Chef Mike mike(at)rechargedradio.com tells it like it is!!!

Dear Scratchers, What can we say... WE LOVE RECHARGED RADIO!!!!!
26.10.10 Tuesday Night Diner: Scratch That Itch!
26/10/2010 06:18:07
Last year, just as I was joining the illustrious staff of Recharged Radio, a snotty, fiery, driving track called Teen Idol by London-based band The Scratch was blasting its way up the charts. Jordan sent that one round for us to listen to, and our collective jaws dropped. It had everything—pulsing bass, searing guitar riffs, and a punk attitude that grabbed us by the throats and shook us around for four minutes or so. What do you do when that happens? The only thing you can do—you listen to it over, and over again, and play it on your radio show (if you have one), or buy it for yourself, your friends, and your enemies. This winning hit wound up as one of my top singles for 2009 (The Electrifying Eleven), and wound up on all sorts of station imaging and jingles here at Recharged, and still does to this day.

Fast forward to right now—October, 2010. After a massive hit like Teen Idol, what happens next? Mere mortals might sit on their laurels, but alas, The Scratch are no mere mortals. They decided to keep firing back—and their latest effort is an incredible song that stands up really well alongside the last one. This one has everything too—clever wordsmithing, killer guitar riffs and solos, crisp drums, rock solid bass, and even hand claps and what sounds to my ears like a cello. There are elements of music from the `60s, `70s, `80s, `90s, and `00s. As always, these guys did the whole thing themselves. It sounds great way out here in California. As Andy from the band said on an episode of The Forum last year, “DIY till I die”. Nicely done, Andy!

It’s destined for the top, and on this week`s show, I’ll tell you how you can get a copy.

www.thescratch.co.uk/
We’re also going to explore heat. We’ve got songs about hot phones, hot moms, and hot vats of boiling lard. Seriously—our friends The Little Philistines, Hail The Size, and The Clutter Family are all of like mind this week, as they heat things up.

www.myspace.com/thelittlephilistines
www.myspace.com/hailthesize
www.myspace.com/theclutterfamily


If you`d like to make a request, just drop me a line at mike(at)rechargedradio.com. If you`d like to become an honorary California citizen, drop me a line at the same address. And if you`d like to hear all this great music—simply tune in to the Tuesday Night Diner, Tuesday night, 8:00-10:00 p.m. (GMT), 12:00-2:00 p.m. Pacific, only at Recharged Radio—www.rechargedradio.com.

See you then!

Chef Mike
mike(at)rechargedradio.com
MN2BDNC

You! are the star Mike!
x

This is what happened to our Friday night! - Bar 62

Friday night saw The Scratch resume the DIY tour at one of their favourite 'locals'. 62 Catherine Street has been the home to many a music night over the years dating back to the Pineapple in the 80's, The Merry Minstral in the 90's and now simply Bar 62. last nights gig was another part of that rich St.Albans Heritage, in an ever growing live music scene of the City. True, many of the pubs are still favouring covers, but the tide appears to be turning.

The promise of a late license, Champagne Charlie's, gastro grub, a 50ft Woman and (of course) the fab 5 ;-) saw a healthy weekend contingent devour the floor boards with anticipated gusto!… 50ft Woman kicked off proceedings at 9 with a set that just seems to get better, with new ep Menage etois coming out on 1st Nov, morale is high in the camp… which you can find out more about this coming Thursday when Andy and 'Super' visit Minki for her Recharged Radio show, prior to both bands double teaming again on 4th November for the Ft's ep launch in Shoreditch.

