Get Erotomanic FREE today!

Today's the day you can download our track Erotomaniac for FREE today and until 7th January. All you need to do is sign up at www.RechargedRadio.com or at the justinwayneshow and you'll get 12 FREE new tracks by 12 new unsigned bands. Oh and did we say they are All free!

Twirl Radio Californian air play from the mighty Chef Mike Lidskin!

Many thanks to the awesome 'Chef' Mike Lidskin for including Alcohol's a Depressant in his huge 7 show end of year roundup!, we feature on show 3... just get along to rechargedradio.com to subscribe or click this link!

http://www.facebook.com/n/?notes%2Fmike-lidskin%2Fthe-twirl-radio-2010-year-end-wrap-up-show-show-482-12252010%2F455173802184&mid=3808ccfG26945ab2G59ba744Ga&bcode=lQcvT&n_m=8e%40talk21.com

December 17th - Heartbreaks gig update...

...all advance tickets have now been sold, for your last chance of a ticket, you need to go to ticket web asap!

http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_south&query=schedule&venue=hornstalbans&month=11&day=17&year=110

Teen Idol on Minki's magic moments

Thanks to the marvelous Minkster for playing Teen Idol on her Magic Moments show last Thursday (9th), you can download the podcast from itunes now!
x

The Scratch feature on Fred Perry's up and coming bands of 2010

Thanks to Alice at Fred Perry Subculture, who have us featured on their their best emerging bands page, incidentaly along with The Heartbreaks!

http://www.fredperrysubculture.com/subsonic_mainpage.asp

http://www.fredperrysubculture.com/subsonic_profile.asp?id=777

NSPCC charity gig at The Horn

Many thanks to everyone who played at and supported the NSPCC charity gig at The Horn last night. A line up that included an excellent set from our mates We are White Worm and saw us try to remedy our 'how to fit 10 songs into a 30 minute set' dilema... unfortuantely we're no closer!... I guess you'll have to wait and see what we decide on 17th!

We've made the Recharged radio advent calender again!

Many thanks and honourings to Recharged for picking us as one of their 25 bands of the year... they've supported us grandly throughout 2010 and we appreciate them much!

go to www.rechargedradio.com to have a goosey!

New Subs show - Andy radio host debut now up for listen again...

Yeah it's chaotic, but what did you expect, thanks to all the guests and all the recharged crew!

just go to http://www.rechargedradio.com/ or download from itunes now!

Mike Lidskin - 23.11.10 Tuesday Night Diner: The First Anniversary Show!

Thanks to Chef Mike for his continued support/plays of our stuff, he included Alcohol's a depressant in his 1st Anniversary show on Tuesday. Much appreciated mate.

You can still listen to the whole show yourself at www.rechargedradio.com or download the podcast from itunes!

Tune in for Andy's radio presenter debut this Friday

Don't forget this Friday evening kicks off in true Scratchy style with Andy's debut 'guest presentership' of Recharged Radio's Friday Forum show, no doubt under the watchful eye of main man Jordan! Tune in between 7-9pm to hear some of the new releases currently bubbling in the London underground... plus the usual string of guests and maybe even an exclusive or two from The Scratch, as the band prepare for the big support gig down the Horn on December 17th, with current NME darlings The Heartbreaks!

www.rechargedradio.com

Exciting times in the studio

Big thanks to Mel O'Donnell who graced the Ponyland records bunker last Friday with some fantastic violin work on new material for The Scratch's fourth studio album. 12 tracks have been laid down already, with more in the pipeline, for what is already shaping up to be the bands most exciting long player to date!

Back in the studio

The band return to the studio this weekend to continue work on album 4, with a few new surprises and a virtuoso special guest!

Recharged Radio Friday Forum

Listen out tomorrow night for I relax to Spiral Scratch on the Recharged Radio Friday forum show from 7pm, it will be good practise for 26th Nov, when Andy will be presenting the show! www.rechargedradio.com

Brainstorm is Tuna the Day!

Thanks to Ade at Tunatheday for making Brainstorm from DIY his TUNA THE DAY! 
(we'll keep it to ourselves that were not from Manchester ;-0 eh!)
http://www.tunatheday.com

Debbie Jones pics from The 50ft Woman Launch party on our myspace!

Many thanks to Debbie Jones (known to some in these parts as Mrs SpursSimon) at www.imagingessence.co.uk for her great shots of our perfornance at the 50ft Woman ep launch party of Thursday 4th November!

Have a look on our myspace now!

www.myspace.com/thescratch

Weekend starts here!!!! - Double gig headering!!!!

Not only are we returning to 93 feet east tomorrow night for a nice early one promoted by The Playground, we're on stage 8.15 btw (And it's FREE entry too!)... but tonight sees us open up 50ft Woman's ep launch party at The Bedroom Bar, in Shoreditch, this one's a complete sell out, so hopefully catch you all tomorrow for a few jars after work!

Pedro's coming too btw!

Tune in for The Scratch on Minki's Magic Moments, tomorrow night 9-10pm!

