The Scratch - “Another Round"

SXSW 2023 - OEB Score: 8; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Mumford & Sons, Manchester Orchestra, Fontaines DC

A big part of the joy of SXSW is hearing something new after decades of music listening, finding a band that’s willing to define their own lane. The Scratch fit that mold with passion and energy. Irish folk music, hip hop, and nu metal somehow intermingle on 2022 single “Another Round”, a truly wild combination that The Scratch somehow blend into a killer pop track. Quick, acoustic strumming surprisingly works well with thick alt-rock and rap/sung mixed verses and the distinctly Irish sound roots these influences down smartly. There’s a decent-sized catalog beyond this highlight track, leaning a little more on folksier elements while still dipping into post-punk density here and there to keep things interesting. The more fusion the better; when The Scratch go out on a limb, it actually works to strengthen their core, percussive folk sound rather than losing focus through tangents. So much so that The Scratch imaginably crush live, a great set to catch as they head through SXSW next month. (Kevin McStravick)