The Scratch’s smashing ‘WAG Potential’ single launch party Friday November 18th 2011 at the Pioneer, St.Albans.

So who has got WAG Potential? - You lot that’s who!

The Scratch ‘WAG Potential’ single launch party Friday November 18th 2011 at the Pioneer, St.Albans.

With multi generational support from ‘14+’ers’- As Daylight Dies’, ‘Uni darling Indie’ from The Vertigos and the new heavy rock incarnation of Dark Stares, The WAG Potential launch party/70th anniversary of St.Albans legendary Pioneer Youth/skatepark went smashingly well!

Looking from the balcony at the first band, the stage and room had a fantastic retro ‘Rock goes to college’ feel about it ala the classic early 80’s show that saw a BBC 2 film crew set up at a Uni somewhere around the country (usually it seemed Aylesbury?) and you’d be treated to sets by new or up and coming bands like Siouxsie and the Banshees or The Undertones…(Hurry up with that iphone time machine app!) 

The Pioneer has had itself a great deal of refurbishment in the last couple years as a result of The ‘Shikari effect’ especially in the PA and stage department. At least one of The Scratch can remember the previous ramshackle set up when he last played here in the early 90’s as part of an unemployed music work shop (during the last recession…Those mothers come round quicker than Strictly come dancing repeats!). The facelift now giving the old place the look and sound of a quality mini Kentish town forum, or as Steve Filth pointed out pre-gig it is now also very remissant of the Lesser Free Trade Hall scene from the film 24 hour Party People.  

As the night progressed through eccletically diverse sets from the talented supports, the room in the bar shrank to a premium as numbers swelled to near burstage, thankfully this was averted as the clock struck 10.30, for it was time for The Scratch to join the likes of St.Albans glitterati: Enter Shikari, Friendly Fires and The Zombies as Pioneer headliners. 

A large crowd featuring pretty much a who’s who of The Scratch entourage suddenly surged from the upstairs bar as the opening chord of WAG Potentail sprang from the large video screen situated on the back wall of the stage. The great work of messers Teague, Viney, Honest and cast rocked at 10 feet high! Approx 2.30 later, it was then time for the live action! 

Appropriately with Jordan and Jamie Recharged (radio) pumping out the feed to the universe on their Friday Forum show, it was Teen idol that kicked the set into life! Super’s beat and Johnny V’s bass rumble instantly channeling devilment up each trousers leg, however tight, however white! You could really tell from the stage that the anticipation of a (long awaited) live show (the first time since mid summer!) had ignited the throng (that and Bar 62’s cheap Prosecco and burgers deal!… We don’t just care about ourselves, we like to boost the wider community too you know, especially in such times of austerity!) 

Texture to the flava, Desire to be Thin and probably the best Out Fakin the Fakers (for Lucy as ever!) since late 2007 followed, all jagged and fist tight. A breath and then it was into Narcotic Hearts, Against the Grain and a deliciously frantic Ramones cover of the classic Commando to take us up to halfway. With the ‘auderve’ duly served, the main event kicked in hard. First up all shimmering in ‘bling and malice’ - WAG Potential (newly available at www.thescratch.co.uk don’t forget!) followed by ‘progessque’ newie, No two castles are the same, then straight into Weirder than we are, the mighty 88th day of rain, a resurrected and triumphant Numbers and finally, probably The Scratch’s ‘masterpiece’ Dear Maniac, delivered on this occasion with Andy playing an unaccustomed red guitar (in truth, not before time, as his telecaster had been steadily more and more out of tune since Commando!)

