User:Kittenones

SKRITCH is a composer, producer and performer born in Brisbane, Australia in 1970.

Some of his most recent projects include MARY TREMBLES, THE SMOKESTACK ORCHESTRA, TEX PERKINS’ DARK HORSES and THE BEASTS OF BOURBON.

SKRITCH’S musical styles vary as greatly as the roles he fulfils in each performing project. For example, take the intensity and dynamics of his constantly evolving rock band MARY TREMBLES (one of his all time favourite projects) in which he sings and plays guitar as well as penning the songs, or the versatility in his association with the seminal Australian band THE BEASTS OF BOURBON for whom he has played drums and produced and engineered their latest album “Little Animals”.

His current involvement within bands such as THE SMOKESTACK ORCHESTRA build upon SKRITCH’S reputation for the extreme versatility of style which he has developed over the years with bands such as TEX PERKINS’ DARK HORSES, GOTA COLA, BROKEN HEAD, RAWFISH and many many others.

The Early Years Playing music since his early childhood, SKRITCH would dabble freely with any and every noise-making device he could find, as well as being a member of the highly regarded St. Stephens cathedral choir under the baton of Greg Massingham.

Though many opportunities to pursue formal music training presented themselves, SKRITCH always shunned them in favour of enjoying the instruments in his own way and he showed very little desire to develop the skills required to play in the fashion of others.

Although most of his working life has been in Brisbane he spent time in Sydney during the second half of the eighties and played in or worked with bands such as TERRIBLE VIRTUE, MASS APPEAL, THE HELL MEN, THE HARD ONS and others.

Since returning to Brisbane in the early nineties he has continued his active associated with countless bands, (See lists below) and has worked extensively composing and producing music for film and television, both alone and in conjunction with long time collaborator CAM McKENZIE.

The Current Years Now a very proficient multi-instrumentalist, this initial inclination has shaped his musical path and led to the development of a distinct ethos that runs through every diverse project that SKRITCH takes on.

SKRITCH’S musical styles vary as greatly as the roles he fulfils in each performing project. For example, take the intensity and dynamics of his constantly evolving rock band MARY TREMBLES (one of his all time favourite projects) in which he sings and plays guitar as well as penning the songs, or the versatility in his association with the seminal Australian band THE BEASTS OF BOURBON for whom he has played drums and produced and engineered their latest album “Little Animals”.

The minimalism, simplicity and lamenting beauty of SKRITCH’S solo work ranges from lyrically driven songs accompanied by haunting banjo, guitar or piano to lush instrumentals that transport the listener through a movie of sound.

His current rolls within bands such as THE SMOKESTACK ORCHESTRA build upon SKRITCH’S reputation for the extreme versatility of style which he has developed over the years with bands such as TEX PERKINS’ DARK HORSES, GOTA COLA, BROKEN HEAD, RAWFISH and many many others.

SKRITCH brings this same ethos and versatility to his roles as a producer and engineer. He has built up vast studio experience recording projects such as heavy rock bands, smooth acoustic country and diverse musical scores for film and television. His ability as a programmer is as unique as his individualistic use of more traditional recording methods illustrated in much of his instrumental work, both solo and his film scores.

With all his composition, performance and production work he maintains a very strong ‘organic’ simplicity that time and time again results in an understated clarity of expression.

The Instruments Over the years SKRITCH has amassed a large collection of instruments and recording gear that help to provide him with the tools he uses to capture the emotion, expression and character delivered by a musical piece.

This collection includes many guitars some of his favourites being his 1958 Martin 018 acoustic, his 1972 Hagstrom Swedish Blond Electric, his 1974 Ibanez ‘Lawsuit’ Les Paul Gold Top, his 1960s Hoffner Venna, and his 1970s Fender P Bass. He has asked that this list not be mentioned out loud as his many other guitars, basses and banjos would undoubtedly be understandably upset.

He also has a number of pianos, electric pianos, pedal harmoniums and other keyboards as well as, of course, his impressive array of drums and cymbals. A comprehensive collection of guitar style effects peddles, studio outboard effects, preamps, compressors and EQ and an ever growing range of microphones augment these instruments.

As well as enjoying all his roles as songwriter, singer, multi instrumentalist, producer, engineer and tour manager SKRITCH has facilitated classes and workshops in all of them.

Discography:

Skritch’s bands

Gota cola:					Gotacola (self titled ep)

Broken head:				Locarno (album)

Gota cola:					Garanteed Rustless (album)

Tex Perkins’s Dark Horses:	Lucid (single)

Tex Perkins’s Dark Horses:	Sweet Nothing (album)

Milk Milk					Milk Milk Lemonaide (album)

Skam Artist				Everybodys Talking (single)

Mary Trembles				P.S...Situation (album)

The Smokestack Orchestra	Salutes Heavy Industry(album)

Mary Trembles				Borrowed Ears Borrowed Eyes (album)

Skritch					January 2rd (album)

An incomplete list of Production credits:

Beasts of bourbon Plus funk New Jack Rubies Brian Hooper Brian Hooper Ranger Lightning Dead Little Vegas and the Fuzz Parade Final Days Of Autumn

SKRITCH’s bands include:

Mary Trembles Solo The Smokestack Orchestra The Beasts of Bourbon Ranger Rawfish Milk Milk Tex Perkins Dark Horses Resin Dogs Multi Vita Jam Broken Head Gota Cola Shock Fungus Sus

Bands/Artists Skritch has worked with include:

Powder Finger, Pangea, Bulldozer, Regurgitator, Big Heavy Stuff, Spiderbait, Mick Harvey, Don Walker, Charlie Owen, Murray Paterson, Joel Silbershier, Grand Fatal, Andrew Stockdale, Radio Birdman, Tism, The Fauves, The Meanies, Something for Kate, Godnose, Rocket Science, The Giants of Science, Plusa Funk, Double Chamber, The New Jack Rubies, Little Vegas and the Fuzz Parade, Lightning Dead, Brian Henry Hooper, Intercooler, Dallas Crane, Eskimo Joe, Magic Dirt, Tim Rodgers, Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males, Custard, David McCormack, Front End Loader, The Cruel Sea, Louis Tillett, Jebediah, The Go-Betweens, Grinspoon, Happyland, Robert Forster, Even, Final Days of Autumn, You Am I and countless more.