So with a great platform lain, the night was fully taken by the Horns by The Scratch, who buoyed by the tour, the album, the reviews and the general vibe, were in party mood from the off. Angular gyrations were in overdrive, mad eyes, the trade mark banter back with a vengance, squealing guitars and the inevitable rhythmnised throb… The band have been mixing up the show a bit lately and tonight was no exception, kicking off with Against the Grain and Where's or the wise, the set inhaled, exhaled, dropped to a soft middle, with Undercover and Let there be us and then creshendoed, with the giant explosion (Andy had tweeted it would be sexy!), of the 'Golden Run' (Spiral Scratch, Critical Mass, Dear Maniac and Teen Idol).That as well received as it was came very close to being overshadowed by a potential new suitor... in the shape of the 3 track hat-trick! Biting on my lip, 88th Day of Rain and sure to be a future single Weirder than we are, which in mpst peoples minds was the best track on the night… Pedro… Pedro who the F*** is Pedro?….

Allied with the usual mic trashing chaos, a keyboard debut! and even a Rooneyesque shock omission (Gas Taps) to contend with this hugely enjoyable night rocked as only a gig by The Scratch can!

Once more, giant thanks go out to all who came down, especially Buzz who saved the mic stand in true roadie god fashion… all the new recruits… great to see you, Neil, Jon and the 62s staff for a great venue and  hospitality and most of all our fans who turn up to every single gig we do. WE LOVE YOU. x

Next stop the 50ft Launch, before next official gig at 93 Feet East, Brick Lane, Friday November 5th, it's FREE entry and we're on nice and early to catch the afterwork crowd (on stage 8.15) expect fireworks guys. Gas Taps will be back!!!!! x

Recording weekend update - Album 4's taking shape

DIY month's proving a breathless affair! A break in the mini tour saw the band decamp to the bunker, for vocals, guitar overdubs and keyboards.., yes keyboards in The Scratch! Minus Super, who'd already done his part on the new recordings back in September. Andy, John, Steve and Grim settled in on Friday evening for a late one: on the agenda first were lead vocals, Desire to be Thin, kicked us off, followed by 88th day of rain, homely crackle, great adventure, down in the alleyway and a newer slightly slower let there be us... Steve and Grim added backing to the first 3 before curfew came down at 2.30am. Next morning bright and early, John and Grim were laying down bass intros, as Andy arrived, Grim then began adding his guitars, by the time Super arrived with cappuccinos all round, Steve had laid down most of his guitar parts too... then it was time for the keys... hinting without giving too much away, that album 4 may either be a return to the eclecticism of DIY or the chance to push into as yet unchartered waters... that'll be for you to find out ;-) x

See you all next Friday at 62's for what's looking very likely to be a memorable one!

What do you get if you mix a Queen of the desert with a White Worm and The Scratch?

Big thanks to Mr Davenport for another hug(e)ly enjoyable show. With John performing babysitting duties it was left to Andy and special guest Dave 'Wasabie Penis' White Worm to anchor the Eclectic Plectrum on crmk.co.uk with wayward Saharan trecky hero Hugh.... Although hero status surely had to go to the 15 women who shared a bedouin with him for a week in the desert! (But seriously congrats to Hugh and the ladies for raising over 40,000 for their charity!)

The theme of this times Hijack by The Scratch (for those who have been following our brief encounters in Milton Keynes over the last year or so) was in these testing credit crunch riddled times, the free CDs, and free music, you get from mags, newspapers, comics etc.... interspersed with exclusive plays from 50ft woman's new ep Menage et tois, the We are White Worm classic, anything u want it to be and 3 songs from DIY: Alcohols a Depressant, Erotomaniac and Supermodel.

Here's the full list of 21 tracks that the guys played over the two hours.

