When Wayne Thompson got tired of the acoustic guitar scene where he had been performing for years, he telephoned a few old friends. A few calls later, he had a band.Thompson's friends are all veterans of the local music scene. Drummer Tommy Leanza formerly performed with Rupadupa and other bands. Keyboardist Jim Trostle had played at Strawberry Hill. Bassist Bob Frey came from the band South Street, while Elizabeth Kelly also worked locally. Since Frey's schedule would not allow him to be at every show, a second bass player, Mike Bitts, also joined the band. And both bassists may appear together at some shows.

"It's a really funky, kind of bizarre mix," Thompson says of the band's music.Steely Dan was a major influence on the band. Other influences range from Aretha Franklin, Van Morrison, Joan Osborn, and TLC. The band plays cover tunes for now. Originals could be in their future. With Thompson serving as lead singer and guitarist, the band began practicing in February. By September, the band had its first performances at McFly's and The Lancaster Dispensing Company. These shows were not only the band's first shows, but also marked the first occasions that Trostle and his former student, Thompson, played together in a band doing something they had talked about for years.

The Lancaster-based band would like to put out a CD someday, explains the lead singer, but for now, they are working on perfecting their act. "Right now, we just want to get through these first couple of jobs," says Thompson just days before their first gig as Saucey.