Thanks for a great 09

Dear Scratchers,

Friday night brought to an end a highly successful ‘residency’ at our local venue, ‘Music Pub of the year’ the Horn, St.Albans… a year that’s seen, literally hundreds of people turn out to see the band, and featured true industry stars, Clint Boon and John Robb’s Goldblade, plus in our minds the best of St.Albans underground talent. Friday night was no different, with an excellent debut by Khalasars (keep you’re eyes peeled for these ‘brudders’), a storming main support slot from the newly (and quite wonderfully named) WE ARE WHITE WORM. Plus a triumphant, Herts debut for up and coming Bath band - Recode.

All excellent performances. However the most excellent and ones we’d like to congratulate most... are you, the fans, friends and family, who without your love, support, insanity! We couldn’t, wouldn’t and probably shouldn’t have achieved so much.

With the Baron’s passing. God rest him and his monocle as he retires to his country retreat, to focus on his 3 remaining loves: Family, MD’ing and his beloved Fosters, The Scratch move onto pastures new. There are already two or three potential ‘Lairds’ in waiting, so watch for a plume of aromatic smoke from the chimney of Ponyland towers or keep your facebook/myspace/twitter alerts close to your ears/eyes/noses and throats for as soon as a successor has been sworn in/at, you will be the first to know.

Have a brilliant Christmas and New Year, keep telling all your mates about the Teen Idol vid…and we’ll see you in 2010 for more crazy affronts to the musical fabric of your lives. We love you all.

The Scratch
x

Bye Bye Baron

Ach hum… (with a clearing of throat and wipe of the eyes)… Friday December 11th sees us entertaining you with two brand new bands for St.Albans… ‘Recode’ (from Baron country) down in Box, Wilts http://www.myspace.com/recodeband And Khalasars… (who are so new, they don’t even have a demo!), plus, of course ‘able’ assistance and main from our side kicks/straight men/ stooges/fall guys/HEROE’S… Cobra Kai (Aggh you’re just jealous, they’re the White Worm Boys!!!) … that’s not all however… for not only will this gig be the last one of our Horn residencies, our Christmas party and chance to say thanks to you all for your amazing support in what’s fast becoming our most successful year… it will also be the last gig for The Baron, who due to family, work and travel commitments (the unenviable commute from Bath), will be hanging up his monocle after 6 years in the band, The Baron (at the time living far more conveniently in St.Albans), joined us in 2002, just at the point of us releasing ‘Spiral Scratch’, he was there for our debut gig our unofficial debut in Coal Aston, Derbyshire in April 2003 and our official one on May 10th at Jacksons Lane community centre, though half of DIY had been recorded prior to his joining at our notorious pony virus nights!... he featured on the remainder and helped shape us into the more rock style band we are today… But it was with Night Bus or Milk Train he truly stamped his mark, contributing not only drums, but Jobby Fingers too!!!, Following the release, the dynamic shifted a tad, when he took a good job opportunity down in Bath, which whilst on one hand making rehearsal more difficult! (just the 4 hour round trip!), it didn’t hinder the bands progress, in fact to the contrary on the success front, with 2007 signalling a shift into the big-time with our M.E.N. performance, Clint Boon, XFM and all the great stuff that has followed. So, it is with heavy heart, but wishes of luck in the future that we announce his departure and hope that for all those reasons and just an excuse for a plain old festive knees up, you can make it down to buy The Baron a fosters! How can you refuse the invite to join us on Friday December 11th from 8.15, for the special price of a mere £4 (in advance)/£5 on the night!!!!

Roomthirteen interview with Andy

The Scratch Interview
Thu Nov 19 06:58:50 2009

The Scratch Interview

by Abi Plunkett
Room Thirteen caught up with The Scratch for a chat. Andy Scratch was kind enough to answer some questions so we could delve deeper into The Scratch. Here's what he had to say:

R13: For those that don't know you yet, can you sum up The Scratch in one sentence?
Andy Scratch: Five blokes addicted to music. Independent! Unrepentant!

R13: How did you all meet and how did The Scratch come to be?
AS: John and Grim were mates from a previous band. I met John at a party and got chatting about music. The three of us decided to form a band. I then met the Baron at a wedding and he joined in on drums. Steve, who used to work with Andy, is the newest addition. He joined the band after standing in for the Baron on the video shoot for our track ‘Against the Grain’.

R13: What sort of music did you listen to when you were growing up?
AS: All kinds from Be Bop Deluxe to T.Rex, from The Specials to The Damned, from New Wave through to Acid House, Grunge and Brit Pop… a whole lot of different bands…

R13: Have any of these artists influenced your sound or have you been inspired by other acts?
AS: I think we sometimes get pigeon-holed in the late 70’s sound. Sure we were influenced by punk and new wave, but equally, by the Kinks, Bowie, Blur and Happy Mondays.

R13: 2009 saw you releasing your third album; have you been pleased with the response to the new album?
AS: It’s funny. Unlike our previous two albums that have been generally really well received, it’s done the Marmite thing: either people have got it or not. The great reviews have been really great, though.

R13: Having the rave reviews from the live shows to your latest album, does this ever put pressure on you?
AS: No, ‘cos at the end of the day, there’s absolutely no pretence with us. We aren’t wannabes. We are what we are: 5 hard working blokes with a sense of humour who love writing, recording and playing live. We’d like to think and hope that comes across.

R13: You're based in the London area, which can be a big place for emerging bands to make a name for themselves; do you feel that the London music scene is a supportive one?
AS: Funnily enough this year, other than our successes on tour dates Unsigned Chart; we’ve kept the London dates to the minimum. Due to the huge saturation on the circuit, we’ve concentrated more on our home town of St. Albans and have played 4 hugely successful residency shows putting on our own bands at The Horn. These include tempting Goldblade and Clint Boon down from Manchester to play.

R13: How would you describe your live shows to someone who has not seen you before?
AS: Explosive, beer stained, chaotic, funny, exciting, fun, and unpredictable.

R13: What makes a live show great? How much does an audience contribute?
AS: The ingredients for a good show are simple: 50% band, 50% audience. It doesn’t matter how good the band is if there’s no-one there to see it which is why we work so hard to get people down to our nights.

R13: Are there any goals that you want to achieve musically? What would you like to bring to the music industry?
AS: Obviously, it would be great to develop our label, to give up the day jobs and devote even more time to all our projects. We’d like to bring back The Factory, New Hormones, DIY spirit back, make things collectable again, vinyl, badges… be cult.

R13: Are you a fan of social networking sites and do you believe they are the best way for a new act like to break through?
AS: We are and we believe they are a great way of doing so, but you still need contacts and 90% luck. It’s a marathon but very satisfying when you reach the stadium and hear the crowd cheering you home!

R13: As 2009 starts drawing to a close, what's been your highlight of the year so far?
AS: Hard to pick one, but in a nutshell if you don’t mind, it’s hard to pick only one from… Our gigs with Goldblade and Clint in St. Albans, releasing the third album, our London Tour dates number ones, playing In the City in Manchester again! And the endorsement quote from Marco Pirroni (big hero!) topped the lot!

R13: What are your plans for future; anything on the cards for 2010?
AS: Next up we are going to be re-releasing/remastering our little known first album DIY for the iTunes generation… we’re putting out a limited 100 7” vinyl of our debut single ‘I Relax to Spiral Scratch’ and adding a couple of new mixes. Plus we've already started work writing new stuff for the next album... so yeah…bring on 2010!

R13: Finally, is there anything you want to let the fans and the people soon to be fans know about The Scratch?
AS: If you like good old fashioned Rock’n’Roll, delivered with an electronic twizzle, a swagger and more than a dash of humour… check us out!

The Scratch’s album ‘Whatever Happened to Friday Night?’ is out now and you can follow the band at www.thescratch.co.uk or www.myspace.com/thescratch.

A mother 333 of a show!

Dear Scratchers,

It was with not a little fire in the mind, that The Scratch took to the 'floor' at mother bar last night, stung or at least a little indignant at having to drop Dial Xero from the set, due to a rambling performance from the previous band... (urggggg)... however, as long as long as its channelled, anger can be an EN-ER-GY... and on this occasion it was and positively so!...

The assembled throng, of hand picked Hoxton, die hard Scratchettes, PR and Radio aficionados were treated to a 12 track set that spanned the 7 years of the bands output to date. From Alcohol's a depressant to Teen Idol, The Scratch delivered a veritable fondant fancy of a show, served up with a crashing Dear Maniac posing as the glistening the cherry!

By the close, there was a furious frenzied vibe bouncing from the flock wall paper, off the windows, round the mirrors and back off the crowd, as the writhing Andy (entangled in beer soaked mic stand and black tie combo), and the almost literally 'fly on the window' routine from the 'Jack in a box' Filthmeister brought finale Smell the Gas Taps to a howling cresendo... to coin an appropriate phrase for the surroundings, it was 'vintage' Scratch!

Great big thanks to Jord for coming down after Andy had previously appeared on his recharged radio show, (featuring a rare, but welcome outing for Undercover!), to Lana for bringing her elegant entourage, gorgeous Rosie and her fairy dust felines, the marvelous, Mr.Mckewan, celebrity duo Ryan & Kelly, Smoky J and all the others who bopped, sang and boogied on a truly enjoyable night in the smoke.

So, one more to go for 09, let's absolutely ram the Horn guys, lets party like it 2 THOU SAND and 9!!!!
xx

Great new review from TSM Radio

Dear Scratchers,

Great big thanks to Tiff and Aynz at TSM Radio for this great review of the new album...

Album Review: The Scratch - Whatever Happened to Friday Night?

powerpop punk rock the scratch tiff woosley uk

Thursday, 29 October 2009
Written by Tiff Woosley

Something wicked this way comes. I am fairly certain that had The Scratch been around at punk rock prime time, they would have given the likes of The Buzzcocks and The Who a jolly good run for their money. It has been some time since this more classic style of punk rock has graced the airwaves, and I think that really, it's about time. Make way for The Scratch, a five piece hailing from St. Albans who, since their debut in 2003, have really known how to make some noise.

THIS ALBUM IS A SHINING BEACON OF PUNK ROCK FINESSE

Their album Whatever Happened to Friday Night? is a shining beacon of punk rock finesse. The band manage to maintain their traditional sound throughout, with near-Elvis-style tones in Freaks of the Daylight and riffs that would make fans of The Clash go weak at the knees in the album's title track, Whatever Happened to Friday Night?. Having said this, the album allows room for innovation and modern twists. Glimmers of more modern indie gleam appear on tracks such as Freakshow, Independent & Unrepentant and, in particular, Destroyed by the Look of Love, proving that The Scratch are more than just ‘more of the same'.
Against the Grain showcases the talents of the lead vocalist, accompanied by riffs smoother than a baby's bottom (in a good way, of course). The vocals are noteworthy in their raw yet polished delivery, which in turn epitomises the beauty of punk rock. Too Busy Thinking About Me turns the dial down a notch, but only to show a softer side to the band's abilities particularly in light of the lyrics and rich tones used throughout. Actually thinking about it, most of these tracks would not seem out of place on the soundtrack to Quadrophenia, which just goes to show that The Scratch produce noise that is nothing less than rock'n'roll.

