Issue 15: February 2004
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Ta Da ... welcome to issue 15.
Bookmark this page or I'll kill your family.
To quote from Staind, "It's been a while". But we are back in Glen Studios polishing up the new set list.
We've chucked out most of the Oasis stuff, not because we don't like it, but just for a bit of a change. We now open with Radiohead's 'Street Spirit (fade out)' which the fans are really enjoying. Then some old favourites, a bit of REM and Bowie. Then some Pink Floyd, weird eh? There's more Feeder in the new list, it's a challenge both vocally and guitar-wise. I think the audience appreciate a more technical set.
There's been more e-mail flooding in via the offices of Dark Sun Records. Here are some of your views:
"I'm gutted that I won't be able to see you at Fibs in March. I'll definitely
be getting along to Glen Studios for a micro-gig."
See the NEWS page for more on that one! - Roj
"Pure Rock 'n' Roll"
"It's better than being boring like Blur or Blue."
"I think that there is more chance of winning the lottery than seeing SCARY at a public gig."
"It's the band I feel sorry for, once again suffering because of incompetence."
"I have just read your new-look October issue. As always I started at the back with
Sue Townsend's 'The last word'. On the other side of this were your money-off coupons,
meaning that I would have to cut up Sue's article to use them. Could you please move the
vouchers so that there is a ad on the back?"
I think this one got sent to the wrong e-mail address - Roj
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:-
Once again the gods of incompetence have conspired to deny mass public exposure to the legend that is SCARY.
As native York gig-sters will be aware local venue Fibbers is playing host to three 'names' in early March; Blazin' Squad, Spiritualized, and Badly Drawn Boy. Top band SCARY had been booked to support at one of these gigs but last-minute complications have left our best-beloveds high and dry.
Dark Sun Records have released the following statement:
"The boys were originally booked in a support
slot for the charity-based event, but due to contractual problems we have have to pull out.
It appeared that the principle act was using the gig for commercial purposes and this is
absolutely against SCARY's non-commercial stance. We had
no choice but to withdraw from the support slot. This is obviously a big disappointment
for the boys."
When asked who SCARY were booked to support, the
spokesperson replied:
"I'm not liberty to divulge that information, at this time, due to possible
legal implications."
In keeping with their current "no charge" policy, SCARY continue to offer free admission to their micro-gigs.
Dateline: 4th February 2004
It's all so quiet .... Oh yes, it's safe for you to come out of hiding again 'cos them noisy SCARY people have gone away, I think. Just look at the musical landscape. It used to be safe, homogeneous, boring and then along comes SCARY and f**k everything up. Now all the old skool rock is crawling out from the wreckage. Is this what we really want?
Bloody well right! We want music to rip our heads off and bounce our bleeding skulls down the street. We need our saviors, we need them now, and here they are. It's the Rock 'n' Roll suicide that is ...... SCARY. The boys are definitely back in town.
The mood is subdued as the audience begins to gather. The last gig was months ago. What's happened? A hush settles on the crowd. The air is hot and sticky with anticipation. SCARY are on-stage now, twiddling with knobs, battling against banshee feedback. Frustration already lining their faces. They're late to start, the crowd is restless. Then, the tell-tale sign, Roj strips off socks and shoes and walks bare-footed to the mike stand. The fans are poised ready for the roaring, pogo-ing opener. Instead Paul starts picking on his guitar and we all stand stunned as, completely left-field, they render 'Street Spirit (fade out)' with a crushing beauty.
We came to rock and they left us speechless, until, the final haunting chord when the audience like one primal monster roar out a mighty cheer. This is SCARY back with a vengeance. Before the crowd subsides, they plough on, through Oasis, REM, Bowie, Feeder, Staind, Green Day, Del Amitri. All the old favourites, but the guitars are somehow louder, tighter, a wall of sound. The vocals have matured, they have an edge, an urgency, a message that we need to hear.
Mid-set and the boys slow things down with a sublime version of Pink Floyd's 'Brain Damage/Eclipse'. Half the kids here have no idea what they are listening to, and frankly they don't care 'cos they're just having a hell of a time. The second half is noticeable for the addition of more Feeder songs, the highlight of which is 'Moonshine' with Paul's incredible guitar work and Roj's strangled vocals. "/Ooh, won't you come back to me/", well they did. "/Ooh, won't you shine out for me/", oh god they shone for us that night.
The set rattles on, this is Nirvana, and all too soon it's done. But no, an encore. Please, let there be an encore. Ooh yes ... a resurrected Longpigs 'On and On' and for the final song of the evening an awesome version of Oasis' 'Champagne Supernova'. And while our bleeding ears adjust to the resounding silence and we can focus once more on the stage, they've gone.
The crowd shuffle out into the winter evening, each nursing a private hole in their world. They'll be back, music-addicts one and all, and SCARY is their fix.
Mark E Smythe