Alleycat Scratch - 'Deadboys In Trash City'
                                                                                                                               Re-mastered & re-issued through Regeneration Records in August 2006
THE BAND:
Eddie Robinson - vocals
Devin Lovelace - guitars
Bobby 'Boa' Dias - bass
Robbi Black - drums

TRACK FRAGMENTS:
1.) "Stilletto Strut" - The intro to this track opens with a bass line along with Robbi playing a drum pattern on his tom-toms.  The rhythm guitar kicks in with a very subtle chord riff.  Over the top of the rhythm guitar Eddie sings a vocal accent.  This vocal accent was very reminiscent of some of the vocal accents Phil Lewis has sang with L.A. Guns.  There is a small musical rest that bridges the musical intro with the musical verse.  Over the top of the musical rest there is a small spoken vocal line.  The rhythm guitar arrangement along with the drum line of the musical verse was heavily influenced by Guns 'n' Roses and L.A. Guns.  Every fourth musical bar Robbi switches from a standard hi-hat drum rhythm to a rhythm played on his tom-toms.  This tom-tom rhythm follows along with the structure of the rhythm guitar riffs.  The bass line for the song was turned up which, causes the song to be very heavy sounding.  Eddie's lead vocal lines of the verses are heavily influenced by Phil Lewis of L.A. Guns.  In many ways the choruses of this song were very similar to Tora Tora and the stuff Tora Tora recorded for their 1989 debut titled, 'Surprise Attack'.  
2.) "Take A Bite (Outta Me)" - This track opens with a very simple rhythm guitar riff.  The lyrical lines of the verses were kept fairly simple.  There are several little subtle vocal accents attached to Eddie's vocal lines that cause his voice to have a different feel.  There is a small rhythm guitar change for the chorus.  At times through the chorus there are small lead guitar licks added to the rhythm guitar arrangement.  These lead licks really accented Eddie's vocal lines.  There is a rhythm chord after the first chorus that was being slowed down as it was being played.  This added several dynamics to the rhythm guitar arrangement.  The lead guitar solo that Devin write for this song suited the musical arrangement perfectly.     
3.) "Cat's Got Your Tongue" - Over the top of this intro section there is a Chuck Berry influenced rhythm guitar riff.  For the main intro section there was a rhythm guitar change.  This rhythm guitar arrangement was very reminiscent to the rhythm guitar riffs Faster Pussycat's recorded for their self titled 1987 release.  Every other vocal line of the pre-verse was done as a backing harmony.  In the way the guys arranged the lyrics of the song was also very heavily influenced by Taime Downe of Faster Pussycats.  There is a rhythm guitar lick that leads into the second pre-verse.  The rhythm guitar arrangement of this song has a very stinking groove!  The same rhythm guitar riff that leads into the second pre-verse was used for the lead in for the lead guitar solo.  The lead guitar solo much like the rest of the musical arrangement had a very laid back feel to it.  There is a small musical breakdown after the lead guitar solo.  This breakdown section consisted of just bass and drums.  Over the top of the breakdown section Eddie has a small all most whispered vocal line.   
4.) "Soul Survivor" - The intro to this track opens with a cowbell.  Sections of the rhythm guitar riffs of the intro were overdubbed.  For the pre-verse Robbie switches from a standard hi-hat rhythm to a rhythm played on his tom-toms.  At the end of each vocal line of the pre-verse there is a small vocal echo.  After the pre-verse there is a chorus arrangement that consisted of very tight backing harmonies.  Musically and lyrically this track sounds like just about every band that recorded a CD in the late eighties.  Devin kept the lead guitar solo very short and simple for this song.  In fact running at a total of 2 minutes and 52 seconds the entire song was very short.