If a more upbeat style is your cup of tea, then please take a sip of Girl's World. Its lively melodies make it a track that will most definitely have your toes a-tapping. Flicker also offers a bouncing beat mixed with reminiscent lyrics, again displaying the band's many talents; it's a definite album gem. With You Want the World is a dynamic anthem for the noughties and a great addition to an album that impresses all the way through.

Having made appearances on stages nation-wide, The Scratch have proven that not only can they record well but boy, can they play live. Having been victorious at the XFM Unsigned competition with their track Numbers, the band won the opportunity to appear on the line-up for Versus Cancer along with Paul Weller, Ian Brown and Echo & the Bunnymen. And I can only imagine that an audience with The Scratch would be nothing short of a reflection of their utter vibrancy as performed on record. Whatever Happened to Friday Night? was released on Monday 12 October, and taken from the album, their new single Teen Idol is due for release by the end of the month. Teen Idol bundles up all that their album has to offer in one little, bite-size morsel of punk-rocky goodness; it's definitely worth a listen.

In conclusion then, it is one very big round of applause to the boys whose album is, in all its gutsy glory, absolutely one of which they can be proud.

Thanks Tiff, amazing
x

In the City 2009...

Dear Scratchers,

It had been a year since The Scratch had played Manchester, well Salford to be exact and just over a year since our first appearance at In the City… on this occasion it had been a rather late run thing compared to last years ‘blanket CD bombing’ of the Midland Hotel. Where The band, Tina and then purely ‘mate and helper’ out Steve Filth staked out the merch table and bar area of the festivals HQ, chasing, hustling and hassling to get the ‘power core’ of the nations musical ‘tastemakers’ to sneak a peak at the next big thing (US!!!)…

As you know however, (if you’ve been following the drama)… the main talking point, despite super human endeavour, sadly was the rat that invaded Andy’s trousers… Hence the more laid back approach this time around…

Andy led the advance party with Him and Tina attending said merch table around 7.30 on Saturday night (the night before it all actually kicked off) and leaving 10 minutes later having created their own shrine to The Scratch, by way of flyers, badges and giveaway CD’s….

The Day of reckoning began with a text from a concerned ‘Filthy’, asking Andy if he was awake and that he’d been to John’s to meet with him and Grim to drive up, but had got no answer. The minor panic was soon over (John had been retrieving amps from his garage!,,, (sounds like a medical complaint?!)… So slightly behind schedule the long drive began around 10.30.

Meanwhile, with Andy shivering in the typically grey Mancunian air, he Tina and Tina’s bloke Paul hit the Asda food hall for a mega breakfast and a jumper!... fed and clothed for £10 (bargain!) …

The Plan was to meet up at the ever aptly named Boom Boom Rooms (a converted Mill in Jersey Street, Ancoats the heart of the Industrial revolution) at around 1/1.30 for rehearsal and an interview with Stockport FM’s John Culley…. The Boom in studio 2 was akin to being bunged in a tumble drier with an average small venues PA system blasting muffled blasts of hardcore… so we didn’t linger past a set run through and alighted to the town centre for a beer and one last check of the merch table.

The Midland definitely didn’t seem as busy this year, there was no ‘lurking’ John Robb, no Mrs Boon’s tea party, just a mix of ‘On a jolly’ weekend Music Biz types, looking unshaven and ‘important’ and old Grannies drinking tea… oh and of course our favourite stalker subject Steve ‘One day he’ll see the light!’ Lamacq!!!!!! Andy had been banned (by the band) from handing over the album to him as, from the look in Steve’s eye last time he ‘bumped’ into him, a court order at the least could have quite easily been forthcoming. So with the legendary intro, “Hi Steve, I’m Steve”, Filthy handed over the 8th or 9th different Scratch release of our careers to the impermeable DJ.

Pint drunk, it was time to head off to the venue, Jabez Clegg in Portsmouth Street, situated in the heart of the Manchester university district.

The aforementioned John Culley hadn’t managed to make rehearsal, but as the cars pulled up outside the venue, Andy spent a thoroughly pleasant 10 minutes recording a potted history of the band for John’s show to be broadcast later that evening…

The Promoter, a cocky, brash sort of chap, ‘welcomed’ the band in, and pointed us to stage 3… The room was cavernous and ‘pew’ lined, with disciples of the beautiful game transfixed by the big screen as the The Scratch set up.

The usual Manc organisation and legendary care at their musical venues, had obviously been stretched massively thin over the 150 bands and 30 venues, resulting in a ramshackle backline. One cymbol stand and a broken bass amp, were relative blessings however, compared to the two giant brown radiators that blasted out what felt like the harnessed rays of an all too distant sun, through out the 25 minute set… still, all this shit is sent to try us… it wouldn’t be The Scratch if things went smoothly!...

However as you know adversity and The Scratch are firm bed fellows, as thankfully is the ability to pull out a great performance and from the assembled students at the front, a great reaction too… ‘That was awesome’ came the collective shout as the dripping wet 5 some descended the three steps (from Heaven!)…

A quick chat to Tina and Paul, a last swig of tap water and it was back down the motorway… sweaty, but unbowed.

Who says Rock’n’ Roll aint all glamour!

Number 2 in the charts though eh! (somebody up there’s smiling on us!)

Next stop Mother bar.

Fireworks as the launch party goes off with a bang!

Dear Scratchers,

Before the nitty gritty, the thanks… Dan, Dan and Dan for services beyond the call at the merch table, to Sian and her gang for earning their albums with a non stop dance fest that would have left Brucie gasping his last, Hugh D for multi-tasking for the umpteenth time and last but definitely not least, everyone of you who bought a CD, danced all night and allowed us the indulgence of an encore… (twice!)

Oct 2nd began wit anticipation and excitement… the giant banner was fluttering outside the Horn, advance sales were better than ever and despite a couple of inevitable set backs* the road ahead was paved with golden light streams all pointing to the same place. The Scratch’s third album launch party.

Following a worrying good rehearsal (as they are the times where the mistakes are supposed to be eradicated!)… the list of tasks was handed put to the heroes of the hour. Rush hour ain’t the best when you’re on a schedule, but by the turn of six, amps were being loaded, kits assembled and balloons being pumped…Unfortunately Steve the soundman was ill*, but big thanks to Bill (Bob) who stepped in to save the day… As Grim pumped, Filthy organised the Dan’s on the merch stand and the Baron tightened his skins, John and Andy made the very short journey over the road to the upstairs studio of Verulam Radio, escorted by host Chris… Big thanks to the team of this tiny local station and all power to you guys for trying to get a genuine St.Albans music show organised for the ‘kids!’… You want the world and the ‘snowballing’ teen idol got dual billings to top and tail the latest 15 minutes of fame…

By now soundchecks were under way… Televised Crimewave were stuck in the London exodus M1, M25 take your pick, so Alias, followed The Scratch, with Cheadle’s Cobra Kai passing the backroom.

Like the shop keeper in Mr.Benn (Kaboof) our comare for the night CRMK DJ and all round top bloke Hugh Davenport appeared (the line up was complete)… no sooner had he ordered a beer than he was leaping on stage and cracking the funnies!… Cobra Kai our adopted gig openers, never disappoint and with beautiful pathos they took to the stage resplendent in White worm t-shirts, (If you don’t know the significance… it’s time you stopped reading and did some research!) Brilliant stuff guys and not least the cover of the Beasties ‘Fight for your right’ … “Ah Ma you’re just jealous we’re the White Worm boys!”…

Battle of the bands winners Alias were up next putting in a sterling 25 minutes… then as the alcohol began to kick in, Andy was carrying at least 3 birthday beers at a time, thank you!) Televised Crimewave were up raising the stakes and oozing London Indie cool from somewhere close to 1983… screaming blondes, desert dry northern humour and tables… how would, how could The Scratch match that?

Dan, Dan and Dan were soon instructed to relax, following their endeavours as the previously sparsely populated backroom, began to throng. At the beginning of the year we’d set out to build a local following up at the Horn and on this evidence 99% of people were here for The Scratch.

In a majorly revamped set… Numbers was to be rested for the first time in two years… The Launch Party exploded with the first chorus of title track ‘Whatever Happened to Friday night’ We’ve had some great crowds down the horn this year, but Friday nights was easily the most enthusiastic… Filthy was already exhibiting a split personality that veered between unhinged and mischievous, as he toppled equally in balanced Andy during the mid 8 freak out of Critical Mass… There is a proper roar and absolutely audible sing along's these days…. It goose pimples the pimples for sure… Andy and Grim even unleashed new Hamer guitars on Freakshow, but the feeling of all round oneness could not be bettered after Andy dedicated ‘Teen Idol’ to one of our greatest supporters this year, Recharged Radio’s Jordan… the room was rocking and it just kept going for Strange 4play and final (!?) track of the set Dear Maniac!

The crowd streamed their approval as Hugh leaped to the stage and willed the boys back for an encore (well you can at your own launch do can’t you!)… and so they did leading with You want the world and stretching as far as Girls World and original DIY track Rotten Soul (not seen live since 2004)… Andy (Did I mention Birthday Boy?) whose suit had shimmered in the ‘borialal’ stage light all night, was at once beer sodden and patchwork camouflaged as he cavorted, rolled and somersaulted from the pit to the equally swimming stage to Gas Taps and newly untethered Fakers…

Sonically it was getting a little ragged to say the least, but visually nothing less than 100% entertainment… One more shouted Hugh… YEAH shouted the crowd… and so as a slightly over egged, but brilliantly ended I relax to Spiral Scratch finally brought down the curtain, The Scratch left the instrument, beer and body strewn stage to huge applause… what a great success…

As we’ve said all along, our LONG journey, we are only half the story, 'cos without you, we wouldn’t be. So as much as the band took great delight from such a fantastic evening, you share at least half the credit. Thank you.

So, work done, there was a birthday and a launch drink up to attend too. Fun, Fun, f…. frickin hell* … as in many a company, corporate organisation, football club, and especially a band! times when certain things occur/get out of hand that are never made public and are left to rumour and legend and finally grow into the most juicy section of the book written 20 years later in acrimony....anyway as I say you’ll have to wait for the book!… But I have a feeling a booze ban will be tabled at the next AGM!

