SCUM OF TOYTOWN.

Another re-post request, this time it's for the prog ska punk grooves of Stevenages finest....SCUM OF TOYTOWN.  I've collected the Fight Truth Decay (Tape), the live recording from Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage in 1982 and the legendary TimK PupSlop re-mixes and put them in one handy zip file, and here it is.  Scum of Toytown's new album Cells is out now on Ruin Nation Records.

SCUM OF TOYTOWN - Live @ The Red Lion, Stevenage 7/2/13 (*A Review*)

Jon, Lea and Nick  (Photo by: Grant Meaby)

Scum Of Toytown are not yer usual 'ska punk' band, yeah they've got the vibe, but there's a lot more going on; with 60's drum beats and rolls, a hardcore Bass rumble and grumble, a twin Guitar attack of Rock'n'Roll chops and psychedelic prog rock licks, all topped of with some dulcet folky tinged vocals, which contrast beautifully with the shouting and screaming backing vocals, then there's the Melodica.... On paper such an eclectic mix of influences and sounds shouldn't work together, but this is Rock'n'Roll not origami and it's all about tearing up the rule book and Scum Of Toytown tore it up leaving it in tattered pieces on the beer and sweat soaked floor of The Red Lion.

Live the band feed of a hungry audience and serve up a musical feast which ensures feet are taping and bodies are skanking. Their set tonight was a mixture of the old and new, all played with the energy, enthusiasm and abandon of folk half their age. There were times during their set when I was taken back twenty years to places like The Sir George Robey, Bowes Lyon House, Harlow Square, amongst other venues were Scum kicked up a racket and rocked the roofs off, pretty much like the did tonight at the Red Lion.  The SoT political message is just as relevant now as it was then, if not more. Question the world around you, take a stand and try and build a better one.  This band have always had the potential to do something, what that something is, only they know the answer to that, but whatever it is, it'll be on their own terms, and in their own time.

A new album has been recorded and is in the final process of being mixed, there's a gig in Camden in March and a couple in Germany in May. Further info and some videos and music can be found at their website and on their facebook page.

SCUM OF TOYTOWN - *A Re-Post*

This re-posting should have been done a couple of months ago as a footnote to a gig review of the scumbags at Club 85 in Hichin, but due to un foreseen circumstances at the eleventh hour I wasn't able to get along to it. Then I was gonna just post the music with a bit of writing, but found it hard to be objective about it, as primarily the band are friends that I've known for as many years as I can't remember. I started to write about some recollections of gigs etc back in the day, but then stopped because....now is the day!

The blurgh below and the lean, mean and moody photo have been blatantly blagged from the bands Last FM page:

Ska-punksters and arch exponents of tuneful 90s agit-pop to a wider world, Scum of Toytown are a response to the boredom and disaffection of London overspill life in Stevenage, UK. Rooted in the North London punk scene of the 70s and 80s, the main members met and began playing together in the late 80s. Gravitating towards the lively free festival and squat scene, SOTT played numerous dates in the UK with bands like RDF, Back to the Planet, Citizen Fish, Senser, 25th of May, Blaggers ITA, Dub War, Bender, The Cowboy Killers and AOS3. Three highly successful tours were organised on the central European squat scene through the influential Kopi collective in Berlin.

Tracks were released on a number of compilations, a DIY 7” EP, and an outstanding album, ‘Strike’, recorded at Southern Studios in Wood Green with the help of the Newport based Words of Warning label. Generous reviews were received for their recorded music in the underground and mainstream music press. Several tracks received national radio airplay, including an airing of the iconic ‘Jackboot Crusade’ by the late John Peel and, most recently, Tom Ravenscroft played ‘Sink or Swim’ on BBC 6 Music in November 2010.  SOTT stopped playing together around 1997. However, in 2010 events brought them back together and the band are currently working on a host of new songs, with recording and some selected live shows in the pipeline.

Shows have been played, songs have been recorded, there's footage on YouTube and stuff to listen to on the bands website. 2013 could be the year that the scum rises to the surface! Until then lets rewind a few years to a live set @ Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage in 1992, their first release, the mighty Fight Truth Decay Tape and here's a copy of their Destruction Of Both Houses Of Parliament EP, plus some bonus remixes.  

SCUM OF TOYTOWN - Live @ Bowes Lyon House, Stevenage 12/3/92

What with all the demonstrations and discontent going down, I thought I’d go a bit political on the old rock’n’roll front, and it doesn’t get much better than this. It’s those legendary malcontents Scum of Toytown. This is a really early live recording from way back in 1992, which captures them rough, raw and ready! Like The Clash meeting Fairport Convention. There’s a couple of tunes that they never recorded, along with the more familiar Sink or Swim, Different Drum and possibly one of the best anti-fascist songs ever; Jackboot Crusade. One thing that struck me while listening to these eight tracks was that every word Scum sang, screamed and shouted is as relevant today as it was 17 years ago. “IN DEFIANCE I REFUSE TO BE SILENCED!”

Here's Some More From The Class War Of 1994!