Afghan Whigs - Somethin' Hot
The Scratch - Alcohol's a depressant
PJ Harvey - Dress
Theatre of Hate - Do you believe in the Westworld
Larry Wallis - Police Car
Sleater Kinney - Combat Rock
We are White Worm - Anything you want it to be
Franz Ferdinand - Shopping for Blood
50ft Woman - (Strictly) Only Swinging
Sparks - Barbecutie
Minutemen - Political song for Michael Jackson to play
The Scratch - Erotomaniac
The Red Crayola - Hurricane Fighter Plane
David Bowie - Repetition
The Sonics - Strychnine
Hawkwind - Motorhead
The Boys - I Don't care
The Strokes - Last Night (original demo)
The CLint Boon Experience - White no sugar
The Scratch - Supermodel
Link Wray - Rumble

Next stop Bar 62, where u will hopefully be able to meet the intrepid Mr.D in person! X

Tim Peacock of Whisperinanhollerin sums up DIY brilliantly in his review

Many thanks to Tim for this great review that is up their with the best we've received... Tim gets it, we love it!

'SCRATCH, THE' - 'D.I.Y (re-issue)' - Label: 'PONYLAND' - Genre: 'Rock' - Release Date: '11th October 2010'-
Catalogue No: 'PON071' - Our Rating: 8 out of 10
Hailing from St. Albans, THE SCRATCH may be geographically immune to the trendier London scenes, but their riotously intelligent self-made pop has been a much-needed provincial thorn in the industry’s side for the best part of a decade now.
Since 2002 they have served up three fiercely independent albums and eleven singles and continue to chip away at the shiny veneer of the establishment. Their debut album ‘D.I.Y’ initially landed on our doorstep as 2003 rolled into 2004, coming to us via the group’s own Ponyland imprint on a series of ‘home printed’ CDS. The two singles culled from it – ‘X-Ray Eyes’ and the memorable ‘I Relax to Spiral Scratch’ – were issued in small runs of 7” and 10” singles respectively and all have long since sold out. As a result, the LP has attained something akin to legendary status among the band’s fan base, so to herald the band’s arrival in the digital age, here it is again, re-mastered and available on CD and via download. The title ‘D.I.Y’ is wholly apt. This is a record harking back (in spirit as much as sound) to the original British Independent ideal. The same Punk and Post-Punk ethic that allowed The Buzzcocks’ ‘Spiral Scratch’ EP and Adrian Borland’s pre-The Sound combo The Outsiders’ debut LP to be released on small self-established labels of their own: leads that were soon followed by brilliantly diverse labels like Rough Trade, Factory and Postcard. In The Scratch’s case, ‘D.I.Y’ was just that, as it was mostly pieced together in lead guitarist Grim’s flat in Islington. However, while it fizzes with an anarchic spirit, that shouldn’t be misconstrued as shoddy and lo-fi. ‘D.I.Y’ is a vivid splurge of a record, full of attitude and great tunes from four lads whose primary urge seems to be to record whatever sounds cool to their ears and bugger everyone else. Wasn’t that, after all, what Punk was supposed to be about before the Corporations moved in? Large portions of the album rock pretty damn hard. The terminally ace ‘I Relax to Spiral Scratch’ is a great homage to the independent spirit and stuffed with effervescent, Buzzcocks-y guitars, while tracks like ‘Rotten Soul’ and ‘Supermodel’ also do that frustrated, youthful Punk-Pop thing akin to the ‘Cocks or Ash with layers of cool to spare. ‘Alcohol’s A Depressant’, meanwhile, is both a cautionary and celebratory ode to excessive drinking (“I clean my teeth and I go to bed/ I’ve still got your taste in my head”) that most of us can relate to of a Sunday morning. The Scratch are about a lot more than simply stinging riffs and sneering vocals, however. Tracks like ‘Brainstorm’ and ‘X-Ray Eyes’ have more than a touch of the late’80s/ early ‘90s Indie-Crossover about them, with loops and beats recalling genre-mashers like Jesus Jones or The Shamen in their great initial guise. ‘Texture to the Flava’, on the other hand, opens with a guitar figure akin to ‘She Sells Sanctuary’-era Cult, while ‘Back to Ten’ wrong-foots you with its’ deceptively mellow introduction before going for the burn big time. Perhaps best of all is the closing ‘Logical Mind’, which is again built around House-y beats and electronica and brings some lush balm for the soul to switch off and float away to. Not what you’d expect but twice as good as a result. ‘D.I.Y’, then, deserves serious re-appraisal. Recorded on a much lower budget than many under-achieving mainstream albums, it is the sound of a bunch of sussed, lippy upstarts on fire creatively and turning limited resources into something truly triumphant. It’s all the proof you need that wild pop bombs can still rock the provinces even in these conservative times.

