The Lost Patrol

The Lost Patrol is a critically acclaimed band hailing from greater New York City. Their music is an ever evolving, genre-defying wall of sound that has been likened to everything from gothic spaghetti western to experimental surf. Characterized by twangy-ethereal electric guitars, lush acoustic twelve strings, deep synth textures, and sirenic vocals, their cinematic mish-mash of sounds has clear connections to the band’s bottomless well of influences - yet the music of The Lost Patrol is a unique amalgamation unto its own. “We’ve jokingly assembled a list of artists that people have compared us to, and the number is well over 100 - with no rhyme or reason,” quips Stephen Masucci, the band’s founder. Masucci, born and raised in Rockland County, New York, recalls his obsession with music at an early age. “My dad used to play me old Shadows and Ventures vinyl, and it was from those records where the music of The Lost Patrol derives some of its earliest inspiration.” Michael Williams (TLP’s rhythm guitarist) is originally from Rhode Island, but eventually took up residence in the New Jersey suburbs where he immediately set himself apart from the mainstream. “Everyone was a metalhead or a classic rocker, which was cool, but I preferred Siouxsie & The Banshees.” Williams was a de facto member of the band from the beginning through his album artwork; however, he became a full-fledged member by 2003. In earnest, The Lost Patrol formed as an experimental project of instrumental soundtrack music that was to be an extension of Masucci’s contributions to auteur, Hal Hartley’s films Flirt and The Book of Life. Although the faces have changed over the band’s brief history, their signature eclectic soundscapes and captivating timelessness remained a constant throughout their vast body of work. Lending his efforts to the mastering process over the years is Grammy winner, Larry Alexander (Sisters of Mercy, Suicide and David Bowie).Joining forces with The Lost Patrol as lead vocalist in early 2008, is L.A. born Mollie Israel, who is the daughter of noted filmmaker, Amy Heckerling. Masucci heeded the advice of a friend suggesting that he scour Craig’s List looking for singer-songwriters. Eventually, he would stumble upon Israel’s humorous ad. While Israel had no experience playing in a band other than a few open mic and karaoke nights, she is a classically trained harpist and self-taught guitarist. Like many other young musicians of the new paradigm, she began writing and recording her own songs using the latest software. After belting out her audition, both Masucci and Williams were convinced that they had found their girl. “The chemistry was instantaneous!” Williams boasts. “I was looking to join a band for a while - and I even contacted a few of them, but everything that I heard was pretty cookie cutter,” says Israel. “After recording our first song, I knew this would work,” states Masucci.After only a few months of working with the band, Israel was already earning her stripes in the live setting, and shortly thereafter, the band came out with their seventh proper release, Midnight Matinee. Aside from receiving much critical acclaim, the album reached the 1 slot for multiple weeks on the Rutgers CMJ charts in the fall of 2008 and winter of 2009. Additionally, Matinee made the 2008 top albums list of Scholars & Rogues in Denver, Colorado, which also included the likes of R.E.M. and Nine Inch Nails.The Lost Patrol is currently in the studio writing and recording their next album, which is slated for an early 2010 release. In addition to playing up and down the east coast, the band has expanded their touring to the west coast, where they had the immense pleasure and privilege of playing the world famous Whisky A Go Go on the fabulous Sunset Strip. While The Lost Patrol still maintains their elegant mixture of cinematic soundscapes and retro-futuristic pop, they continue to grow and evolve with their most powerful lineup to date. The band’s music has received positive recognition from fans and critics around the globe, including far-off places such as Australia, Serbia, Japan and Peru - transcending the borders of nations and genres and creating a world of its own.,,