The Scratch - In the City 2008 - a bands eye view!

Dear Scratchers,

The only way I can possibly think about writing this up, is by splitting it into 3 days.
As per usual it is a tale of Euphoria, Heartache, sore feet, sore throats, frantic energy, high octane performance and of course vermin!

Day 1 - Saturday 4th: Watford Junction

Andy gets the train, to rendevous with the newly twisted knee’d Teenaw, Manager, Hotelier, Drinker and all round Super woman!

Inside knowledge and a hefty pile of CD’s mean barely 90 minutes from arriving at Manchester Piccadilly, the dynamic duo are at the impressive Midland Hotel, there’s a line of tressle tables in the large reception hall, a place that over the course of this long weekend, will become the centre of everyone’s universe. It was just starting to be populated with flyers and the kind of shiny merchandise band’s design in the hope of mesmerising the dignitaries, liggers and general delegate hangers on, who have the power to be able to elevate the latest three chord wonders to Oasis and Arctic Monkey style prowess, with a simple nod of a head to the right person at their label.

Getting on In the City, is a bit like being a starving lion (the bands), locked in a glass cage, surrounded by a herd upon herd of juicy wilderbeast, all dressed in masquerade ball masks (the people in the know) roaming tantalisingly just outside the locked door.

Though Manchester is a proper music city, where true giants of the industry actually dare to mix, laugh and enthuse with the great unwashed masses (there’s no-way you could get an event like this in uptight London)… the rule that “it ain’t what you know it’s who you know” is still all too annoyingly applicable… The only way to get noticed as John Robb said to us, is you need to be “big bold and brash”. Luckily for The Scratch, the ‘dream team’ of Tina and Steve ‘not a skinny Zane Lowe look-a-like thanks very much’ Whittaker, are masters of the art.

Prior to the Midland, Andy and Tina had visited Tina’s mate Lisa’s house for a pre birthday party drink… by 7.30, Andy was sitting in front of a can of Cider, a glass of Champagne and an Aftershock… Thus, on leaving the Midland, they were buzzing and our Tina was already on the blagging trail, getting them into One Central for free on the premise of sussing the venue out for Monday nights gig.

Day 1 (Well half a day really) ended around 2am ish… with appetite for the task ahead, well and truly whetted.

Day 2:

Sunday 5th. Sportscity.

Up by 8.00, Andy is piling up the stacks of giveaway CD’s, flyers, vinyl and press releases, they are going to use as bait for the day ahead, by 10.30, Andy and Tina are back at the Midland replenishing the tressle table and picking up the In the City programme/guide… which of course has managed to get the date wrong of The Scratch’s showcase and omitted the photo that should have accompanied the 30 word biog. It’s with world weariness, not disappointment we shrug, it’s kind of par for the course for us, (the little details make the difference!)

Next it’s rehearsal time and Ancoats finest, The Boom, Boom Rooms… Andy and Tina limp there for 11.30… set up the mics and sit and wait for the rest of the band and the aforementioned PR go-getter, Steve Whitty. John, Grim and Steve arrive around 12.45, but it isn’t until around 2.00 that the Baron rolls up, having encountered horrendous weather (Manchester is amazingly gloriously sunny by the way!), Man City traffic and getting lost.

Tina at once Kidnaps Whitty and they head back off to the Midland, while the band decide which one of the 10 track set they need to drop to accommodate their two newies, Freakshow and You want the World.

An hour or so passes…

“Hold on, my phone’s ringing”, it’s an excited Tina, “We’ve just met Clint (Boon ) and Charlie (Boon) getting out of a cab, just as we arrived at the Hotel”. They’re setting up Mrs Boon’s cake stool. Sex, Cake and Rock’n’ Roll! It’s the new black in Manchester… “We’re havin a cup of tea out of fine bone china, a home made cake and we’ve got Clint, DJing on two mini, portable antique turntables! … Oh and I’ve just seen John Robb… hurry up and get over here.”

We didn’t need to be told twice. After locking our gear in the studio and with a swift change of t-shirt and shoes in the street we set off.

