Dear Scratchers,
The only way I can possibly think about writing this up, is by splitting it into 3 days. As per usual it is a tale of Euphoria, Heartache, sore feet, sore throats, frantic energy, high octane performance and of course vermin!
Day 1 - Saturday 4th: Watford Junction
Andy gets the train, to rendevous with the newly twisted knee'd Teenaw, Manager, Hotelier, Drinker and all round Super woman! Inside knowledge and a hefty pile of CD's mean barely 90 minutes from arriving at Manchester Piccadilly, the dynamic duo are at the impressive Midland Hotel, there's a line of tressle tables in the large reception hall, a place that over the course of this long weekend, will become the centre of everyone's universe. It was just starting to be populated with flyers and the kind of shiny merchandise band's design in the hope of mesmerising the dignitaries, liggers and general delegate hangers on, who have the power to be able to elevate the latest three chord wonders to Oasis and Arctic Monkey style prowess, with a simple nod of a head to the right person at their label.
Getting on In the City, is a bit like being a starving lion (the bands), locked in a glass cage, surrounded by a herd upon herd of juicy wilderbeast, all dressed in masquerade ball masks (the people in the know) roaming tantalisingly just outside the locked door. Though Manchester is a proper music city, where true giants of the industry actually dare to mix, laugh and enthuse with the great unwashed masses (there's no-way you could get an event like this in uptight London)… the rule that "it ain't what you know it's who you know" is still all too annoyingly applicable… The only way to get noticed as John Robb said to us, is you need to be "big bold and brash". Luckily for The Scratch, the 'dream team' of Tina and Steve 'not a skinny Zane Lowe look-a-like thanks very much' Whittaker, are masters of the art.
Prior to the Midland, Andy and Tina had visited Tina's mate Lisa's house for a pre birthday party drink… by 7.30, Andy was sitting in front of a can of Cider, a glass of Champagne and an Aftershock… Thus, on leaving the Midland, they were buzzing and our Tina was already on the blagging trail, getting them into One Central for free on the premise of sussing the venue out for Monday nights gig. Day 1 (Well half a day really) ended around 2am ish… with appetite for the task ahead, well and truly whetted.
Day 2 to follow!
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