10.10.10 100th gig... mmm sounds apocalyptic!

Our big DIY weekend finished off on a great high with an ace happening down at the Boot in St.Albans on Sunday 10.10.10... The release date for the digital DIY. So why the 60's Jive I hear you say, well, it must be something to do with the atmosphere of the unfeasibly low ceilinged Boot (one of the many rivals for Britain's oldest pub) and the general modness of the audience, any array of originals, revivalists and 21st century scenesters made up this excellent lazy Sunday afternoon gathering.

The Contrast between Friday's rock off and Sundays Matinee couldn't have been much different, with the band squeezed into a telephone box like corner of the pub, but still with the elasticity of that green slime you can get in joke shops, at all times threatening to explode over the crowd (...)

This the last of the year of this type of gig (a double setter) saw The Scratch celebrate their centenary with 26 songs executed with scarcely a hair out of place, new favourites 88th Day of Rain and Weirder than we are, rubbing shoulders once more with the golden run heavyweights... (Yeah don't get those sentences mixed up, or you may start wearing sowesters to gigs, what with Golden rain exploding over the front row!)...

We'd been told that the Boot crowd were really into their music and so it proved, with no interest at all in the retro CD market, all assembled only had eyes for our uber modern vinyl!

Massive thanks to everyone who stayed and swayed, bopped and jived, it was a really enjoyable gig and highly fitting for our 100th show. Top thanks go to super Sam and Matt for Bootlegging (no pun) the whole shebang for posterity!

Next stop on the DIY tour Bar 62 on Friday 22nd of October, with support from a 50ft Woman! You'd be mad not to check it out... wouldn't you :-)

oh and Don't forget to checkout itunes as DIY is now digital and waiting for your downloads!

DIY Launch party the Horn St.Albans - As it happened!

As ever with nights like this their is so much anticipation the weight of it threatens to blow your mind! Last nights album launch do, came as close as any gig by The Scratch to do that... what a fantastic atmosphere, what an amazing crowd and what amazing performances by the bands! And SO great to have Tina back on the scene!

The first surprise of a breathless evening was how prompt all the bands were for soundcheck!... it's become a standing joke on the inside of Scratch central that they are the only band around who adhere to soundcheck times!... but not last night! (boring and adminy I know, but, all these things help when you're running a do like this) ... before going any further we must say a big thanks to Bill Johnson for stepping in behind the mixing desk as the expected soundman had called in sick an hour earlier.

The Recharged Radio crew were already setting up ready for their live broadcast! when surprise number two appeared from the ether! As Andy took a call from Kelly Betts producer of BBC 3 Counties Introducing show, informing us that a BBC outside broadcast team were en-route to the Horn to interview Andy live on their show. A flurry of excitement ensued as Ian and crew erected their giant mast on the pavement outside the pub!... Great stuff, what with the big write ups in the local press too, this was fast becoming our best covered local gig!

Back in the Horn Recharged Radio (the best unsigned radio station around btw if we hadn't said that already!) had begun their live broadcast, Andy and Jord took 5 minutes following The Scratch soundcheck to set the scene. With much promising to watch the expletives, as the gig was going out live....

It seemed only 5 minutes had elapsed, but 8.30 was upon us and We are White Worm, were soon kicking off the show in fine style, not least cos they'd been baking prior to the gig and had laid out a fine array of fairy cakes on the front edge of the stage spelling out a launch party eulogy! (Great idea guys! nice cakes too, no that's not you Mark!) Don't be mislead however, bristling with new material, the normally placid lead singer 'Gez' Cheadle growled Cobainesqe through a furious set as the gyration-al Wasabi Penis led his rhythm buddies in a pied piper like dance of icing sugared glee. Undoubtably their finest night of Scratch supportage.