A while back I posted a Hunt Saboteur Compilation CD Biting Back (Link’s probably dead. Mental note to myself; Re-Post It!) This tape was the precursor to that and features many of the bands on the CD, all recorded live once again at The Square in Harlow between 1991 and 1993. This was the sound of the Punk Rock Underground groove of the time, or ’crusty’ as the music press liked to call it. Back To The Planet and The Baggers ITA both appeared on the front cover of NME, the former enjoyed minor chart success. The Blaggers sank without a trace after singer Matty punched an NME journalist, who’d questioned him about his dubious past as an NF member, remember that The Blaggers were fervent Anti Racists, one of their tracks here is the explosive This Is Where It Ends, which deals with the racist murder of Roland Adams. Unfortunately that was not where it ended, sixteen years later people are still being murdered because of the colour of their skin. Not everyone on this tape took everything so seriously; you’ve got the Cowboy Killers giving Elvis’s Latest Flame a good seeing to, Watt Tyler riding Hawkwind’s Silver Machine and Snuff reminding us that Bran Flakes were tasty, and Leatherface celebrating their Geordie roots with Howay The Lads. Restoring a bit of seriousness there’s Scum Of Toytown and Citizen Fish, with their skanktastic ska vibes, plus there’s loads of other good shit. Anyway enough waffle here’s Side One of the tape, and there’s Side Two. Enjoy!

FIGHT TRUTH DECAY (6 Track Tape)

No introduction needed for this bunch, it's been a while since I posted anything by 'em and I know some of you good folk are quite keen on the Scum Bags, so here you have it, their first recordings from way back in 1991, when George Bush snr was starting the first gulf war. 6 tracks of pure energy as only Scum could deliver with a dose of POLITICS and politics. Shit kicking stuff, play loud at the barricades. Pick up supplies here! NEW LINK!

THE CLASS(war)OF '94

Recorded live at various gigs at The Square in Harlow, this compilation highlights all the leading lights from the 90's 'crust punk scene' basically the evolution of the 'anarcho scene' in the 80's, but with a more groove based, dub, dance element to it and less shouty, shouty. The message was still the same; proceeds from the sales of this CD went to the Hunt Saboteurs Association. So there you have it 15 tracks by: RDF/The Sea/AOS3/Citizen Fish/Bender/Scum Of Toytown/Ramraiders I.T.A/Blade/Fun'daMental/Rhythm-Ites/Zu/Blyth Power/Snuff/Credit To The Nation/Wat Tyler// Get it here, but remember next time you see any collections for the Hunt Saboteurs, put a few pence in, cos this release will have cost you nothing.

SCUM OF TOYTOWN / TRANSWORLD SIREN - Stevenage Calling (split single)

This is the single that never happened, but most certainly should have back in 1994. Still it's never too late and somethings are worth waiting for. 4 tracks: 2 from SCUM and 2 from TWS. All re-mastered, de-hissed and beefed up by all round maestro mix maker Tim.K and his box of tricks. The 2 Scum Of Toytown tracks (Feedback and Different Drum) originally appeared on a Hunt Saboteurs tape released by The Square in Harlow and a local Hunt Sab group. They are prime slices of Scum Ska, that contrast perfectly with the Ministry meets Pop Will Eat Itself sub bass blast of Transworld Siren. Their 2 tracks (Subrenegade and Mine For Life) come from a demo that brought them to the attention of Fierce Panda records, but sadly that was all, nothing else happened and they never released anything commercially. A travesty.

Anyway check it out now, highly recommended. You know the score..it's just a click away: http://www.sendspace.com/file/rv5dgv

More SCUM rising to the surface.

The link for the SCUM OF TOYTOWN - 5 Fingered (de-mixed) Discount ep has been updated, just scroll down through the shit to January 25th and it's there ready for the taking. This post is a 'world exclusive' an unheard rough'n'tough Scum track Same Difference recorded in 2004, when they ventured in to the studio once more, 'To make loud noises about things they disagreed with and to cram as much joy into the activity as possible' Now you can share in their joy and disagreement.

It's just a click away: http://www.sendspace.com/file/zhlwcm

SCUM OF TOYTOWN

Right then folks. Gonna have to do a bit of history here cos there's not been much written about SCUM OF TOYTOWN. They came from Stevenage, a new town where there is supposedly more culture in a yoghurt, I think this post proves that dum arsed local radio presenter wrong. During the 90's Scum released one tape; Fight Truth Decay, one 7" single; The Destruction of Both Houses of Parliament and one album; Strike. They built up a strong local following in Hertfordshire and were veterans of the stage at Finsbury Parks Sir George Robey. Gigged with Citizen Fish, 25th May, RDF, The Blaggers, Cowboy Killers, Snuff amongst others. Toured with Back To The Planet, whom they blew off stage each night by all accounts. Toured Germany and Poland, where they built up a loyal following. Their single got a rave review in the NME, would have been single of the week if they'd sent in a photo with it, John Peel also gave it a spin. Musically if you have to label and box 'em up, they'd have fallen into the anarcho/crusty/ska punk scene, politically they were both global and personal. There you have it, a brief thumbnail sketch of Scum Of Toytown. The first two tracks have been radically reworked by Tim Knowles, master mixer and sound geezer, who was often seen firing off samples at Scums live gigs. The original grooves have been rewound, deconstructed and reconstructed in an almost orchestral and symphonic way, taking them to a different level. Then you get the original versions and an added bonus of my all time fave Scum tune the fascist kicking Jackboot Crusade, as played by John Peel. Grab 'em soon as it's gonna be limited, cos the file sharing hosts for this post only keep 'em up for 7 days, and have a limited number of downloads. If you do miss out leave a comment and I'll re-post at a later date.

Scum Of Toytown - 5 Fingered Discount EP

1) Feedback (Off The Shelf Mix) 2) Different Drum (Alternative Drum Mix) 3) Feedback (orig) 4) Different Drum 5) Jackboot crusade. http://www.sendspace.com/file/z7ewkj NEW LINK OVER TO YER LEFT IN REQUESTS/RE-UPS SECTION!