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!!!!