Next up the sumptuous Minki and her 50ft Women!... GRrrrrroowwllll! Resplendent in cat suit and chiffon; the Minkster, slinked and swooned her way through an excellent set, new eps, launch party's and a tightening of the bands dress code, made for a fantastic sassy performance... we can't wait for Bar 62 already!!!! (Fri 22 October, where 50ft Woman support The Scratch for a second time)..

The night was truly rocking. So much so, by the time the youthful cool of Khalazars took to the stage, the venue was beginning to gently creak under the weight of numbers! I don't know what it was, but this night seemed to have a different kind of magic about it... all the bands were playing 'personal bests!'... not least Khalazar who, despite missing heartthrob bassist Brett Howell, had the crowd transfixed with their new rocking revolution. (Anyone who'd been indifferent about their previous incarnation Herringbones, would have been blown away, by their re-birth). Despite pain killers for a back injury (its all down hill from 21 onwards mate!) Miles Howell was on excellent vocal form and being backed brilliantly by brother Taylor on drums, Harry on guitar and the new slightly smaller but no less solid Brett on bass... I can't wait for the debut ep... infact I can't wait for ep's from all of these bands!!!

Thankfully we shouldn't have to wait too long to hear how good they were, as they should all be available on the next Recharged Radio podcast download... Don't worry we'll keep you all informed!

Now as the clock ticked close to 11... it was time for the main event. The Scratch, were ready, willing and about to show how able! With Steve causing mischief sporting new spangly guitar, Super trouncing the drums into the brand new stage carpet, Grizz characteristically jerking, John visibly throbbing, and Andy as ever tearing the script to pieces!

Kicking off with a Lucy Davies* double header of Fakers and Against the grain, the tone was set. Rammed to the front of the stage, standing room gave way to the dancers... as a set intertwined with newies, DIY 'classics' and the greatest hits 'golden run' grew in momentum. Desire to be thin, Weirder than we are and probably new highlight 88th Day of Rain stood up brilliantly alongside Critical Mass, Dear Maniac and Teen Idol, with the returning Texture to the flava, probably taking the DIY gold medal on the night... before a quick-fire encore volley of Homely Crackle, a curiously disjointed Independent Unrepentant (not sure that double chorus goes there Andy!?) and a rousing Gas Taps, which saw the aforementioned one showered in glitter following an impromptu self dowsing in ice cold water! Breathless stuff! The only slight disappointment being loss of the 100% non swearing on the radio record... but by then most people were too danced out or drunk too care!

And that Dear Scratchers was that! DIY partied to the max!

Huge thanks to everyone who made the night so great not least the 81 people who bought advance tickets for the party. You guys ROCK!

Hopefully catch you tomorrow at the Boot for a matinee performance 5-7 for our hundredth gig of The Scratch and a 26 track set for the official download release day of DIY and best of all it's FREE entry!

xx

* if you don't know who Lucy is, you ain't being payin attention at our gigs for the last 5 years!

SpursSimon Blog about DIY

Thanks to @Spurssimon for his blog about DIY and our launch do tomorrow night!

The Scratch - DIY - Re-released 10/10/10

A local (ish) band geographically to me as it turns out, but it was the name of their debut single that caught my eye initially.

The title of the first release by The Scratch "I Relax To Spinal Scratch" should make anyone with a passing interest in the Punk / New Wave scene from the late 70s pay a little attention. For those who don't know, which I am sure there are a few, this has been variously called the first Punk single to be released, the best, and the most influential.
So quite a lot to live up to really.

While I would advise anyone who doesn't own it already to get this EP (that is what we used to call MP3s with bonus tracks in the olden days), and I could bang out about the Buzzcocks for hours, the reason I started writing was to let you know about the new album by The Scratch.