Don't forget to tune into rechargedradio.com tomorrow night between 9-10 where you will hear Andy and Super talking about and playing tracks from DIY, plus publicising Minki's ep Launch do and The Scratch's final date of the DIY tour at 93 Feet East next Friday November 5th!... it's FREE and an early spot so perfect for the afterwork crowd... the band will be packing the last few copies of 7" vinyl too, so DON'T BE SHY!!!

I relax to spiral scratch - a hit with Shindig magazine!

Phil Suggitt of Shindig magazine endorses what many people have said this year about our re-issue of Spiral Scratch... "A glorious ballsy, ramshackle anthem, 'I relax to spiral scratch' is an infectious tribute to The Buzzcocks, infused with the spirit and energy of The Damned, Dolls, Ramones and their like, with a good chorus and decent singing. If it had first appeared in the late 70's it would subsequnetly have appeared on every British punk compliation since."

Alcohol's a Depressant hits top spot

We are delightedly excited to see Alcohol's a depressant has made it to number 1 in the tourdates unsigned chart this week... our 5th number 1 in a row! WOWZA... BIG thanks to everyone for the downloads!

Bar 62 Tomorrow night

Don't forget, tomorrow night sees us resume our DIY tour at the excellent Bar 62 in St.Albans... supported by 50ft Woman, champane charlies and a partizan crowd, it promises to be special, intimate and full on! Don't miss out... it's FREE so you have no excuse ;-) x

Alcohol up to number 2!

Many thanks to everyone who's helped Alcohol's a depressant make it to number 2 in the tourdates chart this week.... one more push and we're there!

Don't forget to tune into crmk.co.uk this Thursday 10-12pm

...for another Hijack of Hug(e)h! Davenport's Eclectic Plectrum show, Hijacked once more by The Scratch, we've an interesting theme up our sleeve this week, plus tracks by We are White Worm and 50Ft Woman too!

Tune in from 10pm Thursday at crmk.co.uk

Thanks to http://www.playfairnow.org/ who have made us artist of the week!

The Scratch re-issue their debut album “DIY” on the 10th of October. A bit like Marmite, The Scratch are a band you either absolutely love or well..don’t so much. Do they care? Not really. They’ve always been ones to do their own thing hence the name of their 2004 debut album ‘DIY’ which has now been re-mastered and being re-issued as their 71st release on their label Ponyland Records on 10th October 2010. Referencing the sounds and spirit of DIY punk and early British alternative ranging from The Buzzcocks, Dirty Pretty Things and even a dollop of the pre-acid house Manchester vibes while maintaining a common edge throughout, the album sold out when originally released and due to demand from newer fans and a recent change in drummers, the timing felt right to re-issue ‘DIY’. Having released 11 singles and 3 albums they’re a serious band who don’t take things too seriously. The Scratch outfit has been in operation since 2002 and is still going strong with festival appearances every year including this year’s The Great Escape and the upcoming Endorse IT Festival on the main stage as main support alongside The Damned, Subhumans &Eat Static and packed shows in Manchester, London, their home town of St. Albans and beyond.
Other highlights include having opened Versus Cancer at Manchester’s MEN Arena alongside Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller, The Charlatans, Echo and the Bunnymen, and Ian Brown as well as radio support from XFM (sessions & interviews), BBC 6Music & BBC 3 Counties and headlining the Recharged Radio Awards at 93 Feet East in April 2010.

Alcohol's a depressant - Straight in to Tourdates chart at number 4!

Many thanks to everyone who's downloaded Alcohol's a depressant straight in to number 4 in this weeks tourdates chart... Keep up the good work guys, be great to go higher still in DIY month!

Get DIY on itunes today... here's your link!

http://itunes.apple.com/artist/the-scratch/id192611312

www.amazingradio.co.uk are making our 100th gig and album release day their gig of the day!

We at The Scratch HQ are mightly pleased to have recieved an email from Steven Burrell - Amazing Live Producer, informing us that our gig at The Boot, St.Albans on Sunday 10th of October 5-7pm, is going to be their (amazing radio's) gig of the day. This means they will be talking a little about the gig and playing one of our tracks. This is particularly exciting as it's the day that DIY is officially available for the first time digitally and it's also our 100th gig as The Scratch!

The show is broadcast Friday lunchtime at 1pm on DAB Digital Radio, about 6 clicks left of the BBC. If you don’t have a digital radio you can also listen online at www.amazingradio.co.uk.

If you miss the show you can also use our Rewind facility to catch up on what you’ve missed. You can find this at www.amazingtunes.com/users/amazingrewind shortly after broadcast.

They are the only national radio station dedicated exclusively to playing emerging and independent music.

Amazing Live, is the show that highlights where bands are playing along with news, reviews and interviews from amazingtunes.com bands and various people from the music industry.

SO THERE!
Thanks Steve!

www.amazingradio.co.uk
www.amazingtunes.com

FREE Download - www.tourdates.co.uk/the-scratch

To celebrate the release of DIY, we're giving away a FREE download of Alcohol's a depressant! All you need to do is visit www.tourdates.co.uk/the-scratch login and it's yours!

