Issue 13. June 2002
If you're getting behind on the news, don't forget to check out the archive section.
Trumpet fanfare ... welcome to issue 13.
Bookmark this page or I'll cry.
Roj:
"It's been Awhile" but things have been frantic already this year and it's
likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
SCARY had a big break in April when I went on a family tour of Egypt for eleven days. We took in Cairo and Luxor and all the major sights; the Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Valley of the Kings. A fantastic experience and one that I would recommend for everyone.
On Saturday 15th June Scary-bloke Paul and his wife Sue, became the proud parents of a bonny, bouncing girl, Eve Lois. Lots of Scary-love to them all. Obviously, this will curtail our activities in the near future but we will be out and about and you might get a glimpse of Eve if you're lucky.
SCARY is a rock band based in York, England. The band currently consists of two full-time members; lead guitarist Paul "Noodler" Martin and rhythm guitarist Roger "Sorry" Butler-Ellis. They both double up on vocals.
No band can exist in isolation, and even musical minimalists such as SCARY need a back-up team to provide vital assistance. So here are the folks that help make us rock:-
May was a month for taking in gigs and SCARY members could be seen watching "Runrig" at York Barbican on the 11th and "Jimmy Eat World" at Manchester Academy on the 26th.
Following in Scary-Paul's footsteps, Roj has now upgraded his ZOOM effects processor to the GFX-4 model.
SCARY won't be appearing at "Party in the Garden" this year but look out for faces in the crowd at "The Electric Soft Parade" gig at Fibbers, York on July 11th and a sneaky appearance at the Carling Leeds 2002 festival.
In keeping with their current "no charge" policy, SCARY continue to offer free admission to their micro-gigs.
Dateline: 25th April 2002
With the current glut of guitar acts threatening to reach pandemic proportions, it's hardly surprising that quality control has gone out the window. After an initial bursts of brilliance (The Strokes, Hives, Stripes, Vines, BRMCC), we're now in danger of succumbing to the totally indifferent. The number of mediocre US garage rock bands being touted as the New Big Thing is growing by the day.
What makes this even more incomprehensible is that on our own doorstep we have groups as inspired and refreshing as SCARY. In a little under four years, they've constructed their own uniquely mythic universe; a world of surreal twists and romantic adventure soundtracked by a dazzling creativity that sucks influences from just about every strain of music ever invented.
The only debit so far is that their cautious approach, no commercial release of material so far, has meant that they haven't yet made the big breakthrough. Reading between the lines of their band manifesto it almost looks as if they don't want greatness, but greatness is surely about to be thrust upon them.
The set list has changed dramatically and the audience are somewhat stunned by the opening numbers, covers of the White Stripe's "Hotel Yorba" and "We are going to be Friends". After the initial shock they jackknife into the more familiar territory of "What's the Frequency Kenneth" and they quickly settle into their tight groove. What soon becomes apparent is that for all their weird time signatures and semi-prog noise assaults, there's an accessible heart to everything they do.
They weave current nu-metal favourites from Staind and Nickleback with the glam gold of "Ziggy Stardust" and their eerie take on Pink Floyd's "Brain Damage/Eclipse". They tickle at the fringes of populist music with tunes culled from Del Amitri, REM, Oasis, Train, Green Day and Eric Clapton.
It's nearly time for us to go and the fans are ready for the rambling sonic experience of "Hey Jude". But hold fast, they've rewritten the script and finish off with a brain-addling, super-extended rendition of "Champagne Supernova". What a treat.
SCARY might share some influences with their American contemporaries, but their genius lies in what they choose to do with them. Rather than rehashing a trusted formula, they're constantly searching for new ways of twisting and turning their songs into something fresh and original. Ultimately, it's time to decode what you prefer. SCARY should make it an easy choice.
Jane Oldham
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