Dear Scratchers,
Wow what a night down the Horn on Thursday... the place was absolutely 'chocca' for the NSPCC Charity night organised by Andy and Whitty - (In Partnership with no-one)... 5 acts were crammed into an adrenalin rush of an evening, that included excellent sets from Whitty (solo, but with less attitude from less Stella!) and Cobra 'White worm' Kai... who despite having their suits 'trumped', weighed in with a great cover of one of Andy's all time fave Nirvana tracks 'About a Girl') Whitty also joined The Scratch on stage for finale track 'Out Faking the Fakers' and for a cameo role as 'Santa Barry', during Against the Grain. Despite the Baron rupturing his shoulder ligaments the band played with its usual ferocious intent, mixing it up a little for the 'diehards' with Independent Unrepentant getting a welcome airing and the ever popular Girls World 'popping up' for a boogie. Another big highlight was seeing Hugh and Mrs Hugh Davenport before (and after)... must have been ok then Mr.D ?!?
Huge thanks to Tina (doing the usual Manchester dash!) and everyone who turned up to make it a great night ... with over £750 made for the Charity too... The only minor panic on the night were the usual lost property, this time totaling, two coats, one phone, one set of keys and the fairy lights John had adorned his bass with... oh and Andy's new tonic suit strides of course, that following a particularly over zealous leap towards the Vince girls in the front row of the crowd, split his seam from here to breakfast time!!! Thank God for the last minute decision not to go Commando!
Can't wait for '09 now! We love you all and you know it you freaks!
xxx
Friday, December 19, 2008
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Scratching A Hometown Itch - Herts Advertiser
Dear Scratchers,
Here is the result of an interview Charlotte at the Herts Ad newspaper gave Andy... a few of the facts appear to have been, how can we say 'misinterprited'... but hell, why let the truth get in the way of successful story! Thanks Charlotte...
Scratching A Hometown Itch
16:37 - 04 December 2008
PUNCHY pop band The Scratch have returned from a nationwide tour and are now determined to conquer their home town of St Albans.
John Viney, Andy Thompson, Andy Grimwood and The Baron met in St Albans and have been playing together for seven years. With two albums under their belt and performances at gigs all over the country, the band have collected a strong basis of teenybopper support and celebrity fans such as Goldblade's John Robb.
But it all began with performances at St Albans pubs and lead singer Andy Thompson felt that it was about time they returned to their roots. He said: "We want to concentrate on being a St Albans band at the moment and winning fans from our home town. Our city produces great bands year after year and we're hoping we'll be the next ones to make it big!"
The band, who have performed alongside acts such as Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller, describe their music as funky pop laced with a bit of punk and include The Blur among their list of inspirational artists. They have played live sessions on radio stations such as XFM, when DJ Clint Boon praised their, "ace tunes and great spirit" and predicted that they'd go all the way.
The St Albans born and bred rockers spent last month filming here for their most recent single, Against the Grain, and they have also committed themselves to a weekly performance at The Horn starting in 2009, where they'll also play a special charity gig on December 18.
Against the Grain will be released next month and you can find out more about The Scratch and their up-and-coming performances at www.thescratch.co.uk
Here is the result of an interview Charlotte at the Herts Ad newspaper gave Andy... a few of the facts appear to have been, how can we say 'misinterprited'... but hell, why let the truth get in the way of successful story! Thanks Charlotte...
Scratching A Hometown Itch
16:37 - 04 December 2008
PUNCHY pop band The Scratch have returned from a nationwide tour and are now determined to conquer their home town of St Albans.
John Viney, Andy Thompson, Andy Grimwood and The Baron met in St Albans and have been playing together for seven years. With two albums under their belt and performances at gigs all over the country, the band have collected a strong basis of teenybopper support and celebrity fans such as Goldblade's John Robb.
But it all began with performances at St Albans pubs and lead singer Andy Thompson felt that it was about time they returned to their roots. He said: "We want to concentrate on being a St Albans band at the moment and winning fans from our home town. Our city produces great bands year after year and we're hoping we'll be the next ones to make it big!"
The band, who have performed alongside acts such as Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller, describe their music as funky pop laced with a bit of punk and include The Blur among their list of inspirational artists. They have played live sessions on radio stations such as XFM, when DJ Clint Boon praised their, "ace tunes and great spirit" and predicted that they'd go all the way.
The St Albans born and bred rockers spent last month filming here for their most recent single, Against the Grain, and they have also committed themselves to a weekly performance at The Horn starting in 2009, where they'll also play a special charity gig on December 18.
Against the Grain will be released next month and you can find out more about The Scratch and their up-and-coming performances at www.thescratch.co.uk
Classic Punk Spirit is still alive - William Eastment - Student Direct Magazine
Dear Scratchers,
We've just received a review from Student Direct Magazine in Manchester of our live show in Salford in October, big thanks to William Eastment for his thoughts...
"Independent Unrepentant." That's how the Scratch see themselves. They are doing their won thing and they want you to come along. If you don't want to, well it's no skin off their nose. They'll probably just keep partying.
