CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS 153: THE SCRATCH ON FERAL CROWDS AND FINDING A SECOND HOME IN AUSTRALIA

Interview by Angela Croudace.

Fresh off the plane and straight into Melbourne’s heat and world-class coffee, The Scratch have wasted no time settling back into Australia. After making a serious impression at Misneach Festival last year, the Irish four-piece return for their first run of headline shows, and if their memories of Aussie crowds are anything to go by, they’ve been looking forward to this.

We caught up with the band to talk chaotic live shows, the mantra behind Pull Like a Dog, and why Australian audiences feel surprisingly close to home. From shoey debates to “feral” crowd energy, it’s clear this tour isn’t just another run of gigs — it’s shaping up to be something unforgettable.

Futuremag Music: Naturally, you’ve just landed back in Australia — what hit you first this time around?

The Scratch: The heat. The sun. That’s it. You can spot Irish lads straight away — especially this time of year coming somewhere warm. There was a massive thunderstorm earlier, but the last few days have been beautiful. We had two days to roam around Melbourne. Gary’s Angus, who runs Bloom Coffee, put us up, filled us with cold brews. And the coffee here… you just can’t get away with bad coffee in Melbourne. Even the train stations are ridiculous compared to what you’d expect.

Futuremag Music: Sounds like you’ve settled in well.

The Scratch: Yeah, when we got here last year, we had such a blast. It’s a beautiful place, people love music, love live shows — and the gigs were amazing. So, getting the chance to come back is class.

Futuremag Music: Your last visit was for Misneach Festival — how did that come about?

The Scratch: Yeah, organised by Dermot Kennedy. ‘Misneach’ means bravery in Irish… and it was a brave move booking us. (laughs). He had amazing acts — all Irish artists — playing in Sydney last summer. That was what got us over here, really. We added more shows around it, but that festival was the starting point.

Futuremag Music: Who else was on the lineup?

The Scratch: Amble, Kneecap, Cliffords, Susan O’Neill… loads of incredible artists. Matt Corby too — the one local lad snuck in there. (laughs). It was a privilege to be part of it.

Futuremag Music: Now you’re back for your own shows — how does that feel?

The Scratch: Buzzing. Melbourne was actually our first show last time too — we played Howler. We were wrecked from the flight, barely functioning… but the second we walked out, the place was just flying. It was on wheels. We also did a secret gig in Sydney the next day — tiny room, St. Patrick’s Day — absolutely mental. So yeah, coming back now with proper headline shows is very exciting.

Futuremag Music: Do Australian crowds bring something different compared to home in Dublin?

The Scratch: It’s very similar — which is probably the best compliment we can give. It’s that same kind of feral energy (laughs). The mix of Irish and Australian crowds is perfect. It actually feels closer to home than a lot of other places.

Futuremag Music: Important question… if presented with a shoey — are you doing it?

The Scratch: If the shoe comes off the shelf… then absolutely not. (laughs) Is it an honour? Like, do you get presented with it?

Futuremag Music: Usually the sweatiest bloke in the front row throws it on stage.

The Scratch: Ah okay… yeah that’s rough. I’ve never done one — I’ve seen it. It’s nasty. In the heat of the moment though… who knows. Is it disrespectful to say no?

Futuremag Music: Kind of…

The Scratch: Right… okay, we might have to do it so. (laughs). So yeah — bring your shoes.

Futuremag Music: Let’s talk about Pull Like a Dog. When did that phrase become the identity of the album?

The Scratch: Cathal brought it up — it was just a line at first. It ended up in the song, and then when we heard it, we were like — that’s the album title. It was one of the first times we had a title before the album was even finished, and it kind of shaped everything — it became the ethos. It came from a challenging period in our lives… so it became a mantra for getting through that.

Futuremag Music: Where does this album push you the furthest?

The Scratch: Sonically, it’s a big jump. We wanted more energy — heavier guitars, more drive. But the challenge is we don’t use a traditional drum kit, so matching that energy is tough. The producer, John ‘Spud’ Murphy, helped us really capture that. Some of the songs are the fastest we’ve ever played — nearly kills us live. (laughs). But they get unreal reactions.

Futuremag Music: Your sound is incredibly heavy without electric guitars — how?

The Scratch: It just evolved naturally. We’ve been using guitars from an Australian company — that actually opened up the sound for us. We’ll probably bring in electrics at some point, but right now we’re enjoying pushing things as far as we can without them.

Futuremag Music: Does modern life make it harder to switch off, or does it fuel creativity?

The Scratch: Both. Social media addiction is very real — it makes it hard to switch off. But it’s also a constant source of inspiration. You’re exposed to so much music and creativity — especially for smaller artists, it’s an amazing tool. But then you wake up and see the chaos of the world straight away… So yeah, it’s a double-edged sword.

Futuremag Music: What’s one question you wish people asked you more?

The Scratch: Stuff outside the music. Sometimes it’s more interesting to talk about life — people already have their own interpretations of songs anyway. There’s something nice about keeping a bit of mystery around the music.

Futuremag Music: Strangest gift from a fan?

The Scratch: Someone got a tattoo of one of our signatures. We’ve also gotten handmade stuff — like stained glass logos. Some seriously cool things over the years.

Futuremag Music: Which tracks are you most excited, or nervous, to play live?

The Scratch: Some of them are tricky — especially vocally. We added a lot in the studio, so now we’re relearning how to perform them live. But that’s part of the fun.

Futuremag Music: For someone seeing you live this week — what are they walking into?

The Scratch: An exorcism. The experience of a lifetime. The greatest gig they’ll ever witness. (laughs)

Futuremag Music: If Pull Like a Dog was the mantra for this era, what’s next?

The Scratch: She’s in the garage. (laughs). It basically means we’re ready to go. Whatever comes next, we’re locked in.

Futuremag Music: Looking back at the past year, what’s been the biggest shift?

The Scratch: Belief. Before, we had to force it. Now it feels natural. There’s more confidence — we’re actually sitting in it now.

Futuremag Music: Final message for Australian fans?

The Scratch: Get down early, get loud. We remember it.