5.) "Sexual Addiction" - This intro section opened with a blues influenced bass line and hi-hat pattern.  In between the hi-hat and bass line there is a finger snap that keeps the time of the song.  This intro had a very cool bass line.  For the main musical intro there is a very laid back rhythm guitar arrangement.  In the way the vocal lines were laced together with the musical arrangement gives the song a Mötley Crüe 'Theater Of Pain' feel.  All-in-all this is a very cool simple eighties hard rock/blues song.  These types of arrangements are very cool songs to perform live and I believe every band has recorded this type of a song at one time or another.
6.) "Love Sick Junkie" - The opening rhythm guitar riff of this track had a speeded up seventies AC/DC feel to it.  Underneath the rhythm guitar riffs of the intro there is a small cowbell and woodblock that kicks off the drum rhythm.  Leading into the musical verse there is a small musical rest during this musical rest Robbi plays a small timing rhythm on his cowbell.  In the way the band arranged the lyrical lines were very similar to older Faster Pussycats.  During the lyrical arrangement of the verse there is one lyric line that was done with a backing vocal harmony.  In the way Eddie sang the vocals of the choruses really shows his vocal talent.  At times the way Eddie sings some of the lyrics gives his vocals a Vince Neil feel.  The intensity of some of the lead guitar licks of the guitar solo gave the lead guitar solo a very intense feel.  The outro arrangement was done in a standard metal/blues style.
7.) "Cheap City Thrills" - The rhythm guitar riffs of this intro section were heavily influenced by Faster Pussycats.  Over the top of the intro section are two small vocal accents.  The band used pretty much the same rhythm guitar arrangement for the verse as the intro.  The bass line of the song follows along with the rhythm guitar riffs of the verse.  The choruses of this track had a Hanoi Rocks influence to them.  There is absolutely nothing flashy about this song it is just all balls rock and roll!  Over the top of the breakdown section there is a small spoken vocal.  The rhythm guitar riffs of the lead guitar solo was heavily influenced by Chuck Berry.  If it had of been me, I would have wrote a rhythm guitar arrangement underneath the lead guitar solo.  Because the solo was influenced by Berry there are several empty spots and a underling rhythm guitar arrangement would have filled in some of that emptiness.  Even a bass line that was structured a little different would have made the solo section sound better.  
8.) "Roses On My Grave" -This first ballad on the CD opens with the sound effect of a coming storm.  Underneath the storm sound effect Robbie counts the kick-in and sets the time of the song with his hi-hat.  The main musical intro section consisted of an acoustic guitar arrangement.  In between the acoustic guitar and hi-hat there is a very small bass line.  Robbi uses the same acoustic guitar arrangement for the verse as the intro.  It sounds like there was a small delayed effect attached to the acoustic guitar that causes an overdubbed effect.  Hard rock ballads has always been the chance for the lead vocalist to show his vocal talent and this song is no exception.  For me the bass line underneath the musical verse was just a little to simple.  Like all hard rock ballads the chorus was very laid back and melodic.  After the first chorus there is a lead guitar solo.  The lead guitar solo was done electrically giving the song a solid mixture of acoustic and electric guitars  The only other time an electric guitar is played is during the choruses.  After the second chorus there is a second lead guitar solo.  After the second lead guitar solo there is a bridge that consisted of the same musical arrangement as the intro.   
9.) "Trash City" -This track opens with a vocal line.  The rhythm guitar riffs of the musical verses have a simple intense feel.  The vocal build-up of the choruses reminds you a little of Poison's "Look What The Cat Dragged In", from the CD of the same title.  This track is one of those rock out with your cock out tracks!
10.) "Plastic Dolls" -  The rhythm guitar of the intro to this track was very reminiscent of both Y&T's and Poison's cover of "Your Mama Don't Dance And Your Daddy Don't Rock And Roll" which, was written and originally recorded by Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina.  Underneath the rhythm guitar riffs of the intro Robbi plays a simple cowbell to lock in the time  Over the top of the musical intro there is a small spoken vocal line.  There is a small rhythm arrangement change for the choruses.  The choruses were arranged in a very simple fashion.  After the first chorus there is a minor lead guitar solo.  ands like L.A. Guns & Fasterpussy Cat's have used this type of arrangement several times.  After the minor lead guitar solo there is a eighth-note musical rest.  This musical rest was used to set the verses apart from the choruses.  As I'm setting here typing this I believe Mötley recorded a song in this type of musical arrangement on their 'New Tattoo' release.  For the major lead guitar solo section the band drastically changes the dynamics of the track by speeding the beats per minute up.   