The Scratch as a band have been together since 2001, as a live band since 2003 and a 5 piece since 2009… as I write 2010, we will be reverting to a four piece… Hopefully for a short period… as we look for a new drummer. They say in show biz go out on a high and you don’t get much higher than the album launch party, so it was a good time for The Baron to announce his retirement, and no, not due to artistic differences (although I could never get that Linkin Park CD!) due to work and family commitments. It’s been massively difficult as many of you know for him to commute from Bath for the last 3 years since he moved from St.Albans, so its with a heavy heart, that the rest of the band and I’m surely all of you who have seen him perform with us bid The Baron fond adieu. You will get your own chance to wish him well though as his final gig will be our Christmas party at the Horn on Friday 11th December. It’s good we can all finish on great terms. The Scratch is more like a family than a band, with all the same ups and downs you get, but we will remain great friends and no doubt call on him again especially if we get invited back to box next year!!!

Blimey… told you!*… Obviously this now means we have a vacancy, so please don’t be shy, we’d like to be up and running as soon as in 2010, but he’ll be a hard man to replace.

Bombshells, birthdays and booze ups… it’s all rock’n’roll innit.

Thanks to Hansi for the birthday beer and Biffy for managing the evening from the control room… best of luck with that.

Finally, a mention for the two notable absences on the night, Sam Vince, the star of the album cover art and indeed the new Teen Idol single cover and Tina our manager extraordinaire who for varying very good reasons weren’t able to attend. Thanks for all you did to help make it such a memorable album 3.

Four residencies down, one more to go…

See you for the Christmas finale Horn goers and of course In the City and Mother.

And in the words of the newly reformed Specials we leave you... "It's the dawning of a new era!".

PS don’t forget to visit www.tourdates.co.uk/the-scratch for your FREE ‘Teen Idol’ radio edit download, it’s not on the album!

x

Clint renews his vows of love!

Dear Scratchers,

Yee of little faith! Just when you thought Clint had ridden off into the sunset, his work done, never to be seen again following his triumphant night at the Horn, he's back with another amazing eulogy...

"Not only are The Scratch knocking out some of the best new punk rock in Britain today, they’re a pleasure to watch live too.

Everything’s right about them. The sound, the look, the spirit. I’m a fan for those reasons.

Fun to hang around with too. Although I’m not sure about all that late night cross dressing / sex toy experimentation that goes on back at their place after gigs.
Ah well, each to their own, that’s what I say.

Onwards and upwards Scratch people. The new album’s f**kin ace!
Clint Boon 29.9.09"


What can we say Mr B.

You're the greatest bro!

x

Freaks of the twilight - A rock opera down Milton Keynes way!

Dear Scratchers,

Hopefully, on this occasion words are unnecessary because you all tuned in to the show… but for those with commitments beyond the reaches of rock’n’roll (maybe Powerpoint enthusiasts or reality TV addicts?…) firstly shame on you! Secondly and luckily for you, here is your opportunity to catch up on what the real cool kids get up to on a Thursday evening.

Anyway… on with the show.... It was 8.40 and John and Andy were there, but there was no sign of Hugh…

The content of Hijack 3 (as it had been billed for months on our myspace)… came as somewhat of surprise to the hero of the piece - DJ and all round aficionado of ‘allsorts’ (‘Huge’) Hugh Davenport, who on being ‘papp snapped’ on Andy’s camera phone as he entered the building, offered the reason that he had been delayed as… “I’ve just spent ages, getting the playlist together…” Er, ‘Hughston’ we have a problem… (… despite the fact that Hijacks one and two had been entire 2 Hour Hijacks of the show, there seemed to be a fleeting notion that ‘other’ music would have a vehicle!…) Fortunately, this misunderstanding didn’t last as, Mr.D being the ‘shockjock' and ‘out there’ hedonist he is… literally tore his notes to shreds.

At last it, I hear you sigh, on with the show....

The plan (from the band) was to ‘treat’ Hugh and his listeners to a play of ‘Whatever Happened to Friday night?’ in its entirety… interspersed with tracks from the bands that helped influence and inspire the album… Hugh by now, playlistless was of course powerless to resist.

With Ian, DJ from the previous show still ‘lurking’ (get it eh… in joke….) in the studio (or was he trying to squeeze past Andy and John without being press ganged into a flyer for the launch do????) giving the whole place a semi manic/semi saunaesque locker room feel, all boded well for a fun night in…

‘less twiggage Hugh, less, less’

…. However with a Kabuff… (and a puff of smoke), as soon as it had begun, it ended, like all good fairy stories on the witching hour…

Much merriment, abandon, text messaging and plenty of lost threads had been had… aided and abetted by tales of Marco, Jordan, Recharged Radio, 3 Counties, Stuart Pearce, The Green Room (which John did a great job of denting!) and even speed camera on the Lower Luton Road (bastards!)… and of course the food for all our souls … The Rock’n’Roll.

1) Whatever Happened to Friday Night? – The Scratch
2) You want the world – The Scratch
3) There goes Norman – Undertones
4) Deutscher Girls – Adam and the Ants
5) Against the Grain – The Scratch
6) How beautiful you are – The Cure
7) Girls World – The Scratch
8) Jackie Says – The Wolfmen
9) Teen Idol – The Scratch
10) War Dance – Killing Joke
11) Freaks of the daylight – The Scratch
12) Flicker – The Scratch
13) Predicatable – The Kinks
14) In the heart of the city – Nick Lowe
15) Too Busy thinking about me – The Scratch
16) Freakshow – The Scratch
17) Metal Guru – T.Rex
18) Fiction Romance – Buzzcocks
19) Independent Unrepentant – The Scratch


Seriously though, for all those of you who remember what evening radio used to be like without ‘playlist hell’, The Ecletic Plectrum is well worth a listen and from what we heard of Ian’s show before, don’t just restrict yourself to 10-12pm on a Thursday… these guys know their music and play it with easily as much passion as the teenage wanabees down your local battle of the bands competition, so check um out… www.myspace.com/eclecticplectrum / www.crmk.co.uk

Many, many thanks to Hugh and we look forward to seeing him in his new role as drunken compare at the launch party next Friday… speaking of which… you got your ticket yet!!!

xxx

Big thanks to Thatchers and Pirroni for a bubbly bank hols!

Dear Scratchers, we just wanted to give you a little update of what happened last bank holiday!

First and excitingly! Big thanks to Jordan of recharged radio who during his Friday evening radio show played guest monthly host Marco Pirroni of Adam and the Ants, Siouxsie and the Banshees and now Wolfmen fame, our track Teen idol (B-side of You want the world and track on the new album), which Marco said rocked! Jordan has subsequently made the track his single of the week! What a start to the hols!

Which continued on Saturday with a visit to the West Country, to the village of Atworth to be more exact, just down the road from ‘Baronsville’, to play a gig at the White Hart pub.

What a great night and equally great hangovers to boot! That Harvest Gold sure is frickin strong!

So why Atworth? – Well, every year it seems the Baron’s surrounding villages seem to put on gigs on 45 foot trailers?!? and this year it was the turn of Atworth, this however was a little different in that we’d been asked to play an unprecedented 2x45 minute sets, (the kinda thing covers bands do every week) and probably amounts to about 14 songs, (we took the challenge on the promise of free beer/cider and board, but with The Scratch not being a band with an array of 5 minute tracks, we found ourselves with a huge 28 song line up including 2 or 3 songs we hadn't played live for years!)

As we strode out onto the decidedly chilly stage, we couldn’t have expected such a great evening. The crowd though not the biggest, on account of said freezing summer weather, was perfectly formed and well up for The Scratch history lesson!

Some excellent sound (thanks James) made for a thoroughly exciting performance, as the goose pimples out numbered the chattering teeth 10 to 1! In a set that as previously stated that spanned most the bands life, there were always going be a few hiccups, ‘Filthy’s’ lack of a stage monitor meant a slightly more subdued performance from the self styled ‘jack in a box’ during the first set but apart from that old faves like ‘Rotten Soul’ and ‘Alcohol's a depressant’ made triumphant returns to the fold!

Buoyed by the warmth of the crowd reaction, the second set was stacked with all the current hits! Including the aforementioned ‘Teen idol’ (the song everyone is talking about) plus closing album track ‘Too busy thinking bout me’ and ‘Beach Boysesque slowie’ ‘Freaks of the daylight all got welcome airings as the crowd enthusiastically danced the cold away dizzy on a mix of rock’n’roll and apple rocket fuel! (ask the Baron) who slipped into a cider psychosis during ‘Critical Mass’ after downing a pint in one at the half time break! From which he never truly recovered… (Is that the trees a rustling or the hinges on the gate? Or John an Grim’s room key in the Baron’s jacket pocket?!)

With the job now well done, after what was definitely our best and most enjoyable foray to the South West so far!!, it was time for the rest of the band to get on the Thatchers and trash that bar tab!!!

Big thanks goes to everyone who made it such a great and welcoming gig/night especially Katie and Nathan for booking us! Filthy’s dads amazing salesman friend who turned water to wine after and managed to empty the bulging ‘merch bag’ in 10 minutes flat! And finally, we can't go without mentioning the human beatbox rap experience that the two guys put on in the car park, truly mind blowing! If only we’d had a Ponyland contract on us, we’d have made a signing there and then. If we find out who they are we'll let u know... all we know is the ‘beatbox’ was in a band called Bedmonster… Watch this space!

xxx

Mud, Mud glorious Festival Mud. The Scratch at Endorse IT part 1!

Dear Scratchers,

And so here is the merry tale of The Scratch and The Endorse IT festival weekend.

The idea was to set off early, rehearse at The Baron’s (well in The Queens Head pub in the village, thanks Dean btw) and then drive to the festival, set up camp by about 6, go and watch the Buzzcocks and have a couple of beers, just to get in the mood for the High noon showdown on Sunday.

Saturday 9th August 2008.

At 10am John, Andy and super Tina (PR, manager, videor and blagger extraordinaire) from St.Albans and Grim from London took the road west. The sun was out and there was a crackle of excitement in the air. We had been anxiously watching the forecast for weeks, but as it seems to change by the hour these days, we kind of just hoped. The forecast though for Saturday was wet. Not the best, particularly for Andy who had been suffering from a heavy cold and was still ‘very twisty bugled up’ and the Baron weighing in with a bronchial infection… Grim to everyone’s shock was nearly healthy!… John, just to round off the sp was farting… a lot…

The Journey to Box (Baronville) only took a couple and a half hours, but by the time we’d arrived the sun had turned to dreaded rain (not that it had ever done anything else when we’d ever been to this most green and pleasant part of the West Country!)

