Day 3: The Final Conflict. Monday 6th October. Day of the Rat!
Eye bags are on the increase… an ASDA breakfast is sure to help!... Up by 8, out by 10 but not before Whitty eats three times his body weight in 'fry up'. We stride into the Midland by 11.15, following 20 minutes of blanket flyer action on the street outside the massive Manchester University. Now it's time for our noon interview with Ross, Tarquin and Juliette of Big Multimedia at The Tiger Lounge, for 15 minutes of TV interview fame on their soon to be launched IPTV Channel. Good luck and yes John (the Baron's new mate from Durham, they speak the same lingo you know man!) we're well up for a gig when things get off the ground. Soon back at HQ, table replenishment 407 is completed, followed by a mild panic as The Scratch say hi to The Molotovs (a band they had met last week at the Horn gig in St.Albans), when a ginger haired bloke is mistaken for Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens … not sure what he'll do with the 5 cds 3 biogs and 38 flyers? Still Xmas presents are sorted I guess?
Now it's off to Salford Uni for more of the same street team action, while incorporating a quick visit to the Pint Pot (scene of our 16th October date). The clock though is starting to tick very rapidly and there is a palpable lull in energy levels. Tina and Steve decide to hang out at the Midland, while the band go back to change for the final push!
As the make up is being trowelled on at the flat, Tina's sends a rapid volley of Text's Hooky's got a CD, Andy Rourke's got one AND John Robb, has agreed to bring Goldblade to The Horn in St.Albans for a gig!!!! "And now Whitty's chasing John Kennedy with a copy of Night Bus or Milk Train!" As you know Scratch fans we are consummately professional and are NEVER late for soundchecks (as uncool as that may sound), we keep up our record at One Central only to be tutted at on arrival, as we are informed we only have 20 minutes left… (don't worry, it'll only take a pro 5 minutes darlin!!!) … despite a slight technical hitch with a footswitch, the sound generally is very good ala Manchester, leaving us the time for one last Tressle table drop and then it's showtime.
Friends begin to arrive at the Hotel, Lucy and Clod, Mark (Tina told you it would be worth it mate!), Colleen, Super cool Sam, Merrily and a growing bunch of the curious, brilliant and brow beaten. *The guy (sorry can't remember your name) who was doing the Wii guitar hero in the basement of the Midland, promised to be there, JR's seminar ruled him out, but Tony and Denise of our PR company Manilla had just arrived and were up for their first full Scratch set!
Like dynamite, Numbers exploded into life and things never let up from there… Freakshow, You want the world, I Relax to Spiral Scratch, Against the Grain, the intensity never dropped, it was as though all the anticipation of the last 2 days had been distilled into one crazed demonic cocktail. As * said, as the final chord of Dear Maniac sang into the ether, "that's the liveliest show of the whole weekend", big thanks to all those who took the time, thanks to Mr.Coogan who snuck in, in time to leave an informed note on Tina's myspace today (the day after) saying how we rocked. Thanks we appreciate the time you all took to come along.
And, so that was it, In the City 2008, all that effort from Tina and Steve had culminated in the band delivering in equal measure for them, in our eyes the two real heroes of the weekend. (Big thanks to Paul for making the journey and wearing the tee btw). All that was left now was for a wind down beer, before the long drive back to St.Albans… there was a mild whiff on anti climax in the air as I'm sure you could imagine, it had been an intense affair. However there was one last Scratch on tour gem to tell you about.
A reflective Andy and Whitty, are sat down at the table we had populated since the gig and have become emersed in conversation about what was next, and how Steve could force John Kennedy to offer The Scratch a session, when suddenly Andy jumped up going "Er , what's that!, er aghh"… bewildered Steve looked on as in the style of frightened school girl Andy is shrieking "Er, get it off me" he promptly drops his trousers to his knees shaking booty violently! It turns out that while Steve and Andy chatted, Steve had felt something brush past his foot… just seconds before a RAT RUNS UP ANDY'S TROUSER LEG, ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP TO HIS RAPIDLY CONTRACTING BACKSIDE!… looking presumably for a way out! "Thank God I wasn't going Commando! As it was, despite only having a couple of pints, I had ended the night well and truly 'Rat Arsed!"
"It ain't rockin roll and I don't like it, like it no I don't."
It could only happen to our band…
Wow what a weekend, what a bizarre end and so as all fairy tales end, we got our record deal and lived happily ever after… well, that was the dream Andy was having as he, Grim and Whitty were chauffered back down the motorway by John, for another 2 o'clock finale… but this time it was bloody work in the morning. Who says life on the road ain't glamourous! Thanks to the lead singer of the band who followed the Underground Verulam showcase (The one we'd opened), who dedicated their first song to the man who had the rat in his trousers!
The extra special thanks however goes to Clint (really touched that you put us in your top 10 tips for the weekend on the offical site mate!), Charley (Hopefully see you in Salford on 16th for a spot of afternoon tea), Supercharged John Robb (let's get this gig sorted at the Horn mate), Martin Coogan (great to meet you at last), Grae at the St.Albans Arts Council, (for this great opportunity… looking forward to Trashville in November) …and as we've said before the true stars of this weekend Steve (I'm gonna get that Kennedy session Whittaker) and the amazing Tina, we love you.
Apologies to anyones names we've forgotten or not mention, total recall after a weekend like that, just ain't gonna happen anymore. We're already anticipating next year's later, more prominent spot! Safe in the knowledge that team Scratch could not have done anymore to get our name across to the great and good (and evil) of the music elite. Next stop Tea and cake down Salford Way!
One question remains however… Where did lager magnet The Baron get that case of Red Stripe he was carrying around all of Monday by the way?
xx
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