Much excitement is building as we near the launch party, tickets are really going well, so don't miss out if you want one get yourself over to ticketweb pretty sharpish!

http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_south&query=schedule&venue=hornstalbans&month=9&day=8&year=110

Radio Verulam 92.6FM - interview

In case you couldn't tune in. Many thanks to Chris from St.Albans' Radio Verulam 92.6FM who had John and Andy on his show last night for a good spot of PRing!... (Pring being PR-ing for DIY, in tweetspeak kids!)... The guys chatted about 2010's highs :-)... + gigs, recordings, DIY and the forthcoming launch party and mini promo tour. All this was interspersed with much DIY trackage: I relax to Spiral Scratch, Alcohol is a depressant, Texture to the Flava and Back 2010 (inadvertently chosen over Supermodel, due to Andy sending Chris an album with no tracklisting on! Not great for a DJ!, still 3 out 4 guesses ain't too shabby!)

A great little show and a great little start to DIY month!

Next stop THE LAUNCH DO!... tickets are going VERY btw... DON'T miss out, if you haven't already got one!

50ft Woman EP - Ménage á Trois EP Launch Party appearance!

Minki (50ft Woman), just forwarded us details of their launch do on Nov 4th, that we are honoured to be special guests at!

To celebrate the launch of the new 50ft Woman EP - Ménage á Trois, on 1st November, there will a launch party at the Bedroom Bar in Shoreditch on the 4th November.

More details to come, but it promises to be flirty, fabulous and free if you are on the guest list!

So far we have our best mates The Scratch as our special guests, rather excellent jockeying of discs from our comrades at Recharged Radio, plus more to come, including some rather lovely burlesque ladies and surprises along the way :)

Add your name to the VIP Guest list for free entry and a 50ft Woman goodie bag: vip(at)50ftwoman.com

Dress Code: Shoeperstar/Dress to Impress - prizes for the most fabulous
Time: 7pm til late
Venue: Bedroom Bar, Shoreditch 62 Rivington St, LONDON, EC2A 3AY 020 7613 5637
Nearest Tube: Old Street
Nearest Overground: Shoreditch High Street

The Scratch are - TUNATHEDAY with Trigger Finger!

Thanks to Ade at Tunatheday for making Trigger Finger off of DIY, just that!

To listen in click here http://www.tunatheday.com

Hear X-Ray eyes on Recharged Radio's Friday forum tonight!

You may hear our new radio ad too!
www.rechargedradio.com

More Hollywood Airplay!

Big thanks again to Cyril A Ruth, for more playlisting on his excellent Hollywood Jukebox radio show!

On September 10th he followed up recent plays of Teen Idol with Whatever Happened to Friday Night album track - Too busy thinking about me!

Cheers Cyril
Keep up the good work!

allgigs.co.uk - DIY review D.I.Y - The Scratch Album Review

Thanks to Adrian Phillips for his review...

Its second time around for this album from London-based The Scratch. First released in 2003 D.I.Y has been given a polish and pushed out of the nest once again. A good move? For the most part yes.
The band wear a variety of musical hats from Primal Scream-esq rocking blues (Rotten Soul and Trigger Finger) to big Happy Mondays/Stereo MC nods (Brainstorm and X-ray Eyes). The tempo is almost exclusively up beat save for the anthemic Back To Ten which reminded me of Mick Jones latest project Carbon/Silicon.
The material has a past era feel (hardly surprising seeing as its 7 years old) but its punch and delivery more than compensates for that, nowhere better demonstrated on the riff-laden Alcohols Depressant and the chugging Erotomaniac.
The fun closes with the meandering Logical Mind which sounds a bit like a re-working of the earlier X-ray Eyes, but which I wouldnt kick out of bed. Seeing as D.I.Y wouldve passed me by in 2003 Im glad The Scratch saw fit to give it another spin.
There, got through the whole piece without using the phrase is this itch worth scratching? Thats 5 bonus anti-cliche points to me! 4 out of 5
Adrian Phillips
www.allgigs.co.uk

6 more new songs in the bag!

The band have been busy over the weekend recording 6 more new tracks for album 4!... Terry, Andy and John with Grim at the controls - visited Farm Factory studios in Welwyn Garden and added 4 as yet unheard by the outside world tracks - Homely crackle, 88th day of rain, Down in the alleyway and Great adventure + new live fave Desire to be thin and a new slow version of Let there be us - towards the pot!

Its All Happening - 1st review of the new DIY!

Heres our first review in from a cool new underground DIY zine called Its All Happening....

The Scratch
DIY

Oct 10th 2010, Ponyland Records

I relax to Spiral Scratch wails the track of the same name, the fuzz bomb furore that opens DIY, the reissued debut (from 2004) from The Scratch.

Dont be fooled. This is not music to kick back to, unless perhaps your name is Eusain Bolt, or Coyote Ugly. But for the average human being, and in this category I cite myself, who doesn’t live life at breakneck speed, DIY is the sound of what it is to be a rock star.