The room heaved and swayed, Bez Hemingway, pushed and antagonised all in arms reach, the ladies swooned :-)… It was bliss to behold and just when you thought the crescendo of crowd noise and exaggerated last ‘E’ chord were the perfect defining moments, the previously mentioned red guitar suddenly became a legend in it’s own three minutes, as it was unceremoniously de-shouldered and smitten against the corner of the stage, three mighty blows and it went smithereening into the air, to huge howls of joy from the assemblage as Andy disappeared breathless backstage, through the massed ranks… “MOOORREEE” shouted the exhilarated crowd… “More?” shouted Steve Filth “YEEEEAAAAHHHHHH!!!!” Shouted the crowd, “You’ll have to do better than that” shouted Steve “Andy’s very shy” “MMMOOOORRREEEEE!!!!!’”.. Suddenley and as if by magic almost Mr.Benn shop keeperesque, crawling between the legs of the front row, he was back… as the opening strains of Critical Mass seeped into the punch drunk psyche… it was now time for mischief… 

First off (and as soon as the fivesome were reassembled) a precision foot pedal throw managed to switch off all of Grims pedalboard resulting in a customary roll of eyes to the heavens and a Steve Filth naughty school boy collapse in laughter…  The on looking security guys twitched nervously, already shaken by the guitar smash, they were in two minds as to what to do as the errant singer began scalling the lighting rig on a climb to nowhere. They needn’t have feared though for he was soon cavorting, rolling and crawling back into the front row with assorted fans, friends and the frenzied, to a typically anarchic Smell the Gas Taps! Debris and bodies lay in mangled extasy as the for the final time The Scratch bid their amazing following a final goodnight… with the Pioneers mini bar laid waste by our alcholocust gang members, it was soon back to Bar at 62’s for a much needed top up!!!

How many times have we summed up our blogs with ‘that was one of the best gigs we’ve done?’ But, I think after this few who witnessed it would disagree, this had to be a top tenner at least?

In retrospect, there are so many pluses from Friday, it’d be hard not write as much again about each, but in the interests of time we’ll precis, nay, bullet point some of the main ones, plus a few extras for the diary ;-) … 

1) Don’t miss the £5 Bar 62 burgers… unreal value!!!

2) Don’t forget to download the podcast at rechargedradio.com next week

3) Those who didn’t on Friday, here’s the link to the WAG potential single: http://shop.thescratch.co.uk/album/wag-potential - please purchase :-) 

4) We’ll be announcing our album release date, before Xmas and our return to the Pioneer in our fanzine, so make sure you’re subscribed!!!

All that remains now is the giant list of thank-you’s… In no order, as you are all as important as each other to us!!!!

Thanks to Dave Worm! (Whose loan of one red guitar, has resulted in an urgent need of super glue… no not Super glue… Super glue!), All our Families, the Recharged radio gang, those on duty and those not, crazy Bez ‘The Catalyst’, Ms Fakers and leopardskin Lana, all those who wagged it, Andy B, Andy K, Jem and all at the Pioneer, Steve and his security team for their understanding and restraint ;-)  Neil, Danielle, Rich and all at 62’s - glad the gamble paid off ;-), Robbie for his amazing sales!!!, Spurs Simon (as he shall always be to us) and Debs, John’s birthday gang (all 20 or so of them), big mentions to Kelly and Ryan, (arch participants) and the rest of the irrepressible London gang, Trev, Beaver et al, Cheadle the enigma, all our work friends (… sorry to mention the ‘W’ word Davy Niven)… Sam the ‘high priestess’ wag representative and Mr.Robson, Mrs. Super and her bum rubbers (sounds like the name of a new side project?!!), Hug(h)e Davenport and his tache, Super’s sis, The Filth gang, the Hemel two, the nephews, our Tina, Paul and assorted friends and family, Hansi (good to meet in better circumstance). And finally anyone else who doesn’t fit one of those demographics! We love you all!

Oh and just to clarify, that suspicious looking rubber thing Andy produced from his trouser after song two and threw into the front row, it really was the old handle off his amp you filthy minded lot ;-) 

See you on the 8 December at Nambucca in Holloway Road, for the end of 2011 as we know it and your last chance of The Scratch until Spring 2012!!! Keep ‘um peeled and thanks again

xx