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.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
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
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
Friday, September 25, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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
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
Sunday, August 2, 2009
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
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
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