Logical Mind saunters with the swagger of the Happy Mondays, whilst Trigger is a colossal hybrid of T-Rex meets The Prodigy. X-Ray Eyes will be familiar from the radio, its more electro tinge giving it the fashionable edge. Rotten Soul is a Buzzcocks blast of a confession, and ‘Alcohol’s A Depressant’ has a flavour of The Verve about it.

Basically, theres something here for everyone who has a pulse to get excited about. Turn it up, and turn your inner rock god on.

Launch party tickets on sale now from Ticket Web

Here's the link for the hottest ticket in town!

http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/user/?region=gb_south&query=schedule&venue=hornstalbans&month=9&day=8&year=110

Don't be shy, tell all your friends!
xx

DIY Launch party ticket news!

TICKETS GO ON SALE FOR THE HORN LAUNCH PARTY ON MONDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER
they are £5 in advance or £6 on the door, we are doing a special £10 ticket, which guarantees entry and a copy of the limited edition CD of DIY, these can only be bought in advance. Otherwise CD's will be £7 on the night.

Tickets can be purchased in person from The Horn, from one of the band or if you drop us an email, we can arrange to have some sent to you.

studio@thisrealitypodcast.com

Thanks to Bren & Soph at thisrealitypodcast.com for their introduction and their description of I relax to Spiral Scratch as awesome! Glad you guys agree (He He!)
x

Subba Cultcha review

Here's a tidy little review from Subba Cultcha... the last time they are reviewing singles, so we is honoured!

THE SCRATCH – I RELAX TO SPIRAL SCRATCH – PONYLAND RECORDS
With a brattish take on late 70’s UK Punk with the tightness of American Garage Rock, The Scratch certainly celebrate the joy of looking backwards!

www.subbacultcha.com

Chart placing for Spiral Scratch on the Haven Forum

We've just had a googlemail alert at ponyland towers, that unbeknown to us, we've appeard in the havenforum.co.uk chart, with 'Spiral Scratch'. it's now slipping down the top 100, but did get to number 26 earlier in July, so thanks to them, you, everyone involved...

US Airplay - On the Hollywood Jukebox!

Thanks to Cyril A Ruth for getting in touch with us and declaring his LOVE for Teen Idol, and also for his subsequent playlisting of it on recieving his copy of WHTFN in the post - It goes out on August 19th on his - CYRIL'S HOLLYWOOD JUKEBOX..INTERNET RADIO MUSIC SHOW...8-10pm California time.

From small acorns!

X-Ray eyes in Aus!

We Just got a google alert that X-Ray Eyes is being played on Kinglake Ranges FMs Unsigned show - in Victoria Australia

word is spreading!

I relax to spiral scratch goes to number 1

thanks to everyone who've downloaded and thus chosen I relax to Spiral Scratch as this weeks tourdates number 1! This makes it incredibly our 4th number 1 in the last 12 months, following in the footsteps of You want the world, Teen Idol and X-Ray eyes.

Artrocker review of I relax to Spiral Scratch

Here's what Artrocker made of our latest single... think he likes it?!

The Scratch
I Relax To Spiral Scratch
(Ponyland Records)

The Scratch aren’t a very relaxing band. ‘I Relax To Spiral Scratch’ isn’t a very relaxing song. Instead, it’s bratty, snarling, nasal and rests its laurels on a brilliantly drunken chorus. Furthermore, as the song progresses it becomes increasingly more difficult to appreciate how one could relax to it: it’s the sort of thing you’d play on repeat for weeks in a fit of merriment.
Max Feldman

I relax to Spiral Scratch up to number 2!

Just to say a quick thanks to everyone who downloaded I relax to Spiral Scratch this week, propelling it to the number 2 position in this weeks www.tourdates.co.uk unsigned chart!

I relax to Spiral Scratch straight in at number 3 in the tourdates chart!

Dear Scratchers,

Great news and the hits keep on coming!... thanks to everyone who has downloaded our latest single and put us straight in at number 3 in this weeks tourdates chart... for anyone who hasn't yet, just go to www.tourdates.co.uk/the-scratch and download it for FREE!!! Let's see if we can get ourselves a 4th consecutive number 1!

x

"I Relax To Spiral Scratch" on this week's Friday Forum Show

Dear Scratchers, thanks to RECHARGED RADIO who are playing "I Relax To Spiral Scratch" on this week's Friday Forum Show! Hope you can tune in tonight, over at rechargedradio.com!

The Scratch on TV!

