The Scones

The Scones originated in 1995 in the U.K. under the leadership of singer/songwriter Martin Shears, whose approach blended daring themes into contemporary pop while nodding toward alternative roots. Shears counted Elvis Costello and the Pretenders among his chief influences and only completed the lineup after relocating to the U.S. Ronnie Winters (guitar), Jeff Owens (bass), and Dave Schreck (drums) filled out the quartet, which then undertook widespread live appearances across the country and built substantial recognition. The band’s debut album, Do You Hear?, finally appeared in 1999, after which the four musicians kept momentum alive through an almost unbroken string of concert dates.