We were soon set up in the familiar backroom of the Pub and proceeded to blast away the car bound rustiness… it was great to be playing again!…

The first run through wasn’t too bad, a bit of coughing and croakiness from the vocal side and The Baron ‘tinging’ his Chinese cymbal at EVERY opportunity (no that’s not a euphemism matron!)… it was during the fag break however that things started to get ‘interesting’ news had just arrived from the East from Andy’s brother Nick, who with wife Rosie and daughters Indie (rock) and Boo McManus the disco cat, had already arrived at the festival site and that at the VERY LEAST wellies and waterproofs would be required, but if it got much worse, the life guard would have to be informed!…The rain was torrential.

Once the second set was complete, it was time for a detour before we made our way to Endorse IT. It came in the shape of Focus… (Can’t remember are they the DIY arm of WHSmiths??, anyway doesn’t matter)… This was to be the scene of the first memorable moment of the weekend… oh apart from the sight of ‘City dweller’ Grim, squealing like a girl at the sight of a luminous squidgy orange thing on the path outside chez Baron, (it turned out to be a slug!)… but I digress, the first real memorable moment is The Scratch spending their entire £50 weeknd appearance money on 4 pairs of green wellies and 2 rolls of ‘essential’ black bin bags!!! A final a quick stop for food supplies at Sainsburys and we were finally on the road to festival fun!…

Tucked away, seemingly miles from anywhere, not least as Grim’s Sat(crap)Nav was starting to find smaller and smaller thinner and thinner farm tracks to drive down! We finally spied the Endorse It festival’s rain lashed and windswept entrance as the clock ticked just past 6.00. The deep, deep tyre tracks already told the story as Tina began her first blag as a paying guest, collecting the sparkly wrist bands, and securing a nice camping spot with the band by the bins!

This preceded, first John’s car being towed from the gully between backstage camping and the car park/pond by a tractor and more trickily Grim's (that seemed to have no visible towing facility), resulting in the Baron passing most of the equipment over the fence to John and Andy, but not before (despite being warned) picking up the merchandise box upside down and ‘showering’ the muddy pool with our precious Critical Mass CD’s!.. Finally the day was saved by a hay bail wielding JCB that ended up pushing the car back up the hill and into the backstage camping area… where the fun was really about to begin…

Tina’s £5 Asda tent, went up in seconds…The Baron’s borrowed £99.99 Halfords version was proving more of an issue however, at times resembling a wind surfers sail more than a tent, it took 4 people clinging on and a ‘tent pegger’ to secure the beast before the inner and the eye bulging lilo blowing up (There was more than one casualty of Airbed eye!) could conclude this Kryton Factoresque marathon!…

Just as the final bung was pushed into the final hole… Nick phoned to say that as they had the kids who were understandably miserable… they were going to reluctantly have to head home to St.Albans…But as in the story of Life and Death, one departs and another is born and so into the story we introduce Sam and Raj, who had just been towed into the car park and were looking for the campsite.

In the backstage area things were still very wet, but at least the tents though swaying quite violently, were up and it was at last time for a well-earned beer. A five minute squelchy walk later and the welcome sight of merrily staggering, muddied and colourful hatted, cider jug wielding 'Crusties' came sprawling from the beer tent to great us, to the cool reggae skank, chug of the Ska-lites…. It looked like we had some catching up to do!

Not sure what Cider Tina had for her first drink, but she seemed to be assimilating well! Sam and Raj joined us around 9 after Raj had managed to prize his muddy contact lens from behind his eye!!! Ouch!…

By the time the Buzzcocks took to the stage just before 11.00 The rain and mud were beginning pail into after thoughts. The bin liner skirts and wellies had one the day… as too had the ‘Buzzers’ who having seen them on many occasions in the past were on sparkling form, The Diggle wiggle and triumphant Townsend arm wheels and Shelley’s fantastic vocals and delivery took on majestic tones as they crashed through all the classics, but also not oft played gems like Breakdown from their seminal Spiral Scratch ep (we know a song about that one don’t we Geoffrey!*) Our Endorse it festival had really kicked off.

Sam and Raj decided to hit the hay (well it is a farm!)… So Team Tina hit backstage hospitality and the great Endorse IT bus bar!… Andy meanwhile ran off to find The ‘Buzzers’ as they left the stage and to finally shake the great men’s hands (PSWH?) as they squelched through the mud with carrier bags encasing their 600 hundred quid shoes … it was a moment of true catharsis, 17 after years after the purchase of the amazing Singles Going Steady album!… The others had hit the bar following a quick visit to the hospitality tent to hand in set lists, sign away any PRS and collect our food and drink vouchers for the following day.

Around 1.30, we were beginning to flag, it was time for bed, John favoured the car over Grims thunderous snoring…while the ill boys ‘topped and tailed’, bouncy castle stylee on the other muddy lilo! I bet the Buzzcocks were laying into the hotel mini bar by now?

Nighty Nighty
xxx

The Horn, 'Friday night specials' part 3 - 31st July

Dear Scratchers,

Many, many thanks as usual to everyone who made it down to support us at the Horn on Friday... on what was a particularly exciting weekend, having played Standon Calling on Thursday and completing the mixing and mastering of or 3rd album 'Whatever happened to Friday night?'... finished off by The Scratch playing the third of their 'famous five' Friday night specials... extra big ups go to Andy Hall, who retains the title of drunkest man at The Scratch's gigs and Frambo (Bez 09) who showed superhuman strength in catching Andy mid air from his now customary stage leap during Gas Taps! Big thanks also to JB, he's a cat, what cat, he's a gentleman a scholar and great at staying asleep on the hard wood floor while everyone eats their breakfast around him, to Bill who stepped in to do the sound in absence of Steve and who allowed The Harringtons to play on longer, after the night overran... mighty thanks to Hug(e)h Davenport who despite a momentary abberation in the 'Coldplay' department, played a sterling DJ set following the show and of course our Tina, for taking all the hassle out of proceedings. Highlight track of the night was the reserrected Teen Idol... surely a hidden gem from the new album!

Welcome to Smoky Carrot PR. Let's hope this is the start of a beautiful friendship!
'Whatever Happened to Friday night?' ... stay tuned folks you're about to find out!!!!

Finally, keep your eyes open for ticket announcements for the launch do, we are going to be offering a special discount ticket/album deal... so watch this space! See you all soon.

xx

The boys with Brazilian's - a weekend of thongs and new openings!

Dear Scratchers,


Samba dancers, Gentleman's Clubs and a full on Scratch radio expose!… sounds like another normal day in the house of Westminster I know… but NO… it’s the story of another memorable weekend in the life of your favourite old new wave band!

Friday July 17th

From the far flung corners of London and Hertfordshire they came… to converge on the fantastically classy Cobden Club in Westbourne Park, London, W10.

Smoky Carrot’s PR team leader John Bromage was the mastermind behind the gig that we’d added to a night that was to feature our first Recharged Radio live ‘unplugged’ session for our mate Jordan Thomas.

We told John it would be tight squeezing in a soundcheck as we had to get to the radio station for 6.45… and so it proved, having arrived at 5.15 (the only band in the world ever to be on time for a soundcheck!) and waited with no sight of a soundman, drumkit or even someone to turn the stage lights on, so as the clock ticked to 6.15, the band left the Cobden with their ‘acoustics’ and headed purposefully towards Westbourne Park tube, having not even had to chance to plug their amps in…

It was a humid evening and those 80’s wool two-tone suits ain’t that good in the air conditioning department. Least of all after a 10 minute, swift walk and then a game of Sardines with 1000’s of strangers on the rush hour tube!

The torrential rain that greeted the fab 5 at Great Portland Street was almost blessed relief!

Conscious that the clock was against us, but also gagging like an Alsatian locked in it’s masters car all day with no windows open in the middle Mumbai… a quick detour to the ‘offy’ couldn’t be resisted…

Jordan (the main man, head honcho, top geezer and presenter of the station… ) greeted us on the stairs of Recharged Radio and hurried the steaming, sweating, bedraggled 5 some into the studio, with around 10 minutes to spare before the show was to begin.

A quick run through, a slurp of lager and at last it was chill time… Jordan was co-hosted on this occasion by the infinitely more pleasing on the eye Minkie (no disrespect Alex and Dave of course!)

The show began by powering into the latest and greatest in unsigned talent as The Scratch, perused their name in ink, with yet another appearance in the ever influential Tourdates unsigned chart… that’s our 10th week in the top 10 since May! With ‘You want the World’ nestling at number 2 (previously number 1).

Refreshed and ready John, Andy, Filthy ‘fish’ Whitty and Grim took to the live room, as the Baron looked on with a lager in each hand…

Title track of the new album ‘Whatever happened to Friday night?’ kicked off proceedings; followed by another former Tourdates number 2. ‘Destroyed by the look of Love’ with the set finaléd by ‘classic’ ‘Night Bus or Milk Train’ fave ‘Strange 4Play’. Here’s hoping it sounded as good as if felt in the studio, out in radioland!… keep a check on our website’s in the next week or two as Jordan will be picking his fave for the recharged myspace player! And you’ll be the first to find out which it is!

Great, part 1 successfully completed it was time to return to The Cobden, to see how our soundcheck had gone in our absence!!!?

We arrived back at around 9.30 to find that the first act had been on and that we were indeed to perform upstairs in the ‘posh room’!… it did look cool. As we entered, we were finally united with John and were introduced to the rest of the Smoky Carrot’s before disappearing into the changing room amid tales of semi clad Brazilian Samba dancers, rearranging their thongs! (there is more on this later, so please read on!)…

We weren’t due on until 10.45/11.00 so on ordering a round a just 5 bottled beers and encountering a bill of almost 20 quid, we quickly decided to drink them and escort our arriving entourage back to the pub round the corner from whence they had just come, in an attempt to help preserve their fragile bank balances!

Pleasantly refreshed, we ‘pied pipered’ back to the Cobden and took the stage 5 minutes later…. The stage was high, the room looked great and it wasn’t long before Steve ‘Mr. Mischief’ Filth was winding Grim up, darting between peoples legs and generally bouncing like a demented toy monkey about the stage… John grinned, Grim ‘grimed’ and the Baron, fired drumsticks into their backs as his slippery grip worsened as the band raised the temperature of the room… Whilst Andy, just couldn’t resist the brilliant arching staircase that led to the 5ft high stage… to max his Marc Bolan posings!