On arrival at the Midland, sure enough, Clint was there, Charlie, John Robb and host of other delegates, hedgehog haired bands and balding muso types… sadly the tea urn had run dry, so it was lager and schmoozing time. Andy chatted to Charley about a possible appearance at the bands next Manchester gig in Salford on 16th October, Clint posed with the band holding one of Mrs Boons cake signs, while Tina was bending John Robb’s ear about who, where why and what! (Go Teenaw GO!) A highlight of the day so far was an exclusive play of Goldblade and Poly Styrene’s of (X-Ray Spex) new joint Christmas single to Andy and Tina on JR’s ipod.

Grae Wall the promoter of our night (from the St.Albans Arts Council) was soon followed by Darren manager of The Culture (and former Infernal Racket DJ for who we sessioned in Feb), in saying high as we passed across the Midland’s bar carpet, all too focused on our own missions to stop for breath.

As time got round to 5.30ish, Andy and the Scratch SWAT team, attended the summing up of the days events, with the amazingly busy but tireless John Robb as host… (Great work Tina for mounting the stage at the end and squeezing a CD into the palm of each of the 4 panelists... The Scratch duly, get their first mention on the official podcast!)

Everything is going well, it’s bloody hectic, but no time for slacking, the only blip is Elizabeth from the BBC who Andy had approached earlier in the day re- an interview, ignoring her mobile for the rest of the evening… and the next day… (We’ve got your number now though lady, you don’t think we’re gonna give up do you?!)

Next stop is the Ruby lounge, John Kennedy is about to do a DJ set. 3 passes, 6 people, a quick flash of Andy’s phone pic with Mr.Boon and a smile from Teenaw and we’re in.

Quick as a lightening, Whitty is in the ‘merch’ bag and has already violated the DJ booth with a copy of Critical Mass. Our first direct contact with John Kennedy and subsequently our first play of a Scratch track by him (and now, no longer a Scratch virgin) Nice one Whitty!!!!

“It’s Tina isn’t it?” by now we’ve got celebs (not literally, cos that would’ve got us in NME at last!!!!) coming out of our ears! Thoroughly top bloke Martin Coogan (He of “Can you Dig it” , Revolution Radio DJ and now head honcho at Radio Republic fame)… tops a great day, as our entourage is now actually being noticed by the stars! Our Teenaw, the new face on the Manchester scene!

Not a bad day, Clint, Charlie, John Robb, John Kennedy and Martin Coogan. Let’s bloody move to Manchester, was the cry as the cosy 6 some, gorged themselves on late, late Sunday night pizza. 2.30am looks like a good time for some shut eye. Thankfully there was no beer left in the fridge!

Day 3: The Final Conflict. Monday 6th October. Day of the Rat!

Eye bags are on the increase… an ASDA breakfast is sure to help!... Up by 8, out by 10 but not before Whitty eats three times his body weight in ‘fry up’. We stride into the Midland by 11.15, following 20 minutes of blanket flyer action on the street outside the massive Manchester University. Now it’s time for our noon interview with Ross, Tarquin and Juliette of Big Multimedia at The Tiger Lounge, for 15 minutes of TV interview fame on their soon to be launched IPTV Channel. Good luck and yes John (the Baron’s new mate from Durham, they speak the same lingo you know man!) we’re well up for a gig when things get off the ground.

Soon back at HQ, table replenishment 407 is completed, followed by a mild panic as The Scratch say hi to The Molotovs (a band they had met last week at the Horn gig in St.Albans), when a ginger haired bloke is mistaken for Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens … not sure what he’ll do with the 5 cds 3 biogs and 38 flyers? Still Xmas presents are sorted I guess?

Now it’s off to Salford Uni for more of the same street team action, while incorporating a quick visit to the Pint Pot (scene of our 16th October date).

The clock though is starting to tick very rapidly and there is a palpable lull in energy levels. Tina and Steve decide to hang out at the Midland, while the band go back to change for the final push!

As the make up is being trowelled on at the flat, Tina’s sends a rapid volley of Text’s Hooky’s got a CD, Andy Rourke’s got one AND John Robb, has agreed to bring Goldblade to The Horn in St.Albans for a gig!!!! “And now Whitty’s chasing John Kennedy with a copy of Night Bus or Milk Train!”

