Every chance possible sees the members getting together to record new songs and play shows on the east coast.
The band’s current sound melds influences from an extremely wide spectrum. Their Indie rock idols cross with their jam/experimental heroes to form a highly original sound. While capable of writing short, concise, structured songs with lots of movements, they are also capable of extending into uncharted territory with improvisational sections at live shows.
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