Ripping through ‘You want the world’, ‘numbers’, ‘Whatever happened to Friday night’… the crowd was visibly sliding deeper and deeper under The Scratch’s spell… however it wasn’t until a false started ‘Strange 4Play’ that, the highlight of the night took place…. Reminiscent of a cross between a distant night at the palladium and steamy Saturday night in Rio, one of the aforementioned Brazilian beauties… (and my god was she FIT!!!!)… burst into the room… seemingly lost and possibly making a wrong turn from the ladies, she appeared as if a vision through the swing doors, 'pazzazzing' and glittering as she did, it took a blink of an eye for her to be scaling the star case and delighting both a shocked audience and an ever contorted salavating band!… Quick as a flash (yes a carefully chosen adjective!)… Andy had discarded his guitar and was at first 'can-caning' with this most delicious of scantily clad creatures and then resting his drooling chin across her fish netted shimmering perfectly toned thigh… It wasn’t just blood pressure that was rising… if only they’d heard of lyrca in 1980, when Andy’s vintage tonic suit had been hewn a near certain call to the fire brigade would have been instantly avoided!

And then as quickly as she’d arrived she and gone, vanishing like Mr.Ben when the shopkeeper arrived and now with only Jordan’s photos as evidence (quick as you can mate!) and a single feather from her plumed headdress as keepsakes!….

From then on abandon rained Andy leapt from the stage and began frenziedly stalk the room, first crawling like a tiger on all fours, then leaping back on stage and scaling the staircase in two bounds as if possessed by some Shamanic Rio spirit to finale track Smell the Gas taps…

It had been a memorable, memorable show!….

Huge thanks to Jordan, Minkie (hope it’s spelt right!) and Jarrod (great to finally put a face to the name) from their respective ventures who have supported us so consistently in 2009. Recharged radio and Tourdates.

Big thanks also go to John B and team for their enthusiasm as we left the stage, we are very confident that now you’ve seen what we can do… things are gonna go from strength to strength…. The t-shirt looked great by the way Vicky, make sure you wear it to the Horn on 31st July eh! and Julia, yes, Hanover will be great!

Finally special thanks to Sam, Jez Cheades, Matt, McEwen the irrepressible! And Sara and family, great to see you… you’re getting good at this drinking lark Mark! (Sam those trousers… wear them again!!!)

Let’s hope that all the new faces and contacts we met tonight can join us in our quest for the next level. We’ve got it, if you guys have, we’ll all be smiling won’t we!

Next Stop Rableigh Heath, for a very British country affair!


Saturday July 18th

Andy the host had seen us at the now infamous Clint Boon gig and persuaded Andy Scratch that it would make his birthday he could grow back his ‘Girl’s World’ beard… Andy declined but the band agreed that a good compromise would be to play his party instead.

Following some great work by Leigh Cobra Kai, there was a brand new wooden drum riser at the far end of the expansive Marquee that Andy and co-host Brad had erected for the revelry… it was great to be on the same bill with our White Worm buddies again and who following a swift levels check proceeded to drink with us for the next 5 hours until the first band ‘Revival’ took to the stage…

Cobra Kai were due to proceed The Scratch on the final two spots of the night, but due to a rather ‘stage managed’ and ‘theatrical’ saga with the other band Max Factor… Mark (Jez) Cheadle, Wasabi Penis (Roddam) and Leigh consented to go early so as not spoil the flow of the party.

An excellent 20 minutes set ensued as the red eyed Cheadle swapped intricate guitar parlet with the newly christened Penis…
Can’t wait to see them again (band, not penis) at the Horn on 31st…

The ‘Factor’, were still in transit, via Derby, The M25 and Timbuktu, so with the landlord beginning to get twitchy about the volume, The Scratch decided to cut their losses and wade in with a 17 song strong set, (even Teen idol got it’s first live airing for 5 years!), that saw ‘Jackin-a-box', Filthy give a pure ‘snake in the grass’ of a performance and saw Andy Scratch hurled headlong by the host from a teetering piggy back position during the now hugely unpredictable and sure to end in tears soon, ‘Gas Taps’!

Thanks to all the people who came up to us after with high praise, let’s hope we can meet again on 31st…. thanks to those who purchased the ‘merch’ and finally, Filthy would love to send big hugs to ‘stripy t’, who had certainly taken a shine to the diminutive Scratch delinquent…

Big thanks to Andy for the gig and yes are truly the omelette king!
Thanks indeed to the whole family, whose hospitality the Ritz would have struggled to match…. Shame about Grim and John’s snoring!

See you on 31st ya’ll
xxxx

Whatever happened last Friday night? - read on if you dare!!!

Dear Scratchers,

Ok, so everytime we’ve done a gig lately, we’ve come away saying ‘that was the best one so far! The Corwd were amazing’… well, Friday night at the Horn, the much lauded night of the ‘Boon Army’ WAS in very broad opinion our finest hour on the local scene. There are many reasons ‘not least the collision of two world’s!’, Clint has to be one of the main ones, what an honour to have the legend fly all the way down from Manchester after his XFM show to arrive in time to announce us on stage at our local venue! And the things he said in the Herts ad… Christ almighty Clint really does understand! The Scratch is the hardest working band he's ever met: "Those lads are addicted to their music and it's great to spend time with such funny and appreciative people. They love getting up on the stage and having fun - it's so refreshing to see such an uninhibited band." Then we have our own desire, which I’m sure you are in no elusion of by now!??? And finally but most importantly there’s you. The people who turn up every single gig and who almost literally danced their arses off in the throng for 50 minutes on Friday! THANK YOU ALL. Included in the thanks while we’re at it, special, special mentions go out to Rosie and Rhian the chauffeurs! Hugh Davenport, Andy Howard, Mark Looby, Duncan Birnie, Matt, Paul, Sam, Hansi, all the bands (Cobra Kai, Toxins and The Harringtons) and the amazing Tina. It’s a team effort and SO MUCH work goes into one of these nights.

This evening was always going to be ‘highly logistical’ from the start! From the minute that Andy had booked Clint’s flight in early April the pressure as on to deliver a comparable night to our now legendary debut residency gig with Goldblade. Flyers were printed, giant posters began to appear at the Horn and in the locale… even as early as April 5th, ticket money was being exchanged.

Fast-forward to the week of the gig, Clint has been interviewed by the Herts Ad, but (and here is the gripe!) they can’t find a space for it in the paper, we have to be content with just 5 hours of publicity 'online' the day of the gig, there must be someone out there who knows a newsworthy story when it happens and not… Mr.Jones aged 56’s prize freakin' marrow, which seemed to be real news for the 'inkies' this week!

Anyway… 5th June is now upon us ... a day of frantic checking, printing, checklist writing and by 3pm rehearsing (and the Baron turned up too!)

Rosie and Rhian as previously mentioned had one of the main pressure jobs of the night, well probably the most… deliver Clint from, Heathrow. He was landing at 9.25 and would need a shower, but had to be at the Horn by 11!!!… They were on their way by 8.00 (clock ticking)… the second most pressure was on super Tina, with her horrendous toothache! (we don’t do smooth and uncomplicated as you know!)

Team (and it is now becoming a TEAM) Scratch, the band, Mark the photographer and Duncan and Matt the video guys, arrived in convoy at 6.30. to see Lee (Cobra Kai’s drummer) already in attendance and setting up the kit…

Steve (the great soundman!) was there bright and early too, as assorted band members from The Harringtons and Toxins arrived, while The Scratch soundchecked. Tina arrived at 7.30 and was straight into action, bullying Hansi (The promoter) and his staff, doling out lists, timings, handstamps and haranguing bands members for outstanding ticket cash!….

Soon it was 8.45/50 and Cobra Kai (WHITE WORM!!!) were taking to the stage. Though they were one man down, as bassist Mike was in Australia, Mark, Dave and lee carried on regardless and delivered, despite some previous and understandable trepidation, their finest show to date, no bass, Crampsesque in set up, but with a turbo Nirvana ‘Bleach era’ attack, not least from Mr.Cheadle (Mark’s) nicotine soaked lungs… even amp failure, two songs from the end, couldn’t dampen the shouts of White Worm, White Worm, White Worm as the trio left the stage in triumph! Great start guys, Raw Power!…

Next on were ‘Filthy’s’ tips Toxins, gorra bit of a Cobain thing going here, Ky lead singer of the next three piece had the look to a tee. Another top set, power, angst and no little humour!

Meanwhile, despite taking one roundabout 3 times outside Heathrow, in search of the exit, Clint and the girls were well on their way…

With the clock nudging 10.00 it was The Harringtons turn, four, young, multi talented local lads, with more than a hint of The Libertines and the Holloways about them.
You couldn’t get a rizzla paper between them, their tunes were that tight!

As the Harringtons climaxed with Crowd Pleaser, Mr.Boon entered the building. Perfect timing!

Tina immediately buffeted him through the crowd and into backstage, soon much laughter and hugging ensued, as Mark snapped away and Duncan and Matt filmed on…. The scene was set. Clint grabbed a beer and within five minutes of his arrival, was on stage announcing ‘One of his favourite bands’ The Scratch on stage down their local!!! (magical, what a great thrill, thanks so much mate, someone told us a the M.E.N. if Clint likes you, he’ll stick by you. Here was living proof, two and a half years on!!!)

Lights were low and the silhouetted ‘heroes’ took the stage to the strains of Adam and The Ants - Apollo Nine, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 5, 5, 5,5 OoH!….

What a crowd had assembled. It was the busiest I’ve ever seen the backroom, from the stage. And so with almost ‘Pistolsesque’ power at the beginning of ‘God Save the Queen’. New single ‘You want the World’, ripped up the whole venue and set the fluttering pieces on fire!!! Then it was straight into (‘Lucy’s) Fakers, before the chance for Andy to publicly thank Clint and dedicate him Numbers!… Destroyed by the look of love and Whatever happened to Friday night (title of the forthcoming album) continued to mount the pressure, just when the room was ready to go off, the audience was teased and tantalised as the attack dropped with the lighter Girl’s World and Freakshow (much deserved dedication to Francis and co), but far from killing the vibe, these two got the dancers breaking through to the front and primed for the coming storm, from Against the Grain onwards it was mayhem, every word, every clap, every beat was echoed back onto the stage from the audience, it was truly a magic moment in the career of The Scratch. All your mates, family, heroes, smiling, leaping, singing and dancing, it was so amazing that it was being filmed. A night never to forget. Critical Mass was followed by Independent Unrepentant, for which Andy delivered a short diatribe to the lame ass record companies, who can’t see what everyone at the Horn could. Andy summed it up F**k um, ‘WE’RE INDEPENDENT UNREPENTANT!’ the crowd roared!!!
It had been intended at it was a special night to try and do an encore for a change, but the frenzy and clamour was so great, there was no chance of leaving the stage, even Not your friend, a song that had been ‘rested’ live for the last 5 years!… had the crowd in raptures… the finale though ‘Smell the gas taps’ once again stole the show as Andy put down his guitar and leaped literally headlong into the sea of bodies… (you should see the photo of the bump on his head from when the crowd parted!). More, more, more the crowd screamed… despite huge temptation… it was now Clint’s turn and what a 5 star show he had packed in his CD bag, Ska, Northern Soul, Led Zeppelin, Rap, you name it, we danced to it!!!