We've put together a high quality page on vimeo where you can view all our vids, we've called it The ScratchTV!

http://vimeo.com/channels/thescratch http://bit.ly/aLEPOa

Losing today - 'I relax to Spiral Scratch' review

Many thanks to Mark for his usual brilliance!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

the scratch
Category: Music
The Scratch ‘I relax to the spiral scratch’ (pony land). Oh yeah - doesn’t get much better than this, ultra limited 100 only re-release for this the debut outing from the much admired the Scratch sees the band continuing their plundering of the archives leading up to the eventual re-mastered ready for download issue of their long since out of print and dare we say much sought after ‘DIY‘ full length. Originally seeing the light of day in 2002 / 2003 this was at the time something of a hi-fi hogger in our gaff. A homage of sorts to the Buzzcocks legendary DIY debut ’spiral scratch’ EP before of course Devoto jumped ship to later re-emerge fronting Magazine and the newly re-jigged Shelley fronted Buzzcocks hot footed it to label major UA. A killer tune that has resisted the onset of passing years to still sound like a long lost and forgotten diamond ditty turned up from a late 70’s scene, shaping up much like something resulting from a fist fight between the Saints and the Dead Boys ’I relax to spiral scratch’ is acutely wired and dirty, scowling and cocksure, petulant and snotty and above all about you in an instant - daubed with a face peeling razor like retro grind that’s dimpled with a caustic glam tinged rash and simultaneously threaded with a deliciously turbo tripped scuzzy chug. Flip over for an equally engaged slab of ear candy in the shape of ’trigger finger’ which reveals something of a latent white funk post punk disco persona to the bands melodic psyche as it manages to embrace with much aplomb elements of mid 70’s Stones, early 90’s Primal Scream, Soup Dragons and a fair old smidgeon of Carter USM into its hip shaking lysergic fringe flipping boogie brew. And before you ask - indeed yes you do need it.
www.ponylandrecords.co.uk

Famous Junes include Whitfield, Sarpong and Brown... now meet the ...

Read our June email newsletter:Famous Junes include Whitfield, Sarpong and Brown... now meet...

I relax to Spiral Scratch - FREE Download from Friday!!!

Just to let you know I relax to Spiral Scratch our limited edition 7 inch single will be available as a FREE download at www.tourdates.co.uk/the-scratch from Friday for one month only, prior to release on 5th July, ehen it will be out on all major download sites. There will be a link in our May mailout, this Friday, if you haven't signed up to our mailing list, just go to www.thescratch.co.uk and click on the link, for exclusive news and pics!

Endorse it tickets on sale!!!

just a quick reminder that tickets for our fab summer festival appearance in Dorset, with the amazing Damned are on sale at the end of this link!

http://www.endorseit.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3:tickets&catid=7:tickets&Itemid=6

TOUR ENDS TONIGHT IN WATFORD!!!

Just a quick reminder that The Flag in Watford is the venue for our end of tour show tonight. Doors 8pm. £5 with flyer, (£3 in advance), be great to see you there, we're on stage just after 9!!!

Radio play on amazing tunes

Thanks to Neil at amazingtunes.com who is currently playing 'X-Ray Eyes' on his amazing radio show!

Recording session

Last Saturday (8th May), Andy, Terry, John and Grim returned to Farm Factory studios in Welwyn Garden (the scene of our Teen Idol recording), to lay down the backing tracks for 5 new numbers and old fave and previously unrecorded Ajax Boogie woogie boy from Watford Gap. Newies: Stavin' off the where's or the wise, Biting on my lip, Don't play along, Weirder than we are and Let there be us were laid down in a very productive 6 hour session. Don't play along sees Steve Filth enter the fray with his first track to be recorded by the band.

We've posted some pics on our myspace if you fancy a peak!

Next stop Brighton, where you'll be able to hear at least two of the new ones live!

Airplay tonight on Radio Verulam 92.6FM

Just to let you know Chris at Verulam 92.6FM St.Albans will be playing one of our tracks on tonight's show. You can listen on 92.6FM or online at www.radioverulam.com from 6:30pm-7pm.

X-Ray Eyes becomes The Scratch's third tourdates number 1!

X-Ray eyes has become our third tourdates number 1, following on from last years You want the world and Teen Idol!... many, many thanks to everyone who have downloaded the track over the last 4 weeks, we couldn't have done it without the love and support and (pointing finger) of our friends and fans!!!

Hope you can come and join us on our mini May tour in a couple of weeks where we can celebrate properly!

The Scratch are TunAtheDay today!

Big thanks to Ade at TunAtheDay for making X-Ray eyes TunAtheDay today!!!
http://www.tunatheday.com

and also to Andy Cordy who reviewed it thus, this very morning!

The vocals are what make the difference here, I think, though they're done very well with the guitar sounds. The voice and humor of Daman Albarn comes to mind.

I think the spikiness is a very British thing and would prevent this being a mass market commodity in most countries, certainly the States and sadly, probably here (Radio 2?)too.

I loved it!

-------------------------------------------
Great start to a Monday Scratch fans!

Still number 2

Thanks again for all your votes/downloads this week enabling XRay Eyes to remain at number 2 in the tourdates chart!... keep up the good work, lets see where next week leads us... thanks to Recharged radio for featuring the track in its Friday Forum show this week too!

A Hug(e)hly enjoyable night

last night saw a stripped down Scratch (Filthy, being on a stag do) play a storming set in the small village of Blisworth, Towcester (Northants) in honour of our DJ mate (and Radio Goliath) Hugh Davenport who was celebrating his 5th decade with close friends and family. A lively set that included 3 newies, Biting on my lip, Let there be us and Staving off the where's or the wise and also featured a rare cover ...this time the Nirvana classic 'Come as you are' was brilliantly well received by the assembled revellers and saw post gig sales of Whatever Happened to Friday night, beat all previous records since the Launch Party last October. It was great to be asked by main man Hugh, whose dedication to music comes so close to ours that he has fast become an honourary top table scratcher!

