The Scratch

The Scratch are a five piece art rock band from St.Albans. Firm believers in the DIY ethic The Scratch decided to release their first single as 7” vinyl only, on their own Ponyland Records imprint in 2002 gaining some great reviews being stocked by Rough Trade in London. 2004 saw the band release it’s first album – DIY, (burned at home, sold at gigs).

The Scratch wear their musical influences on their sleeves. D.I.Y. kicks off with the awesome “I Relax to Spiral Scratch,” a tribute to the Buzzcocks. “Erotomaniac” sounds like Marc Bolan came back from the dead to lay down the vocals. “Alcohol’s a Depressant” is a particularly addictive glam rock gem with the great line, “Alcohol is a depressant but it helps me relieve my aggression.”
[www.shortandsweetnyc.com]

Following a couple of years of solid gigging in London, second album Night Bus or Milk Train was released in 2006 through itunes and ponyland.

Overall, ‘Night Bus or milk train’ is a fine album. Whilst they draw greatly on their influences, it’s an album that is very fresh, and very now.
[Natasha Wynarczyk www.tastyfanzine.org.uk]

Things moved up a gear in 2007 with the patronage of XFM DJ Clint Boon who via a listeners votes competition on his Manchester show offered the band the chance of opening the Versus Cancer show at the sold out 22,000 capacity M.E.N. arena. Opening for the likes of Noel Gallagher, Paul Weller The Charlatans, Ian Brown and Echo & The Bunnymen, this led to a live session on Clint Boon’s Exposure show and three further appearances on his Drive Thru and evening session programmes.

Guitar Gold dominated their sound and their set is full of great tunes
[John Robb - Live review at Manchester’s Night and Day music venue]

2008 saw the release of two further singles with the supporting videos being shown on heavy rotation on cable music Channels, numerous Internet and Student radio playlistings and a short promo tour saw supports to The Holloways, appearances on BBC 3 Counties and boutique festival appearances, in the company of Alabama 3, Buzzcocks and Goldblade. A second regional XFM response session with Colin Frances at XFM Wales was also of note. The year finished on a huge high with a spot at the prestigious In the City music festival in Manchester.

An amalgum of T.Rex, the Velvet Undergroud and other good things including a big dollop of themselves. The Scratch do eccentric english rock ‘n’ roll, with weird but catchy riffs over the top of it all. At times dark and other times funny!
[Marco Pirroni, The Wolfmen, Adam and the Ants]

2009’s highlights included the release of third album ‘Whatever happened to Friday night’… featuring 4 tracks that have all achieved top ten’s in the London Tourdates unsigned chart, with ‘You want the world’ in June/July and Teen Idol in Oct/Nov reaching number 1. Added to this, plays on Tom Robinson’s BBC 6 radio show, a live session at BBC 3 Counities radio, numerous regional radio appearances and self promoted local supports to Goldblade and Clint Boon as part of a bi-monthly residency at local venue The Horn in St.Albans (the current buzz town of the uk!)

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]

The Scratch blew me away. What else is there to say? There is something about The Scratch that I really love and is the best band I have reviewed via a mail CD by far!
[altsounds.com]

2010 saw a new drummer join the band (TC Supercock) and they immediately set about homning a bunch of new songs at a string of live dates including a festival spot with The Damned at Endorse IT, the Recharged Radio awards at 93 Feet East, The Great Escape Festival as part of a mini May tour and also radio play on numerous stations including Gary Crowley on radio london, Tom Robinson on BBC 6, Hugh Davenport on CRMK and Verulam Radio in hometown St.Albans. This is not all however, in May the band achieved it’s 3rd tourdates number 1, as X-RAY EYES raced to the top spot and they then took it one better in July when the follow up I Relax to Spiral Scratch did the same, making it number 4 1’s in a row, the year finished on a huge high with the re-issue of the bands debut album ‘DIY’ on digital formats and an amazing 5th number 1 in a row with ‘Alcohol’s a depressant’. A great end to the year has seen the band included on the Fred Perry Subculture emerging band list for 2010 that also included Field Music, Blood Red Shoes, F**k Buttons and Black Daniel and an end of year tour support with NME Hearthobs The Heartbreaks!

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. If it had first appeared in the late 70’s it would subsequnetly have appeared on every British punk compliation since.
[Phil Suggitt, Shindig Magazine]