It’s hard to explain the euphoria in the dressing room after the gig, the culmination of 10 weeks work, It’s like the most amazing orgasm, with the most amazing group of women, whilst listening to your favourite band live, with the most amazing drug invented pulsing round your cranium… X *UCKIN 10 MILLION!!!!!!!!!! (hang on though, isn’t that exactly what happened to John Entwhistle?)

We love you all. Thanks so much. Clint you’re a LEGEND. (hopefully see you back towards the end of the year???… watch this space Scratch fans)

Only 53 days till the next ‘special’ too dudes… so get some rest!

Ps. Andy (lucy’s new bloke), yeah we’re up for the 18th… but not sure about growing the beard back, despite how much you obviously LOVE it mate!

PPS. Don’t worry Mark and Miles… the CD’s were stashed firmly in Mr.Boon’s hand luggage as he headed for checkin!

PPPS. DON’T FORGET TO DOWNLOAD ‘YOU WANT THE WORLD!’ FREE!!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Playlist for the EP Hijack 2

Dear Scratchers,

here's the playlist form Weds nights shenanigans!

Magazine – The light pours out of me
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion – Two kindsa love
Lonpigs – Blue Skies
Beck – Corvette Bummer
Brian Eno – Baby’s on fire
The Wolfmen – Needle in the camel’s eye
Mooney Suzuki – Shake that bush again
The Scratch – Destroyed by the look of love
The Cramps – Garbage Man
Scritti Politti – Asylums in Jerusalem
Ladytron – 17 (soulwax mix)
Soft Cell – Memorabilia
Inspiral Carpets – Saturn 5
Devo – Mongoloid
D.O.D.O. – Into the black
Public Image – The Public Image
The Dukes of Stratosphere – My love explodes
Late of the Pier – Space and the woods
Okgo – Television, television
Pixies – Debaser
Maximo Park – Going Missing

Hu(gh)ge fun as always on the EP!

Dear Scratchers,

Last night saw the return of The Scratch’s ‘commando unit’ to Milton Keynes' CRMK.co.uk radio, this time ‘Colonel’ John and ‘Field Marshall’ Andy were aided by one of their ‘Private’s', the young, almost childlike Stevie Filth making his ‘Eclectic Plectrum’ debut!

In a show that Hugh Davenport the DJ/Producer/tea lady and part time rock historian rules with a hilarious ‘rod of licerace bootlace’, The Scratchers selected all the music for the night and in doing so, debuted a new myspace find the D.O.D.O (or DIY OR DIE ORGANISATION), went back to the 70’s with Brian Eno and inbetween took in The Cramps, Soft Cell The Dukes of Stratosphere and the mighty Mr.Boon’s Inspiral Carpets.

The night also saw John guzzle the entire contents of Hugh’s studio fridge, while Filthy and Andy giggled like school girls. It truly enjoyable stuff and (hopefully) highly entertaining radio… so much so the two hour show flew as main man Hugh, lost his thread, played Beck’s ‘Corvette Bummer’ twice and generally veered off at wild rock trivia tangent just like a DJ should do, in saying that though the fab four still managed to squeeze in 21 tracks! Including of course Destroyed by the look of love! (Nice one Biran)

Hu(gh)ge thanks to Mr Davenport, really looking forward to seeing you at the Horn on 5th June and yes, your Clinterview with Mr.Boon.

No dates yet, but off air we discussed our return to the show in September for an album 3 special!... so watch this space… Just for your reference Hugh’s show is moving after next Weds to Thursday nights 10-12, we’d advise you to tune in, he’s a top bloke who knows his stuff and you’ll get an old skool larf too!

Come and meet him on 5th!

x

No Candy talking! ...so Andy steps in!

Dear Scratchers,

Following a swift ‘publicity drop’ to XFM London’s familiar pigeon holes, with ‘personal’ Clint messages and Destroyed by the look of love press packs…. It was a 10-minute route march from Leicester Square to Maple Street and the basement studios of VS Recharged. Jordan the producer was busy setting up tonight’s session band ‘Miss Davina Lee’, when Alex and Dave (the rest of team VS arrived brandishing ‘Maccy Dee’s’ and the less than pleasing news that the ‘star’ of tonight’s show, Douglas Hart (Bassist with Jesus and Mary Chain and now revered, but evidently absent minded video director) was double booked on a video shoot for some unknowns called The Manic Street Preachers, or something like that?

Ho hum! …

Bit of a downer in one way, but the flip side was Andy now had DH’s interview slot, to plug the Clint gig and all other things The Scratch, including the other dates, album 3 and next ep ‘You want the world!’

As previously, the agenda for the show was new and up and coming unsigned acts, appraised and critiqued by a panel of Andy, Alex and ‘Miss Davina Lee’s Gareth. Jordan subsequently admitted that this weeks crop weren’t up to the usual standard and indeed this was reflected in the many cries of ‘too long’ and ‘started well, but went nowhere!’ during the show. However Andy did pick out The Brute Chorus’ ‘All the Pilgrims’ foray into 50’s crampesque rock’n’roll as the one band he’s like to see live from the bunch. And I must say on the evidence of their single hot off the presses, something about a dirty old man and a rain coat, Miss Davina Lee’s single was certainly a great first taste of their wares!

Jordan completed proceedings with a play of DBTLOL (which I’ve got to say Grizzla, sounded frickin excellent!)

Later in the pub, the talk was of the glut of none too clever bands in London and the need for more ‘outa town’ scenes ‘Well we are trying, check the Horn out! On the 5th June!’
Two moments of amusement highlight the hour in the ship. First one was Steve Lamacqs expression on his face as Andy handed over the 10th different demo to the visibly disconcerted DJ!… it was honestly a totally random meeting Steve, but if want to stop it happening… PLAY THE FRICKIN DEMO LAMO!!!!

The second incident was when Jordan introduced Andy to a guy called Chris (a local promoter, designer), who used to work for Glasswerk (London promotions agency)…much hilarity was had as Andy suddenly twigged that he recognised Chris from last years Turnmills gig when a smirking door man (Chris) had said ‘Great the toilet set innit as the band struggled up the stairs amps in hand after typically disjointed London night out…Pale face, turned to red face and then laughter as Andy reminded him of this.

Thanks a lot to Jordan and the guys, good to meet MDL and yeah you Chris. Look forward to seeing you at the Horn on 5th June, you should see the flippin toilets there mate!!!

The Scratch
xx

Destroyed by the look of love - losingtoday.com update!

Dear Scratchers,

We just got this from losingtoday.com

Up date - Andy from the Scratch kindly sent over a finished copy of ‘destroyed by the look of love’ which we don’t mind admitting has been getting a fair hammering since being prized from its mailer, in fact so hot off the presses is this beauty that the ink has scarcely dried on it. Mind you that said it now gives us a chance to tune in and savour the previously reported gone missing in action flip cuts ‘flicker’ and ‘not your friend’ - and little blinders they are. ’flicker’ should rightly see itself garnering something of a thumbs up and some admiring glances from the psychedelic community draped as it is in softly warping lysergic tonalities that we here are thinking reveals someone in the ranks spending their spare time genning up on the finest kookily kaleidoscopic moments to be had from the Elephant 6 Collective back catalogue (Minders, Apples in Stereo, Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control et al) and decided to observe those off kilter wonky west coast moulds through a vintage viewfinder and tender the emitting refractions with essences procured of a quintessentially English eccentricity that suggests Pete Shelley leading out a magic mushroom munching Syd loving collective made up of members of the Soft Boys, the Freed Unit and XTC in their Dukes guise. Trippy stuff. Not to be outdone ’not your friend’ lands a considerable jaw dropped punch, an unrepentant slab of searing, sneering, snot nosed spite replete with nasal drawls and a warring armoury of wilfully frantic spiked and sparring insurgent three chord hip hugging accoutrements that we here are suspecting has been born of some impish soul cross matching the DNA’s of the Godfathers with those of the Dead Boys. No prizes for guessing that you need this in your life sharpish.

Thanks again Mark, hopefully see you down the Horn!
x

Destroyed by the look of love - Review

See our reviews page...

Goldblade at the Horn, a night to remember!

Friday 27th March was the first night of our much talked about ‘Horn residency’ and the coup that we’d (well our Tina) had pulled off by managing to lure; TV personality, writer, ‘coiner’ of the household phrase ‘Britpop’ and of course maverick, lead singer and leader of hardcore punk legends Goldblade, Mr.John Robb.

Stage 1): Of global domination was to book a top headline band. Which judging by our initial and Friday nights reaction we did and some! Stage 2): Was to sell as many tickets as we could preferably in advance (which we did), to ensure a great atmosphere from the off, that would re-establish the Horn as a magnet for top quality bands. And in doing so, help to place us up there at the forefront with other local headline grabbers like Enter Shakari and Friendly Fires. And 3): To try to actually make some much needed ‘filthy lucre’ for the bands recording fund! With ‘Super’ Tina and our one girl whirlwind of a street team (yes Sam you!) making a magnificent 7 ‘Scratch team’, how could we fail?

We arrived at the venue just before 7pm to find Tina had already taken total. Everything from the rider, guestlist, stage times, The Bulgarian (Goldblade’s biggest fan!), down to their dinner was all in hand. Biggest worry now, having managed to get them down to chilly, grey ‘Manchesteresque weathered’ St.Albans, was would their ‘gigantic punk rock torso’s’ and ‘stylish shoes’ actually fit on the stage!

The Scratch soundcheck was simple, apart from Grim’s microphone giving his silvery mutton chops incessant shocks.

There was a palpable atmosphere building in the bar, as ‘Sunflies’ took to the stage at 9.10, It was clear that our efforts to attract a good crowd were paying off!

In a flash 10.00 seemed to ‘jump us like a mugger!’ As we strode out onto the stage guitars in hand, the Horn was rammed to the rafters. Negotiating the giant amps, the stage was cramped and bloody hot, but it’s fair to say tonight was one of the bands most satisfying and all round entertaining shows of our career(!?!). From the first chord of ‘You want the World’ to the chaotic feedback drenched, body strewn carnage of final track ‘Gas Taps’. The whole band rose massively (well we were at the ‘orn!) to the ecstatic reaction from our brilliant ‘catalystic’ crowd for every second of the set.