You have a chance to meet the man on May 13th, when he will be doing a 'fly on the wall' gorilla radio special for us and Recharged Radio, so if you fancy getting in on the action... get your B&B booked sharpish!

Losing today tell it like it is!!!

Monday, April 19, 2010

the scratch
Category: Music
The Scratch ‘x-ray eyes’ (pony land). Frankly too cool for their own good. Much loved and obsessed at the losing today record shed are the Scratch that we actually foolishly forgot to actually review this blighter given we were having so much of a wheeze dancing around the kitchen CD player and neatly exhibiting our prowling and preening panache of the foot shuffle to all and sundry - in fact there have been press reports and we hear - much hoo-ha at the hastily convened impromptu ad hoc midnight committee meetings at the funny hand shakes are us local council (tabled no doubt after the under dimmed lights submission of expense receipts and some nifty double entry reconciliations). Ah well I digress - the Scratch - from St Albans - as you should all know - have graced these pages much over the years - informed by a late 70’s new wave long since passed and blessed with a knowing knack for kicking out day-glow dinked three minute killer cuts en masse the band have now retrained their sights on their recorded past and decided to polish, re-master and re-release their teasingly limited debut full length ’diy’ (streuth and gadzooks even we don’t have a copy of that one - a pox upon your houses sire or some such foolish nonsense). as a taster for said event they sent out this nifty number entitled ‘x-ray eyes’ on a reconnaissance mission. Ah be it the dog bollocks I say - originally commented upon way back at missive 35 wherein we described said funky bug as -
‘X-Ray eyes’ sees them cocking a snook at the dance floor crowd, an unrelenting beauty that channels the grittier elements of the Gang of Four’s trademark grind and marries it to the dub / disco crossover that Strummer and Co aimed for on the often overlooked ‘Sandinista’ throw in for good measure Big Audio Dynamite, a taster of Pigbag a few sly Ry Cooder sliding hooks and you have something of a dirty disco assassin that Bobby Gillespie you’d imagine would be happy to be caught in the line of fire of.’
Wise words and still they hold true given its exactly the same track on the player right now playing as I write (okay copy n’ paste) mind you we neglected to mention the seriously loose limbed and mooching R L Burnside blues blissed side winds and the tightly drilled cornucopia of hot n’ horny early 80’s NY dance floor vibe - oh yea and add in A Certain Ratio factor to proceedings. Limited to just 100 copies - can I have one please.
A video of them….
www.myspace.com/ponylandrecords

X-Ray Eyes edges up one to number 2 in the tourdates chart

X-ray Eyes has edged closer to the number 1 spot this week, as it rises up 1 place to number 2. Huge thanks to everyone who has continued to download it over the last week, please forward the link onto to all of your friends to see if we can hit top spot this time next week www.tourdates.co.uk/the-scratch.

Also, Don't forget if you want a copy of the highly limited 10" single version which is officially released tomorrow (Mon 19th April), you can buy it from:

Sister Ray (London)
34-35 Berwick Street
LONDON
W1V 8RP

Jumbo (Leeds)
5/6 St.Johns centre
Leeds
LS2 8LQ

Crash (Leeds)
35 The Headrow
Leeds
LS1 6PU
United Kingdom

Resident (Brighton)
28 Kensington Gardens
Brighton
BN1 4AL

Spillers (Cardiff)
36 The Hayes
Cardiff
CF10 1AJ

Reflex (Newcastle)
Reflex CD 23 Nun Street
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 5AG

Action (Preston)
46 Church Street
Preston
PR1 3DH
United Kingdom

Avalanche (Edinburgh)
63 Cockburn Street
Edinburgh
EH1 1BS

Norman Records
Leeds Mailorder

Bands in the basement CD, 10" Singles and Awards show all tonight!!!

As previously mentioned Ponyland records, have teamed up with the guys at rechargedradio.com to put together a release of their live 'in the basement' radio sessions, recorded in London during 2009.

It's a 12 track CD and features The Scratch's - Whatever Happened to Friday Night?, heard like it never has been before! (except on Recharged's myspace of course!)

The CD is going to be a FREE yes 'FREE' giveaway and will see light of day for the first time at the first ever Recharged Radio Awards show tonight at 93 Feet East. A show that will also feature a 30 minute live set from The Scratch (with rumours of new material being readied for the performance!) the event kicks off at 7.30 and is also FREE to get in!... as an exclusive freebie for the night the band will also be in possession of 10 copies of the highly limited edition 10" vinyl versions of X-RAY EYES, which isn't in the shops until Monday!!! (There's only 100 available in total, so beat the rush!!!!)

Rumour has it that the band will also be giving 50 'goody bags' to the first 50 'Scratchers' through the door, these contain not only one of 4 free singles, but exclusive ponyland records badges, made specially to mark the event!!!