11.) "Love Song" -Featured in the rated XXX movie, 'Backdoor To Sin City'.  The intro to this track opens with a drum pattern being played on the tom-toms.  Over the top of the Robbi drum pattern there is a small spoken vocal line.  The rhythm guitar arrangement opens with an electric guitar pick slide effect.  Absolutely do not let the title of this track fool you.  This is not a ballad!  Lyrically even by today's standards this track would have never made the CD if it had of been released on a major record label.  In between the lyrical lines of the verse there is a lyrical line with a backing harmony.  The underlining musical arrangement was very simply arranged, but you are not really suppose to be listen to the music on this song.  In between the vocal lines of the second pre-chorus who ever is doing the backing harmonies is singing a dog barking effect.  
12.) "I Don't Like Mondays" -(Live)

    Alleycat Scratch was formed in San Francisco, California in 1988.  "I was content with being in one of the cooler Bay Area bands," reflects bassist, Bobby "Boa" Dias. "Of course I wanted to be the NEXT BIG THING but I was hoping we could accomplish that from our home base."  As time went by it became obvious to the guys that a relocation was in order for the band to get noticed.  So they packed up their gear and moved to the heavy metal capital of the world, Los Angeles.  Not long after moving to Los Angeles the band recruited lead vocalist Eddie Robinson.  After blasting through the L.A. club circuit with the equivalent of an atomic bomb the band began working on their demo. 
    Released in 1993 'Deadboys In Trash City'  contained nine tracks that captured the band's sleazy feel.  Much like Smashed Gladys - 'Social Intercourse' release, 'Deadboys In Trash City' is highly sought out by eighties hard rock collectors.  In the coming months my good friend, Dave Tedder over at Regeneration Records will be re-releasing this rare gem.  This time around the CD is not only re-mastered and re-mixed but also includes three never before released tracks plus one bonus live song.  This time around the CD includes the track, "Love Song" which was not on the on the 1993 release, probably due to the PMR fuckinC.  **For those kids out there who do not know.  The PMRC was a committee formed by Tipper Gore in the late eighties that forced the record labels too put Parental Advisory stickers on CD's that contained foul language.  **  From what I have heard I do not think Alleycat Scratch would have been the next Guns 'n' Roses, but I do feel they could of had a sustainable career such as L.A. Guns has.  If your are a collector of eighties style hard rock or if your into bands such as; GnR, L.A. Guns, or Fasterpussy Cat, then this would make a great addition to you collection! 
Bonus DVD:
    Filmed, in the early nineties at the Troubadour which is located on the legendary Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles California.  The performance was filmed by Anabolic Digital the same production company that released, Back Door To Sin City'.  The quality of the production had grade B movie feel to it which, only makes since since it was filmed by a production company that does porn. For pretty much through the entire set the camera stays in one spot.  Towards the end of the set the person controlling the camera moves from the back of the venue to the right-side of the stage.  Though you could not see Robbi this angle was a better view of the band.  I was a little surprised by how small the Troubadour stage was.  Not that I expected it to be a huge stage, but with as many major bands that still play the Troubadour from time to time I would have thought the stage would have been a little bigger.  The band incorporated a cover of Hanoi Rocks "Malibu Beach Nightmare" which is off of Hanoi Rocks 1983 release title, 'Back From Mystery City'.  **Two years after Hanoi Rocks released 'Back From Mystery City' Razzle the bands drummer was tragically killed in a car accident. **   Also included within the bonus disc is a home movie shot at the band's apartment and a second concert.  The second concert footage if I am not mistaken was filmed by one of Alleycat Scratch's fans.