'Bewilderment' is the way Andy described the mood afterwards trying to digest how 40 minutes of such fun packed mayhem had disappeared in such a short, sharp shock! One minute Whitty ‘le Filth’ was scissor kicking off the Baron’s bass drum, the next John was thrusting his throbbing bass up Andy’s bugle “We love you John”, shouted the crowd… then Grim got in on the act “We love you Grim,” (shouted is mum?) with a full guitar ‘fencing’ dual with the mischievous Mr. Filth, only for Andy (at the instigation of foul mouthed gesturing brother Nick), attempting to upstage the lot of them, by launching himself headlong into the moshpit that had ignited at the end of Dear Maniac (Splintered elbows & ‘friendly’ kidney punches, heightened the heady maelstrom) a night like none before!

In a claustrophobic backstage we were soon thanking Goldblade for their encouragement … it was great to hear, for although, we’ve been loosely foisted with the ‘Punk’ banner over the years, we come from two different sides of the 'Punk track', our stressing of a more ‘New Wave’ stance was identified by Mr.Robb, who described us as more ‘Pop’… a mantle that suits us just fine, think Only ones and The Undertones… leave the Hardcore to the hardcore pros, we think… speaking of which!

Now the only thing that could put a dampener on a ‘prefect’ night would be a 'frightened' exodus of our 'new wave' fans in the wake of the anthemic, heavy artillery of Goldblade… We needn’t have worried however… As by the time the ‘glistening’ Mr.Robb and crew had left the stage they had despatched a third encore! Seeing was believing, in fact their show was amazingly reminiscent of the illustrated scenes from Sex Pistols film, The Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Swindle. A riot in every sense.

Special thanks go to John and Goldblade for giving us this ‘celebrity’ curtain raiser such presence. To one women street team Sam Vince for rallying the troops as ever, to Sarah Vince for introducing so many G.E.O.R.G.E.O.U.S. new faces, our long suffering families for their love, support and ‘two fingers!’, Hansi, Tom, Steve and all the staff at the Horn. ‘The Bulgarian’ and of course Tina, our manager EXTRAordinaire!

See you on the 5th June with Mr. Clint Boon for part two of our Madchester ‘exchange programme’… Please tell all your mates, ‘cos if it’s anything like the 27th March, it’s gonna be HUGE!!! And if you didn’t know before, you know now, we mean it MMAAANNNN!!!!

What a night, what a bloody brilliant night!
xx

BBC debut time on 3 Counties radio!!!!

Dear Scratchers,

Much debate at the pre-rehearsals had centred around choice of tracks. As the three car convoy set off for Luton from Farm Factory studios, it had been decided that ‘Lucky’ ‘Numbers’, ‘Against the Grain’ and the previously unheard (save for a couple of live gig appearances) new track ‘You want the World’, would represent us.

On arrival (finally) Andy in lead car, having proclaimed he knew the way (he did, but not before unscheduled turning around ‘ceremonies’ at one dead end and in Matalan car park and then a game of hunt the car park entrance), the ‘boys’ were reunited with head girl (our Teenaw)… it was now all hands to the pump.

Over the threshold of the Beeb we struggled and lugged, as we were shown to the live room… no disrespect to XFM Manchester, but this was a proper live room, with a proper sound engineer… we were soon informed that we couldn’t have any power until 7 as it was all being directed to another studio broadcasting next door, so ‘quietly’ the gear was assembled, while Tina proceeded to preserve the moment for posterity on Andy’s new camera. (see myspace for the results!)…

Next, it was time for a cuppa, now this is where XFM grab a point back, ‘cos A) we had beer in Manchester and B) when tea was offered, it wasn’t in plastic cups!… once again no offence intended, just an observation at the machinations of radio broadcasting land across the country. Still it was nice cuppa, thanks for that Mike (Sound engineer) and team.

Around 6.30, ‘cos yes we were on time as usual, we were treated to our first glimpse (head around the door stylee) of the diminutive (and Grrr Foxy… down Whitty down) Kelly Betts the shows producer, charming as ever, she ran through what was about to unfold in the next hour and a half.

First we were due to play our debut live track at 7.20, then, run down the corridor to meet Gareth Lloyd the master of ceremonies (DJ), do a quick interview, then, participate in ‘band on the bike’ a variation on the timed lap of a race track the big boys on Jeremy Clarkson’s Top Gear do. (With this is one you ride a child’s ‘Iggle Piggle’ trike around the studio corridor!) And then finally, back down the corridor play the second live track and record the third ‘secret’ track recorded for the podcast.

… this however, is how it went.

We began with the soundcheck… ‘You want the World’ blasted and howled… (a lot better than In rehearsal too). The live room was getting warm and Tina was kept busy ferrying plastic cups of water back and forth to keep hydration at a peak! This achieved, the band was set and standing in position in the live room. At Around 7.15, as we were ready, Mike (the sound) suggested we try our ‘secret’ podcast track… ‘You want the world’, (with brand new ending) was thus dispatched with vigour and aplomb (in our opinion the best track of the night from us) and we were back, standing and set, listening to the show over a monitor speaker, waiting for Gareth to say… And now live in session tonight, we have The Scratch…

Mike kept us posted, “it’ll be after this interview and then a song and then it’ll be you guys”… as 7.25 struck, the opening chords of Numbers came a clanking… (thankfully, ‘cos you never know… ‘there was no red light syndrome’) and our first live track for the BBC was out in the ether! (God speed, fly like an arrow to the hearts of the nation, fair 3 minute tribute to the unsigned!)…

Ahem… back in the live room, guitars and drums stick lay bereft, for the band was now huddled around two microphones in the studio, telling tall tales to Gareth. Following our individual introductions... Steve (newly monikered ‘ Steve Filth’), The Baron, Andy, John and Grim... John then explained the band’s beginnings, Andy plugged the gig and gave Mr.Boon a mention (on the BBC, surely not!) and Grim, offered the advance, pre-release only, copy in the world of ‘Destroyed by the look of love’ over to Gareth for his future (hopefully near) delectation!? While ‘Whitty’, or should I say ‘Filthy’ fielded all questions related to age… while, Gareth split the 7 up (this is not euphemism)… and the Baron… Baroned.

Next up for 'The four dads and there son', was band on a bike. There was only one candidate… You can now witness his efforts on youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=bbc+3+counties+the+scratch&aq=f

A mere 20 hectic seconds of action and Steve lay panting at the feet of the assembled throng… for despite the distraction of being chased by Kelly with a microphone, (I’m sure he was actually trying to be caught?), by the band and assorted guests and employees, he achieved a highly credible 2nd on the leader board of just over 20.07 seconds for The Scratch. (Officially 3rd, but as the leaders “cheated by running”… We’re taking the silver medal).

Breathless and limping (mainly Steve), we were within seconds back in the live room and an in no time at all, the strains of “Hooray it’s Christmas day…” could be heard wafting across the airwaves of Herts, Beds and Bucks… and then that was it. Phew… as action packed an hour as we’ve done to date.

We’d like to say a massive thanks to Kelly Betts for getting us in for the session (hopefully the first of many), also the same to Gareth, not least for his ‘pushing’ of ‘Numbers’ to Tom Robinson (hopefully, you won’t mind doing the same with ‘Destroyed by the look of love’!? too mate), and finally Mike and all the rest of the team for helping us capture an authentic performance of The Scratch.

In case any of you missed it, or would like to listen again? You can at…

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0029nlg/BBC_Introducing..._In_Beds_Herts_andamp_Bucks_06_03_2009/

finally a big shout goes out to all of you who listened and texted us after the show to say how much you enjoyed it. We love you.

Another jewel set in our tinfoil crown, we were off to the Horn to celebrate!
xx

The Scratch go mad in Camden…

Dear Scratchers,

It’s been nearly 5 years since The Scratch played the Dublin Castle, this time was different in the fact that we were playing the much vaulted Club Fandango… but other than that, it was the same venue, same clientele, same beer and toilets…. In the end it’s just the same…

Tonight’s set was different and for the first time in our seven year history, the line up was also officially different, with the addition of Steve ‘Kid’, ‘Zamo’, ‘The Boy with a man’s voice’ Whittaker… 5 people however small Steve is… (think a sideways Rizzla)… is a squeeze on the stage of the DC… the lack of usual movement however, was more than made up for by the ‘attack’ of the set… 9 tracks crammed into 30 minutes, that still left our contingent fairly gagging for more….

The set kicked off with Destroyed by the look of Love (my daddy was a Pooh bear) affectionately and more concisely monikered ‘Pooh’ for live dates… DBTLOL is indeed due to be the title track of the next ep (out on Mon March 31st Scratch fans!!!), there ain’t no stopping the releases this year, far from settling into our dotage ’09 is the year of fighting back, the year of action… missing tonight were the staples ‘Numbers’, ‘Fakers’, ‘Spiral Scratch’… but in their place were new ‘young turks’ like
‘You want the World’ and ‘Whatever happened to Friday night’… both surely destined for the LONG awaited album 3.

All in all the set was received as ever with furver and fever, The band were excited and the crowd played their huge part, Whitty’s additon brought comparisons with the Libertines, which can never be a bad thing, the fuller sound and particularly Steve’s great backing vocals, have given The Scratch a turbo edge for the exciting things in the next 6 weeks we’ve got a BBC session and the first night of our Horn residency, where we support Goldblade on their opening date of their uk tour. In the current climate of depression, recession and stale, generia (yes I made that word up), It’s great to be in a band right now, especially when you’re independent and unrepentant like The Scratch.

You said you loved it, we loved it, who needs anyone else for a goodtime… not us!!!!! We love all of you who came. As you know, we are nothing without you.

The Scratch
Xx


… btw… I cut this bit out… but felt it needed putting back in for our children and our children’s children…

Speaking before tonights show a few of our amazing fan base were discussing our apparent lack of London gigs… but were too busy working out how to split our tenner five ways, so we smiled and then bought them a drink and 25 straws… The London scene… In the end its just a game and has no meaning….

CU at the Horn!
x

Whitty puts the record straight... "I didn't play M.E.N!"

The write up from outa space! - Whitty - it's official!

Dear Scratchers

At last Steve Whitty has put the record straight about who played the M.E.N. in a candid interview with the Stevenage Comet newspaper...

11:22 - 05 February 2009

'Scratching around'

THE Scratch play edgy, humorous British punk pop and have just released
latest single Against the Grain - a Supergrassy supercharged pop fest.

Formed
in 2002 the St Albans-based five-piece are working on their third album
to be released on their DIY label Ponyland Records.

Having
played the MEN Arena in Manchester to 22,000 people as part of the
Versus Cancer gig supporting Noel Gallagher, Echo and the Bunnymen and
Ian Brown, they also gig regularly on the London circuit as well as in
Herts and Beds.

Guitarist Steve Whittaker has just joined the band after fronting Stevenage/Letchworth/Baldock rockers Look At It Go!

He
said: "My first gig with the band will be on February 17 at the Dublin
Castle in Camden, followed by a BBC 3 Counties session on March 6.