HOW CAN YOU AFFORD TO MISS THIS!!!

Andy on Recharged Radio

Go to www.ponylandrecords.co.uk to hear Andy and Jordan discuss all things Scratch

New live Photos by the legendary Mark Looby!

If you get a minute, check our 2010 folder in our myspace pics (www.myspace.com/thescratch) for photo's of our Bar 62 gig on Sunday... big thanks to Mark Looby for his great work!

Recharged Radio session tonight!

Don't forget to tune in tonight between 7 and 8 pm to rechargedradio.com to hear Andy talking about all things The Scratch and playing tracks from all three albums! This will no doubt be followed by a trip with Jordan to the local for a celebatory beer, following the bands number 3 entry into this weeks Tourdates chart!!! So if you're passing drop in and say hi!

Straight in at number 3 on the tourdates top 40!!!

We just wanted to say a huge thanks to everyone who has downloaded X-Ray Eyes this week on the tourdates.co.uk chart. We've have gone straight in at number 3 our highest ever first week in the chart. Let's hope with The Scratch special and the Recharged Awards show this week, we can push on all the way to number 1 next Sunday. Don't forget to keep spreading the word!!! www.tourdates.co.uk/thescratch

don't forget if you want 1 of only 100 ltd edition vinyl versions you will be able to buy it from a host of indie stores from Monday 19th April!

Sister Ray (London)
34-35 Berwick Street
LONDON
W1V 8RP


Jumbo (Leeds)

5/6 St.Johns centre

Leeds

LS2 8LQ


Crash (Leeds)

35 The Headrow

Leeds

LS1 6PU

United Kingdom


Resident (Brighton)

28 Kensington Gardens

Brighton

BN1 4AL



Spillers (Cardiff)

36 The Hayes

Cardiff

CF10 1AJ


Reflex (Newcastle)

Reflex CD 23 Nun Street

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE1 5AG



Action (Preston)

46 Church Street

Preston

PR1 3DH

United Kingdom



Avalanche (Edinburgh)

63 Cockburn Street

Edinburgh

EH1 1BS


Norman Records
Leeds Mailorder


Rock'n'Roll!!!
x

GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL DATE!!! - MAY 13TH

We're extremely excited to announce that The Scratch have just secured a place on the Recharged Radio stage at the Live Room in Brighton, as yet we have no more details other than the shows will start at 7pm.

This date completes a brilliant hat-trick of gigs to make a mini spring tour for the new look Scratch.

As soon as we get more info, we'll be mailing it your way!

XRAY play tonight on CRMK

Big thanks to Hugh(gie) D for an XRAY play tonight on his show. Meanwhile, Andy and TC have been at Farm Factory rehearsing new material and a (shock horror!) mystery cover for Hugh's forthcoming birthday bash!!

X-Ray Eyes, don't forget your FREE download!!!

Don't forget to visit www.tourdates.co.uk/the-scratch to claim your free download of X-Ray eyes for a limited period only... for those still uncertain of it's appeal!?!?!

Here's a reminder of what The Wire Magazine thought of it.

X-Ray Eyes/Brainstorm by England’s The Scratch is one of the most pocket-picking white guy post-punk dub dance whatsis slabs since The Pop Group’s “She Is Beyond Good And Evil”. And, yeah, it lacks some of that record’s massiveness. but the sputzy way these clowns pile grooves together on “X-Ray Eyes”, then tangle them with Beefhearty guitar slides, and strange post-glam vocals, is pretty goddamn snappy.

X-Ray Limited 10" in a shop near you!!!

Just to let you know, our highly limited 10" (just 100 copies) of XRay eyes, will now be available in selected 'Indie' record shops around the country... each store will have a small number of copies, so snap 'um up while you can!!! Available from 19th April!!!!

Sister Ray (London)
34-35 Berwick Street
LONDON
W1V 8RP


Jumbo (Leeds)

5/6 St.Johns centre

Leeds

LS2 8LQ


Crash (Leeds)

35 The Headrow

Leeds

LS1 6PU

United Kingdom


Resident (Brighton)

28 Kensington Gardens

Brighton

BN1 4AL



Spillers (Cardiff)

36 The Hayes

Cardiff

CF10 1AJ


Reflex (Newcastle)

Reflex CD 23 Nun Street

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE1 5AG



Action (Preston)

46 Church Street

Preston

PR1 3DH

United Kingdom



Avalanche (Edinburgh)

63 Cockburn Street

Edinburgh

EH1 1BS


Norman Records
Leeds Mailorder

Airplay for X-Ray!!!!

Many thanks (in advance) to Chris and the guys at Radio Verulam 92.6FM in St.Albans for playing our new single X-Ray eyes on on their show tonight! You can listen to it between 6:30pm-7pm on 92.6FM or online at www.radioverulam.com

also to our old mucker Hug(e)h Davenport for playing it on his Eccletic Pletrum show on Thursday night on www.crmk.co.uk

and to Jordan at Recharged who was the first to play it, on his show last Friday!... so a good start eh!...