Originally released in 2003, it is being re-released having been tinkered with a little bit. This passed me by on the original go round, but I have already bought other stuff by them, so was pleased to notice it was getting another go. Starting with the aforementioned I Relax To Spinal Scratch, the album has a good mix of what would be classed as Indie / New Wave sounds, with a touch of the Madchester scene around the edges. Younger listeners may have to google some of these terms, but they are all meant in a complimentary manner by me!

While not following in the same vein all the way through track by track, the album is from the mould of making what you like and hoping that others agree. There is more than a hint of Primal Scream on a few of the tracks, Trigger Finger especially to me, which is no bad thing - this is followed by the only slow track on the album, Back To Ten, which I am sure during the live shows is a chance for grabbing some breath. A couple of the band members had previous incarnations in the dance music era of the early 90s, and the influence of that does run through much of the album. The great Alcohol's A Depressant, like we need reminding, towards the end is a fantastic tune, and the closer Logical Mind wouldn't be out of place on many NME compilation albums.

The new version has a more polished feel than the original, which is why I assume it is back out, to give a little more of what they were originally after. This album fits snugly amongst most of the content in my collection and holds it's own against the more "famous" contemporary bands, there is nothing not to like here.

I assume that it will be available from their site direct where you should really buy it from as that actually makes them money and is probably cheaper than the likes of iTunes, and is also available at their launch show in St Albans.

Ironically, I can't make that show, as I am actually going to see The Buzzcocks that night in Aylesbury - it's a funny old world sometimes.

Melanie Dakin interview with Andy for The Review Newspaper in St.Albans

The Scratch reclaim The Horn for DIY album launch4:01pm Tuesday 5th October 2010. By Melanie Dakin

Can-do attitudes are a bit of a buzzword these days as we haul our way out of a recession and there’s no better band to sum up the zeitgeist of the new 'make do and mend' era than St Albans post-punk outfit The Scratch, who are hosting a launch party at The Horn for their newly re-issued debut album, DIY.

I first interviewed The Scratch back in 2007 when they were picked up by XFM DJ Clint Boon, who offered the band the chance of opening the Versus Cancer show at the 22,000 capacity MEN Arena in Manchester via a listeners votes competition. Opening for the likes of Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller The Charlatans, Ian Brown and Echo & The Bunnymen, was certainly a high point. Boutique festival appearances followed and a successful residency at The Horn, which introduced the band’s third studio album, Whatever Happened to Friday Night? We’re not into X Factor style bands; it’s about people making an effort to do something themselves rather than following a template. Andy from The Scratch Now with new St Albans drummer Terry (aka Super) on board and the original four-piece stretched to five with the addition of Steve from Stevenage joining Andy, Grim and John, The Scratch are concentrating on rehearsing material for a fourth album that will be showcased for the first time at the launch.

“It’s been a complete rebirth if you like,” says lead singer Andy. “We went up quite a few levels with the MEN Arena and it’s hard to maintain that peak so we’re looking to local venues to reaffirm our determination. “You’ve got to get up and create your own stuff. We’re not into X Factor style bands; it’s about people making an effort to do something themselves rather than following a template.”Their electro-punk sound is certainly unique with songs like Teen idol and X-Ray Eyes packing quite a punch. Andy says the band’s influences are pretty wide: “Our influences include Ray Davies, the Buzzcocks, which is what Clint Boon picked up on and there’s also some ‘60s Kinks, ‘70s T-Rex and a Primal Scream Madchester thing going on.”

The Scratch also have a distinctive sense of Mod-influenced style. “What we try and do is create an atmosphere to get people up for it. We like to make an effort. We dress to impress.” The band also play The Boot and Bar 62 in October as part of a St Albans mini tour. The Scratch DIY launch party is at The Horn, Victoria Street, St Albans on Friday, October 8. Details: 01727 853143, www.thescratch.co.uk