"We
have also confirmed a residency at The Horn is St Albans, with the
first show supporting Goldblade - fronted by Stone Roses biographer
John Robb - on the first date of their UK tour."

Against the
Grain is available for download at iTunes, Sony Connect, Music Now, MP3
Tunes, Greatindiemusic, Flip, Rhapsody, Nifty, LoudEye-OD2 and CDBaby.

Check them out at www.myspace.com/thescratch

VS Re:Charged ... the interview

www.vsrecharged.com

Dear Scratchers,

As you know, the secret of our ‘success’ is never giving up and taking our chances when they come up… so there was no way, a few flakes of the wrong type of snow were going to keep The Scratch from their appointment with VS Recharged radio !

A mildly surprised Jordan the shows producer/compare and ‘guru’ greeted John, Andy and Sam (Scratch fashionista and PR Tzar) Vince... “Grim is already here, I was only expecting one of you… but the record label* who you were sharing the show with haven’t turned up, so we’ll get you all in around the table if that’s cool” “Yeah cool”… lucky eh… (*I wonder when their bound and gagged bodies will be found in that Wheely Bin behind Radio 1?!?)

The first thing that hits you is what a really modern and clean studio Jordan and co-host Alex are broadcasting from… it knocked the squash and squeeze of XFM Manchester’s broom or should I say ‘Boon’ cupboard into a cocked hat! Although we did get alcohol there my dear Scratchery readers!!!… VS Recharged has only been going for a couple of years now but is already building a dedicated fan base which is no surprise when they can list the likes of Marco Pirroni, Andy Weatherall (Primals Screams producer) and Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols among it’s superstar music heroes and legends who have already (dis)graced the show!?… Tonight it was The Scratch’s turn!

Sat in the airtight studio were Jordan’s co-host Alex, John, Andy, Grim and looking on Sam who declined the offer of a microphone (this time)… while Jordan played ‘puppet master’ from the control room.

What followed for the duration of the two show was a VS Recharged version of Jukebox Jury as the ‘panel’ listened and then discussed the latest submissions by this weeks batch of unsigned hopefuls, interspersed with general and more importantly for the assemblage all things The Scratch. The show also included a play of Against the grain, which was greeted by a rather charming email from listener Jackie… who reckoned ATG was the best song of the night and that the band had come across as very interesting… (the tricks of radio huh!)… but you were right of course about the music!… Having written this up the day after the night before, without any notes and in possession of an extremely fuzzy head… the only other band name I can remember is that of Foxtrot Bravo a band Jordan had praised, plugged and played who are due to be produced by Oasis’s producer… (Check out Salad’s two albums from the mid/early 90’s and you won’t be very far away at all from FB’s sound).

A few further plugs for the Horn gig, the Dublin Castle, the Tour dates single giveaway, Grim struggling to remember ANY band names and a message from Manilla PR’s Tony later and Team Scratch and Jordan’s crew were soon supping assorted beverages in the Tavern around the corner, while reflecting on a thoroughly enjoyable and worthwhile evenings entertainment!

Conversations veered this way and that on many subjects, but try as he might Jordan was unable to crack the ‘Age Question!’… (he’ll never believe the reason we took Sam along was to make our collective age just 2 years under 200!!)…eh Sam… lightening reactions… lightening… (xx)….

Thanks a lot to the guys for a great evening, hope to catch you on 17th at the Dublin Castle.

Ps Grim, I won’t be taking advantage of that email address… not without the proper authorisation that is…

A very observant man from Watford...

Dear Scratchers,

Here's an interview Andy conducted with Neil Skinner of The Watford Observer just before Christmas.

The Scratch - an itch you just can't...scratch

5:46pm Thursday 29th January 2009"Independent and unrepentant”- a more succinct introduction to St Albans act The Scratch you’d struggle to find.

Formed some seven years ago the lads have, by the standard of most
comparable acts, enjoyed huge success: releasing two studio albums,
clocking up hours of national radio play and appearing alongside the
likes of the Charlatans and Paul Weller – nice work if you can get it.

So why aren’t they better known? Why hadn’t they crossed my radar until some kind soul had a word in my ear?

“Good question,” replies jovial front man Andy Thomson “I wish I knew.”

Allow me, then, to fill in the blanks. Formed by a group of
“middlingly successful" but disillusioned musicians in the early
naughties The Scratch are an irresistibly catchy punk/pop outfit with a
growing fan base across the UK.

In 2007 they played in front of more than 20,000 people at the MEN
Arena after winning an XFM backed competition to support a charity gig
supported by a veritable who’s who of the Brit Pop scene.

Other notable festival slots have seen them appear at the Tony
Wilson memorial In the City gig, and alongside idols the Buzzcocks in
the muddy fields of Dorset.

Blending raw Buzzcocks era punk with edgier, catchier influences
such as TRex and (even) Adam and the Ants, the guys are planning (and
may have the talent for) national recognition but, for the time being
at least, are happy to keep doing what their doing.

Chatting after the much anticipated lauch of new single Against the
Grain Andy reflected on past achievements and spoke philosophically
about the uture.

“We’re a group of guys of a certain age,” he adds, craftily dodging the routine ‘who old are you’ question with aplomb.

“We take our influences from the 90s and even earlier so, yes, we
sound a lot different to a lot of the younger acts out there.

“We’ve had what you could call a career spike in some of the bigger gigs we played but we don’t see it as a bad thing.

“We didn’t set out on a quest for world domination – we are just a
group of guys who love music; it’s so much a part of our lives that we
could never leave it behind.

“If there’s even one person that gets what we’re doing then that’s great by us.”

It’s an attitude in keeping with the band’s “DIY until we die” ethos.

Never wishing to be dictated to, their albums to date, Night Bus
and the Milk Train (2006) and DIY (2004), have been released on their
own label Pony Land.

“Like I say – we’re happy doing what we’re doing,” adds Andy. We
don’t want to be lectured; to be told what to wear, what to say, and
what tracks to release. We can only be who we are.”

Here here.

The guys won’t be back in St Albans until late March.

I advise, however, that you check out thescratch.co.uk in the meantime. Fill your ears and open your minds.
Big Thanks Neil
x

Whittaker debut at 'secret' show!

Dear Scratchers,

The rumours that have echoed the halls of Scratch towers and reverberated incessantly through the entire music industry since Christmas came to a raucous clarity on Sunday night at a 'secret' Scratch gig at St.Albans Bar 62... where the band 'rockin' rolled out it's famous 24 track set, to a joyous leaping throng of party goers!!! Resplendent in 1980's Grange Hill uniform the boy Whittaker slashed/yelped and mockneyed his way through (including a 2 hour rehearsal) 4 hours of big Scratch power!!! to firmly stamp his diminutive mark on the band, raising temperatures and lowering the average age by well over half! Welcome to the Whitster... come see the Freashow's next performance at the Dublin Castle!!!

Hope you had a great Birthday Sian...

Gawd bless ya!
xx

Against the Grain... the ONLY review you need read!

Dear Scratchers, Please find below the only review you need to read of Against the Grain, from the amazingly inciteful losingtoday.com

The Scratch ‘against the grain’ (pony land). The return of one of our favourite turntable obsessions of recent years, the Scratch have on more than one occasion flattened us into states of jaw dropped fondness within these pages. Despatching a high end pedigree of pop grooved new wave the Scratch sound like renegades from another pop age time tunnelled into the present and brandishing an impeccable arsenal of hook laden nuggets and whistle-able sub three minute anthems whose prime directive it would seem - aside that is wearing your stylus blunt - is to drive you to the limits of distraction. Both ’against the grain’ and its flip cut ’cool in an uncool way’ bristle with the trademark class of Scratch releases of yore, the former seductively swooning ’n’ swaggering and proving to be a hitherto instantaneously shot of delirious radio friendly new wave buzz laced power pop over-turing that catches light with the same acutely knowing melodic symmetry of the much missed Motors from yesteryear albeit here found peaking over the shoulder of the Flamin’ Groovies and comparing notes whilst shoehorning into the mix some neatly drilled strut riffed ear candy and MOR harmonies.

In sharp contrast the hot rod boogie of ’cool in an uncool way’ yelps, coos, pouts and preens its way in to your psyche and burns the grooves in the process to sound not unlike a preened, primed n’ stripped to the bone early career Reverend Horton Heat who aside sounding like some 50’s wet dream homage sublimely manages to not only veer into the same retro glazed avenues similarly occupied by Pirroni’s much admired Wolfmen but craftily echoes of the ghost of Bators former charges the Dead Boys and the Lords of the New Church while happily showing off its Vanian like Damned / Phantom Chords implants. In short devilishly cool stuff from the practitioners of perfect pop. www. thescratch. co. uk

Huge thanks to Mark

Amateur Hour with Huge Davenport!

Dear Scratchers, hope you had the chance to catch Andy and John last night on CRMK radio, where the chaps too over the Hugh Davenport show... despite plenty of pontification and general jovialilty no less than 26 faves, tips and influences were squeezed into a great fun two hours... Hugh was given a couple of exclusives along the way, namely the announcement of Steve Whittaker a great friend of the band, who is officially joining the fold on 25th Jan and also a live London appearance at Camden's Dublin Castle on the Fierce Panda Club Fandango night on Tuesday Feb 17th... there were also dedications to the late great Ron Asheton of The Stooges and fellow CRMK DJ 'The Groover', the stations resident T.Rex guru (it's rumoured he could rival Andy in the fan stakes!) Here's the full track listing of the show...

Commando - The Ramones...

Love you More - Buzzcocks...

Remake Remodel - Roxy Music...

Swastika Eyes - Primal Scream...

Set me free - The Kinks...

Every Second Counts - Switches...

Hello Sunshine - Super Furry Animals...

Free not free - Clinic...

The Bomb - New Young Pony Club...

Girls and Boys - Blur...

In the Heat of the morning - David Bowie...

Jigsaw Feeling - Siouxsie and the Banshees...

In one ear - Cage the Elephant...

Quiet life - Japan...

Against the Grain - The Scratch...

Cartrouble - Adam and the Ants...

Rip off - T.Rex...

A letter to Dominique - Louis XIV...

Slow Death - Flaming Groovies...

Candy Skin - Fire Engines...

Aisha - Death in Vegas...

Search and Destroy - The Stooges...

Amateur Hour - Sparks...

Out Faking the Fakers - The Scratch...

Serve the Servants - Nirvana...

Sunday Morning - Velvet Underground...

Once again great big thanks to Hugh, we look forward to the next one. See you at the Golblade gig, where we aim to furnish you with a copy of DIY and of course an extra extra large t-shirt! Hugh has made forthcoming single Against the Grain, his single of the month 'gawd bless im!'x