As you know Scratch fans we are consummately professional and are NEVER late for soundchecks (as uncool as that may sound), we keep up our record at One Central only to be tutted at on arrival, as we are informed we only have 20 minutes left… (don’t worry, it’ll only take a pro 5 minutes darlin!!!) … despite a slight technical hitch with a footswitch, the sound generally is very good ala Manchester, leaving us the time for one last Tressle table drop and then it’s showtime.

Friends begin to arrive at the Hotel, Lucy and Clod, Mark (Tina told you it would be worth it mate!), Colleen, Super cool Sam, Merrily and a growing bunch of the curious, brilliant and brow beaten. *The guy (sorry can’t remember your name) who was doing the Wii guitar hero in the basement of the Midland, promised to be there, JR’s seminar ruled him out, but Tony and Denise of our PR company Manilla had just arrived and were up for their first full Scratch set!

Like dynamite, Numbers exploded into life and things never let up from there… Freakshow, You want the world, I Relax to Spiral Scratch, Against the Grain, the intensity never dropped, it was as though all the anticipation of the last 2 days had been distilled into one crazed demonic cocktail. As * said, as the final chord of Dear Maniac sang into the ether, “that’s the liveliest show of the whole weekend”, big thanks to all those who took the time, thanks to Mr.Coogan who snuck in, in time to leave an informed note on Tina’s myspace today (the day after) saying how we rocked. Thanks we appreciate the time you all took to come along.

And, so that was it, In the City 2008, all that effort from Tina and Steve had culminated in the band delivering in equal measure for them, in our eyes the two real heroes of the weekend. (Big thanks to Paul for making the journey and wearing the tee btw).

All that was left now was for a wind down beer, before the long drive back to St.Albans… there was a mild whiff on anti climax in the air as I’m sure you could imagine, it had been an intense affair. However there was one last Scratch on tour gem to tell you about.

A reflective Andy and Whitty, are sat down at the table we had populated since the gig and have become emersed in conversation about what was next, and how Steve could force John Kennedy to offer The Scratch a session, when suddenly Andy jumped up going “Er , what’s that!, er aghh”… bewildered Steve looked on as in the style of frightened school girl Andy is shrieking “Er, get it off me” he promptly drops his trousers to his knees shaking booty violently! It turns out that while Steve and Andy chatted, Steve had felt something brush past his foot… just seconds before a RAT RUNS UP ANDY’S TROUSER LEG, ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP TO HIS RAPIDLY CONTRACTING BACKSIDE!… looking presumably for a way out! “Thank God I wasn’t going Commando! As it was, despite only having a couple of pints, I had ended the night well and truly ‘Rat Arsed!”

“It ain’t rockin roll and I don’t like it, like it no I don’t.”

It could only happen to our band…

Wow what a weekend, what a bizarre end and so as all fairy tales end, we got our record deal and lived happily ever after… well, that was the dream Andy was having as he, Grim and Whitty were chauffered back down the motorway by John, for another 2 o’clock finale… but this time it was bloody work in the morning. Who says life on the road ain’t glamourous! Thanks to the lead singer of the band who followed the Underground Verulam showcase (The one we’d opened), who dedicated their first song to the man who had the rat in his trousers!

The extra special thanks however goes to Clint (really touched that you put us in your top 10 tips for the weekend on the offical site mate!), Charley (Hopefully see you in Salford on 16th for a spot of afternoon tea), Supercharged John Robb (let’s get this gig sorted at the Horn mate), Martin Coogan (great to meet you at last), Grae at the St.Albans Arts Council, (for this great opportunity… looking forward to Trashville in November) …and as we’ve said before the true stars of this weekend Steve (I’m gonna get that Kennedy session Whittaker) and the amazing Tina, we love you.

Apologies to anyones names we’ve forgotten or not mention, total recall after a weekend like that, just ain’t gonna happen anymore.

We’re already anticipating next year’s later, more prominent spot! Safe in the knowledge that team Scratch could not have done anymore to get our name across to the great and good (and evil) of the music elite.

Next stop Tea and cake down Salford Way!

One question remains however… Where did lager magnet The Baron get that case of Red Stripe he was carrying around all of Monday by the way?
xx