You can hear the track on our player now and actually download it for FREE... yes FREEEEEEE!!!! from Monday for a limited time only at www.tourdates.co.uk/the-scratch

Vote THE SCRATCH ... AGAIN!!! - Recharged Radio awards!!!

The Scratch have been nominated for 'Best Single - Teen Idol', Best Album 'Whatever Happened to Friday night', Best gig 'Our launch party at the Horn' and Best Shoes... by Recharged Radio for their first ever awards ceremony. The event takes place on April 15th at 93 Feet East, Brick Lane in London. It's going to be a special night and you could make it even better by voting for us!! Click on the following link it will take you 30 seconds.

Shindig magazine review of WHTFN

http://shindig-magazine.com/thesoundsofnow-14.html (came out in issue 14 which is the Jan-Feb issue)


THE SCRATCH
Whatever Happened To Friday Night?
Ponyland CD
www.ponylandrecords.co.uk
Based in the pleasant town of St. Albans , their influences are classic English po-rock from the 70s to the 90s.The spirit of The Buzzcocks looms large. It is no surprise that one of the songs is called 'Independent and Unrepentant', as The Scratch strongly embrace the punk DIY ethic, producing and releasing their own music. 'Against The Grain' has a great chorus and is the most memorable song here. This album will appeal to fans of the punky pop bands that the Damaged Goods label specialises in.
Phil Suggitt

Voting links...

Pls forward this link to all yer mates for the Camden Crawl Best new band website! Many thanks in advance!!!!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=312268663876

VOTE The Scratch!!! - For the emerging talent awards!

It appears to insiders that we're doing it somewhat in slow motion!... but we've been nominated as 'Best New Band' and 'Best Live Act' for the Camden Crawl Emerging Talent Awards, which is, as it says for emerging bands and would be rather a good thing to win... being that you've helped us to many glorious victories in the past (who could forget the M.E.N.!!!!) please spend just a minute of your time to click the button on the link

http://www.emergingtalentawards.com/vote/band/the-scratch

Recharged awards show - See The Scratch live at 93 Feet East!

Excitingly Jordan (main man at Recharged Radio) has invited us to be one of the bands to perfom live at this years radio awards at 93 Feet East (150 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL). The date is Thursday April 15th, but as yet we have no more details... watch this space for updates!

Teen Idol - 7 in the Justin Wayne top 25 of last year

Big thanks to everyone who voted us number 7 in the Justin Wayne 2nd Birthday awards on recharged radio last week. And thanks to Justin for the invite!

Sound of the Subrubs to be aired tomorrrow (Mon 8th)

Don't forget to tune in tomorrow night to www.rechargedradio.com where you can hear the long awaited 'Sound of the Suburbs' radio special put together by Andy, John and Hugh Davenport. An hour special that details the Scratch, St.Albans and the scene, also including a special guest interview with XFM DJ and inspiral Carpet Clint Boon and featurng music and interviews from The Scratch, We are White Worm and Ponyland Records artists Mamajamas, The DIY or DIE organisation and Means of Production and Khalasars.

Show starts at 7pm.
www.rechargedradio.com

(ps. If you do happen to be unavoidably detained you can download the podcast from itunes too!)

Teen idol makes 'Electrifying Eleven'

Just to let you know that the Teen idol band waggon rolls on... Mike Lidskin, who is a DJ for the Tuesday Night Diner radio show at Recharged and a U.S. Show in Sacramento, California. Twirl www.twirlradio.com has nominated Teen Idol for the annual 'Twirlie Awards show' Song of the Year for last year.

Mike dropped us a mail with the news. "I probably received around 1,000 tracks last year, and your song made it into the top 11, of what I'm calling the Electrifying Eleven, I'm not ranking them, just picking a winner from among them. I heard the Scratch in session on a Friday Forum show a while back, and you guys sounded awesome!"

Thanks a lot Mike you're a star!

Endorse IT 2010

EXCITING (SSHH... it's still a secret and we have no more news yet!) but we've just had a mail from Lamma, Organiser of Endorse IT in Dorset and it looks like we've secured a place on this years festival. So keep your diaries free between 6-8 August and we'll hopefully fill in the blanks soon!... This years headliners are The Damned, giving Andy a chance to re-aquaint himself with the Captain, 10 years on from his Mamajamas heyday!

New man Terry takes the hotseat!

We are hugely delighted to announce that our wait to replace the Baron at the drum stool, actually only took 8 days from the last gig to audition! Terry joins with a wealth of experience from the local scene and will begin regular rehearsals with the band, when he returns from holidaying in Australia in 2 weeks.

Recharged radio tonight... with a difference...

Due the bloomin weather and Thameslink!!!! Andy will still be featuring on tonights Recharged Radio show, but via the miracle of the telephone... tune in from 8 and you will hear all the latest from Scratch control!!!!

Recharged radio this Friday

Dear Scratchers,

Just to let you know that Andy will be appearing on Recharged radio this Friday, talking about plans for 2010.

Hope you can tune in!

www.rechargedradio.com