A N G R Y I T C H Interview
The bubbling cauldron of hearty punk, pungent grunge and the helping of straight up good shit that is A N G R Y I T C H is guaranteed to make you wince, smile and take another swig. Personally one of the most intriguing bands around, emitting emphatically delivered anti heroic anthems. You just can't go on another day with out them.
What are your influences?
Well, we’ve always loved punk. John and Ric grew up during the whole punk revival in the 90’s and Luke caught the pop-punk wave in the early 2000’s, and of course we all retrospectively appreciate the original burst of punk way back when. The whole genre really, it’s just so rich and varied when you really look into it.
Who would you accredit with initially getting you into music?
There’s always been one Birmingham band in particular that has had kind of a running history with us, and that’s been the Drongos For Europe. This time last year we were all at the Brum Punx Picnic watching the Drongos and we had a sort of clarifying moment where we went ‘This is it. This what we want to do’. After that we started jamming with a purpose, with the unofficial target of getting on the 2013 Punx Picnic bill, which, God knows how, but we have. So, we tend to look back on that moment as the true start of Angry Itch.
How easy have you found a level of success, playing a genre so radically different and shamefully lacking from the lazy surf songs we’ve come to expect from B-Town?
The biggest factor in this has been the Birmingham Punk Scene, which whilst may be, as you say, shamefully lacking in terms of exposure when pitted against the seemingly endless line of shiny, fuzzy, surf-pop acts, it’s just as big and even more passionate and supportive than anything on the surface of the B-Town scene. With promoters such as Punks Alive and venues like the Adam & Eve and The Wagon & Horses putting on punks gigs moreorless 4 or 5 times a week, coupled with such an open and friendly community who are always willing to help (a special mention to Brassick’s Jake and Nicola), it’s hard not to feel at home, as well as being a massive culture shock from the cold, exclusive B-Town veneer.
What aspect of music do you hold dearest?
Having a laugh, plain and simple. As long as we are having a few pints with our mates, we’re happy. Playing shows is just a bonus; a happy by-product of being part of such an amazing community.
Who would you headbutt?
*in unison, and without pause* PHIL COLLINS.
If you could trash a hotel room, what would you throw out the window?
Well, you can’t throw T.V.’s anymore, ‘cause they’re all these tiny flat screen fellas now, they don’t blow up on impact like the old school boxy ones, so we’d probably just throw out the kettle and those small packets of ameretti biscuits, as just a general statement on the declining standard of hotel coffee making facilities. I mean, you can’t even fit the kettle in the sink anymore. If you fancy a cup of tea, you either have to do several trips with a small cup or just stick it in the bath, turn on the shower, and hope for the best.
Are there any recurring themes that run through you music lyrically, melodically etc?
The quicker, the louder, the heavier, the better. As long as it sounds like something we’d listen to, then it’s ok with us. Thematically however, we tend to focus on the shittier aspects of life, taking inspiration from that great philosopher, Edward Elizabeth Hitler: “You’re born; you keep your head down; you die.”
What have you got coming up we should know about?
Well, we have achieved our set goal of getting on this years’ Brum Punx Picnic line-up at The Wagon & Horses. We are on Saturday 31st August, at about 7.00pm.
We are also putting on our own show Saturday 28th September, again at The Wagon & Horses, with a huge line-up of local talent including Rotunda, Mangled, Waste of Organs, Complete Dysfunction and The Knobbers. https://www.facebook.com/events/546972745350722/
https://www.facebook.com/AngryItch
https://soundcloud.com/angry-itch
