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Old Scratch

by TROPHY WIVES

supported by
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Bad Tattoos 03:48
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Reacher 02:47
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616 02:43
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Let Us Roll 03:51
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Nick of Time 04:43
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King Cab 07:03

about

"“Weight” and “volume” are terms usually reserved for science, but with Trophy Wives they’re an art. The Louisville, KY-based four-piece’s dark, sweaty rock cribs its moves from Birthday Party-esque post-punk, Kyuss-like stoner grooves, and Jesus Lizard-like rhythm section gnarl in equal measure, going unpredictably but consistently for either your gut or your throat. Make no mistake: they’re going to hit you hard and kick your ass, but at least you’re going to have a good time rolling with the punches." -Johnny C., www.prfbbq.com

Old Scratch, the debut 13 song LP/CD from Trophy Wives, available now from Latest Flame Records.

Upcoming Shows:

July 20: Louisville, KY @ Mag Bar (Mag Bar Benefit!) w/ Neighbor, Great Floods, Bearhammer, Misery, Crippled Tongue
July 25: Louisville, KY @ The New Vintage w/ Tanks, Call Me Bronco, Lark's Tongue
August 4: Louisville, KY @ Haymarket Whiskey Bar w/ Stagecoach Inferno, The Dammit, Trying Times, Skin Tone
August 8: Indianapolis, IN @ Indy's Jukebox w/ We Are Hex
August 9: Chicago, IL @ Township w/ 97-Shiki, Fake Limbs, Split Feet
August 10: Kenosha, WI w/ Victory and Associates, Fowlmouth
August 11: Milwaukee, WI @ Frank's Power Plant w/ Victory and Associates, Volunteer
August 12: Madison, WI @ High Noon (matinee) w/ Victory and Associates, Soundless
August 13: Minneapolis, MN @ Hexagon w/ Gay Witch Abortion, Victory and Associates
August 14: Dubuque, IA @ The Lift w/ Victory and Associates, Young Indian
August 15: Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater
August 17: Denver, CO @ Wax Trax Records (early in-store) w/ Police Teeth
August 17: Denver, CO @ Lost Lake w/ Police Teeth, Glass Hits
August 18: Santa Fe, NM @ TBA
August 20: Austin, TX @ Trailer Space Records w/ The Gary, Blue Kabuki
August 21: Denton, TX @ TBA
August 22: Dallas, TX @ Crown & Harp w/ Nervous Curtains, Hormones
August 23: Memphis, TN @ The Buccaneer w/ Tanks
August 24: Nashville, TN @ Springwater Supper Club w/ Tijuana Goat Ride

Press:
The Isthmus (Madison, WI) show preview:
www.thedailypage.com/music/article.php?article=37130
The Onion A.V. Club:
www.avclub.com/artists/trophy-wives,5604/
Never Nervous interview:
never-nervous.blogspot.com/2012/09/interview-tony-ash-talks-about-trophy.html
Martian Dance Invasion's Best of 2011:
martiandanceinvasion.blogspot.com/2011/11/filling-best-records-of-2011-gaps.html
Dallas Observer interview:
blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2012/07/trophy_wives_tony_ash_fugazi_w.php
Never Nervous reviews Old Scratch:
never-nervous.blogspot.com/2012/09/review-trophy-wives-old-scratch.html
I Wanna Rock You Baby reviews Old Scratch (in Hungarian): csakbennhajogerendazatto.freeblog.hu/archives/2012/01/23/Trophy_Wives_-_Old_Scratch_Noise-Grunge-Rock/
90.1 WRUV (Burlington, VT) reviews Old Scratch: reviews.wruv.org/2012/01/old-scratch/
Shiny Grey Monotone discusses Old Scratch:
www.shinygreymonotone.com/2012/01/trophy-wives-old-scratch.html
R.A.D. Vinyl reviews Old Scratch:
radvinylrecords.tumblr.com/post/10008552515/trophy-wives-old-scratch-latest-flame-records
The One True Dead Angel reviews Old Scratch: theonetruedeadangel.blogspot.com
The Soda Shop reviews Old Scratch: thesodashop.wordpress.com/2011/08/27/current-rotation-8272011/
Stripwax: thirdcoastdigest.com/2011/08/stripwax-trophy-wives-true-blood-ofcourseandwhynot/
LEO Weekly interview:
leoweekly.com/music/brotherhood-wives
Subba-Cultcha reviews Old Scratch: www.subba-cultcha.com/album-reviews/article.php?contentID=25661
Elementary Revolt reviews the teaser for Old Scratch: elementaryrevolt.blogspot.com/2011/07/trophy-wives-old-scratch-lp-teaser-2011.html
The Obelisk reviews the Trophy Wives/Glasspack split 7": theobelisk.net/obelisk/2011/03/10/glasspacktrophywivessplitreview/
LEO Weekly reviews Louisville is for Lovers 10, featuring Trophy Wives:
leoweekly.com/music/reviews/louisville-lovers-vol-10
LEO Weekly reviews Trophy Wives' self-titled EP:
leoweekly.com/music/cd/music-reviews/music-reviews-11

