Day 2:
Sunday 5th. Sportscity.
Up by 8.00, Andy is piling up the stacks of giveaway CD's, flyers, vinyl and press releases, they are going to use as bait for the day ahead, by 10.30, Andy and Tina are back at the Midland replenishing the tressle table and picking up the In the City programme/guide… which of course has managed to get the date wrong of The Scratch's showcase and omitted the photo that should have accompanied the 30 word biog. It's with world weariness, not disappointment we shrug, it's kind of par for the course for us, (the little details make the difference!)
Next it's rehearsal time and Ancoats finest, The Boom, Boom Rooms… Andy and Tina limp there for 11.30… set up the mics and sit and wait for the rest of the band and the aforementioned PR go-getter, Steve Whitty. John, Grim and Steve arrive around 12.45, but it isn't until around 2.00 that the Baron rolls up, having encountered horrendous weather (Manchester is amazingly gloriously sunny by the way!), Man City traffic and getting lost.
Tina at once Kidnaps Whitty and they head back off to the Midland, while the band decide which one of the 10 track set they need to drop to accommodate their two newies, Freakshow and You want the World.
An hour or so passes…
"Hold on, my phone's ringing", it's an excited Tina, "We've just met Clint (Boon ) and Charlie (Boon) getting out of a cab, just as we arrived at the Hotel". They're setting up Mrs Boon's cake stool. Sex, Cake and Rock'n' Roll! It's the new black in Manchester… "We're havin a cup of tea out of fine bone china, a home made cake and we've got Clint, DJing on two mini, portable antique turntables! … Oh and I've just seen John Robb… hurry up and get over here."
We didn't need to be told twice. After locking our gear in the studio and with a swift change of t-shirt and shoes in the street we set off.
On arrival at the Midland, sure enough, Clint was there, Charlie, John Robb and host of other delegates, hedgehog haired bands and balding muso types… sadly the tea urn had run dry, so it was lager and schmoozing time. Andy chatted to Charley about a possible appearance at the bands next Manchester gig in Salford on 16th October, Clint posed with the band holding one of Mrs Boons cake signs, while Tina was bending John Robb's ear about who, where why and what! (Go Teenaw GO!) A highlight of the day so far was an exclusive play of Goldblade and Poly Styrene's of (X-Ray Spex) new joint Christmas single to Andy and Tina on JR's ipod.
Grae Wall the promoter of our night (from the St.Albans Arts Council) was soon followed by Darren manager of The Culture (and former Infernal Racket DJ for who we sessioned in Feb), in saying high as we passed across the Midland's bar carpet, all too focused on our own missions to stop for breath.
As time got round to 5.30ish, Andy and the Scratch SWAT team, attended the summing up of the days events, with the amazingly busy but tireless John Robb as host… (Great work Tina for mounting the stage at the end and squeezing a CD into the palm of each of the 4 panelists... The Scratch duly, get their first mention on the official podcast!)
Everything is going well, it's bloody hectic, but no time for slacking, the only blip is Elizabeth from the BBC who Andy had approached earlier in the day re- an interview, ignoring her mobile for the rest of the evening… and the next day… (We've got your number now though lady, you don't think we're gonna give up do you?!)
Next stop is the Ruby lounge, John Kennedy is about to do a DJ set. 3 passes, 6 people, a quick flash of Andy's phone pic with Mr.Boon and a smile from Teenaw and we're in.
Quick as a lightening, Whitty is in the 'merch' bag and has already violated the DJ booth with a copy of Critical Mass. Our first direct contact with John Kennedy and subsequently our first play of a Scratch track by him (and now, no longer a Scratch virgin) Nice one Whitty!!!!
"It's Tina isn't it?" by now we've got celebs (not literally, cos that would've got us in NME at last!!!!) coming out of our ears! Thoroughly top bloke Martin Coogan (He of "Can you Dig it" , Revolution Radio DJ and now head honcho at Radio Republic fame)… tops a great day, as our entourage is now actually being noticed by the stars! Our Teenaw, the new face on the Manchester scene!
Not a bad day, Clint, Charlie, John Robb, John Kennedy and Martin Coogan. Let's bloody move to Manchester, was the cry as the cosy 6 some, gorged themselves on late, late Sunday night pizza. 2.30am looks like a good time for some shut eye. Thankfully there was no beer left in the fridge!
Part 3 to follow
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