The Sketties (their name loosely based on the pasta dish consumed for 6 months straight by one member low on cash) is an eclectic, high-energy five-piece band from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, that began in early March of 2007. After the first practice in the attic of an old barn it was evident to all that something special was taking place. Jonnie Wechter, Alissa Armer, Ben Hartranft, Mo Morris and Jesse Porter played their first show 2 weeks later. Since that time they have performed their all-original music across PA with stops in Pittsburg, Lancaster, Harrisburg and Philadelphia. The band has also made numerous trips north into New Jersey and New York City. Not forgetting their local communities, they have also donated time to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Cruisin’ For Cures Cancer Benefit fundraising events.
In late 2007 the Sketties released their first EP, called “The Desisive Sufficeit.” “The Decisive Sufficeit was our first attempt at proper recording as a band. It was recorded in the smoke-filled basement (aka the brig) of Jesse’s townhouse in the middle of Lancaster. The neighbors endured so much with very little complaint. “The Decisive Sufficeit” was reviewed and featured in the Fly Magazine- a music and entertainment publication in the Lancaster and Harrisburg region- as “A curious little collection that shows the band’s penchant for catchiness...lurking beneath an ocean of eeriness.” -Jeff Royer, The Fly Magazine

The band and their song “Upstream” was featured on the internet-based radio station Song Planet, by DJ Motmot as the featured artist of the month for February 2008. The band was also given honorable mention on Internet radio stations Zradio and Bohemio Radio. Bohemio Radio also named The Sketties artist of the month for March 2008.
“ “Upstream” is a clever composition of sounds and has given a new meaning to counterpoint. While managing to complete a melodic and catchy progression, they seem to amaze us with the use of their instruments. We are
happy to have such original music on our station.” Erik Wilhelm Sturm – Founder/Director Bohemio Radio
“The Sketties music is like taking two pieces of jellied toast and smashing them into each other to have a gooey mess of rock and roll goodness to get your grandma shakin in her pajamas.” Jonny at Zradio
The Sketties are currently recording their second project due out in early fall of 2008.The Sketties draw from a wide range of influences and inspirations including grunge, garage rock, acoustic, progressive, experimental, etc.... Each member brings his or her own personal influence creating a unique concoction of sound that refuses to be defined by a specific genre.

“Our biggest influence is the observation of human behavior and how weird THAT can be. The subject matter is often satirical, but also optimistic. The music we write is a sincere response to the lives we live and what we see happening around us.
“The Sketties honestly don’t sound like any one band I can think of. There are certainly elements of other bands that you can put your finger on – the fierce innovation of The Mars Volta, the druggy drive of Queens of the Stone Age, the roots-driven peyote-drenched free-for-all of freak-folker Devendra Banhart – but otherwise, their roots are as untraceable as iocane powder. The wonder of it all is that the entire musical carnival takes place inside a pop-song big top, resulting in something akin to the Talking Heads and Oingo Boingo swimming laps together in a pool of acid.” - Jeff Royer - The Fly Magazine
“There are so many ideas and not enough time. We’re all writers, and we all bring something different to the table. It’s so gratifying when five people of different musical backgrounds converge and something unique
is discovered. We do not try to sound like any one band basically because we’re totally unable to and also because it wouldn’t be as much fun. None of us have had any formal training. We’re all self-taught ear-players.
This band, for us, is kind of the beginning of a lifelong search for new and experimental ways of making music. We’re not trying to sound like anyone but ourselves.”
A live performance of The Sketties music is something of an enigma. It brings together high-energy upbeat melodies and twists it together with more sorrowful and introspective themes, all the while maintaining a lightheartedness that makes you want to dance.
“Our music might be more of an acquired taste, we think people enjoy our live performance mainly because we love to play and it shows. We really get into it and the audience seems to appreciate that.”
As The Sketties look to the future, the momentum builds and there seems to be no end in sight. They will continue to record and perform with an ever-growing archive of new material while making many new friends
along the way. The Sketties are able to accommodate venues of any size or style. From coffee shops to clubs, from back yards to festivals, they love to perform for anyone who enjoys hearing something new and exciting.

You can find them
www.myspace.com/thesketties
or contact them
thesketties@yahoo.com