Bio:
First conceived in the summer of 2007 by veterans of many of their city's more noteworthy and distinguished bands of recent years, Louisville, Kentucky's TROPHY WIVES has established themselves as a veritable force to be reckoned with in their own right, on their own terms. Vocalist/guitarist Billy Bisig (Elliott, Lords) and bassist Tony Ash (Coliseum, Nixon), frustrated with the demise or inactivity of some of their former projects and the directions in which some of the others were heading, got together and began writing and demoing numerous songs in their shared warehouse practice space over a particularly hot and humid Kentucky summer. Within a few short months, drummer Geoff Paton (Young Widows, Breather Resist) was enlisted as a full time member. Countless shows later, having won the praises of diverse and enthusiastic crowds both in their hometown and beyond, the then three-piece band found a kindred spirit in second guitarist and southern California transplant Elliott Turton. Many tours and whiskey shots later, shortly after the release of their debut full length, Old Scratch, on Milwaukee's Latest Flame Records, Turton left the band to devote his time and energy elsewhere, and was replaced by fellow miscreant Robby Scott (Christiansen, By the Grace of God). With their lineup firmly in place, the quartet has forged a highly distinctive sound, accentuated by Bisig and Scott's dual guitar interplay, calling to mind both the hook-laden riffs of Portland punk legends the Wipers and the heavy grind of stoner metal godfathers Kyuss, while displaying an obvious appreciation for classics such as ZZ Top and Led Zeppelin. The Wives' airtight rhythm section, a combination of Ash's gnarled, razor-sharp basslines and Paton's thunderous, Neanderthal drumming, owes a major debt to Touch and Go powerhouses the Jesus Lizard and Laughing Hyenas. These basic but essential ingredients, combined with Bisig's raspy vocal delivery, make up an overall sound that is simultaneously pummeling and inviting, explosive and subdued, always seemingly teetering on the threshold of chaos while maintaining a degree of unparalleled precision.

Old Scratch:
Old Scratch, the debut full-length from Louisville, Kentucky’s Trophy Wives, draws heavily from its place of origin along the banks of the Ohio River, a locale with a rich musical history that includes indie stalwarts Rodan, Slint, and Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Like the city’s favorite son, Muhammad Ali, the band knows its punches from its poetry, and both are on ample display here.

Playing on the loud-soft dynamics of its forebears but never slipping into the trappings of genre, the band lays a thick and heavy groundwork throughout. Bassist Tony Ash and drummer Geoff Paton provide a raw, edgy backbeat (“Bad Tattoos,” “Taste of Your Medicine”) to Billy Bisig and Elliott Turton’s carefully controlled guitar flights, which give every song a different personality but keep it all in the family.

Bisig’s pop sensibilities shine through in his vocals. His grungy delivery is balanced by melodies and harmonies that wouldn’t be out of step on a Kinks record (“Crooked Cross,” “616”). His lyrics are brooding and escapist, and gain from clever wordplay mixed throughout, as on the syrupy chorus of the otherwise riff-heavy “(You’re Like a) Bad Song.” For the most part though, Bisig’s takes on love, sex, loss and alienation in our connected world are refreshingly earnest.

Ultimately, Old Scratch is the document of a band with surprising range. From the assaulting screams of “Bless You All,” to the slinky bass and guitar lines that introduce “Picture Perfect,” to the silky vocal intro of “616,” Old Scratch introduces a band that you’d regret to overlook. Take the punch and you’ll hear the poetry.

credits

released August 16, 2011

Billy Bisig: vocals, guitar. Robby Scott: guitar. Tony Ash: bass. Geoff Paton: drums.

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