It's the kind of attitude that comes from winning XFM unsigned, and playing to 20,000 people one week and 20 the next at a local boozer. Asked about their experience at the MEN Arena opening for Noel Gallagher, they didn't seem fazed. "yeah, Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, Ian Brown," they name drop nonchalantly. "It was all right" 20 or 20,000, it don't matter to these boys. They are just here to play and entertain. They arent driven by success, but by the will to just have a good time, a refreshing attitude in an industry that takes itself way too seriously. The Scratch are in high spirits tonight. Having just played 'In the City' earlier in the week, they are excited about the gig, but with stage time approaching, the venue is sparsely populated. Talk thus turns to the experience of playing high profile events such as 'In the City' whether they'll hit the big time or not: "What is the big time, you know? IS it TV, radio and hit singles or is it being in a band doing what you want to do? If you look at it in that respect, we are, in our minds, in the big time." Asked if it was more about having fans at the gigs, their response is decisive: "Absolutely. We're going to give away our four EP's next year... we're on our own label and we've got a dedicated fan base." With no record company pressure they are free to enjoy what makes being in a band so enjoyable - playing live.
That's not to say they want to stay out of the limelight, perpetually keeping themselves in the shadows of the musical underbelly. Entering and winning XFM unsigned and playing 'In the City' with its high media presence, this is a band living out their fantasies, but with aspirations of stardom. " Our hopes for tonight are to expose ourselves to the like of you (the media)," they say before breaking into raucous laughter at the innudendo.
Musically, like most acts they don't want to be pigeon holed. They have been compared to everyone from the Small FAces and the Libertines through to the Buzzcocks, The Damned and Human League. When asked about influences and inspirations, they are quick to move away from what has been said about them: "A lot of the time people will read and review and then judge us on the basis of what they've read, and a lot has been made of the Buzzcock's thing. If they came to see us, maybe they'd have a different perspective?"
And that is what this band is all about. Playing live in a raw, unadulterated style tonight, in front of what can be described as no more than a handful of people, they are completely in their element. It might be more a case of middle-age and mortgages than safety pins and revolution, but do-it-yourself attitude of the late 70's is well and truly alive in this group, who have released all their material to date on their own Ponyland records label and give away their albums on stage. When asked to sum up the band earlier, they struggled to find the right words. But on stage between songs, they found an appropriate tagline. "You're here; most of you are here for free. But you're pissed, and you're having a good time, what more could you want?"
Big thanks Will. Hopefully see you again soon.
The Scratch
xx
We've just received a review from Student Direct Magazine in Manchester of our live show in Salford in October, big thanks to William Eastment for his thoughts...
"Independent Unrepentant." That's how the Scratch see themselves. They are doing their won thing and they want you to come along. If you don't want to, well it's no skin off their nose. They'll probably just keep partying.
It's the kind of attitude that comes from winning XFM unsigned, and playing to 20,000 people one week and 20 the next at a local boozer. Asked about their experience at the MEN Arena opening for Noel Gallagher, they didn't seem fazed. "yeah, Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, Ian Brown," they name drop nonchalantly. "It was all right" 20 or 20,000, it don't matter to these boys. They are just here to play and entertain. They arent driven by success, but by the will to just have a good time, a refreshing attitude in an industry that takes itself way too seriously. The Scratch are in high spirits tonight. Having just played 'In the City' earlier in the week, they are excited about the gig, but with stage time approaching, the venue is sparsely populated. Talk thus turns to the experience of playing high profile events such as 'In the City' whether they'll hit the big time or not: "What is the big time, you know? IS it TV, radio and hit singles or is it being in a band doing what you want to do? If you look at it in that respect, we are, in our minds, in the big time." Asked if it was more about having fans at the gigs, their response is decisive: "Absolutely. We're going to give away our four EP's next year... we're on our own label and we've got a dedicated fan base." With no record company pressure they are free to enjoy what makes being in a band so enjoyable - playing live.
That's not to say they want to stay out of the limelight, perpetually keeping themselves in the shadows of the musical underbelly. Entering and winning XFM unsigned and playing 'In the City' with its high media presence, this is a band living out their fantasies, but with aspirations of stardom. " Our hopes for tonight are to expose ourselves to the like of you (the media)," they say before breaking into raucous laughter at the innudendo.
Musically, like most acts they don't want to be pigeon holed. They have been compared to everyone from the Small FAces and the Libertines through to the Buzzcocks, The Damned and Human League. When asked about influences and inspirations, they are quick to move away from what has been said about them: "A lot of the time people will read and review and then judge us on the basis of what they've read, and a lot has been made of the Buzzcock's thing. If they came to see us, maybe they'd have a different perspective?"
And that is what this band is all about. Playing live in a raw, unadulterated style tonight, in front of what can be described as no more than a handful of people, they are completely in their element. It might be more a case of middle-age and mortgages than safety pins and revolution, but do-it-yourself attitude of the late 70's is well and truly alive in this group, who have released all their material to date on their own Ponyland records label and give away their albums on stage. When asked to sum up the band earlier, they struggled to find the right words. But on stage between songs, they found an appropriate tagline. "You're here; most of you are here for free. But you're pissed, and you're having a good time, what more could you want?"
Big thanks Will. Hopefully see you again soon.
The Scratch
xx
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