Rock Archeologia

Twitch - Twitch And Shout (1981 Bomb Records) 

Artist: Twitch
Album: Twitch And Shout
Label: Bomb Records
Catalog#: Bomb 7034
Recording: Feb. 1981
Country: Canada
Genre: Pop/Rock, Power Pop
Duration: 00:43:19

• In 1970, Garwood Wallace put together a London, Ontario based folk-rock group called Breadfeather featuring himself (guitar, vocal), Valerie Hudson (guitar, vocal), Bryan Pratt (bass), and Stan Mitchell (drums). Their regional claim to fame was playing the first ever rock concert at the Ontario Place Forum in June, 1971 produced by singer/songwriter Terry McManus. In the Fall of '71 Wallace and Hudson joined Terry McManus's studio band along with bassist John Woloschuk (later of Klaatu). The result was three single releases for A & M Records and an unreleased album. Wallace would later move on to various bands and solo acoustic work as did Hudson (whose song "Stormy Grey" was recorded by Karl Erickson and produced by McManus). Pratt played bass in various pick-up acts with Wallace in the '70s (and later in the band Kids.)
• Twitch was formed in 1979 consisting of Wallace, Pratt and Stephano Leroux (drums). Leroux was from North Bay and like Pratt and Wallace, had recently moved to Toronto. The idea was to create a simple, direct, pop/rockabilly trio to play Wallace's songs. Having long been an admirer of Bob Segarini, Wallace sought him out for guidance after hearing his 1978 Bomb Records release 'Gotta Have Pop'. Segarini became something of a mentor to Wallace resulting in Wallace playing guitar and singing on the sessions for Segarini's second solo album 'Goodbye L.A.' At one point, Wallace asked Segarini to attend a Twitch showcase at the Nickelodeon on Yonge Street in Toronto. Segarini was impressed enough with the energetic band that he had them open a show for him and his band that same night across town at the El Mocombo. Thus, the very first Twitch gig in front of a live audience was on June 2, 1979 to a packed house. This resulted in a lot of attention from local promoters and the media and Twitch quickly established themselves on the Toronto music scene as a fast, loud power-pop band specializing in nervous rock'n roll. They became the "house opening act" at the El Mocombo for much of the summer of '79, doing shows with the Ramones, Link Wray, John Lee Hooker, and the Tourists, among others. Segarini also recorded a Garwood Wallace song, "Rock 'N Roll Moment" for the 'Goodbye L.A.' album. In 1980, Steve Feldman, who had played with Pratt in Kids, replaced Leroux as drummer. By the Fall of 1980, Twitch recorded and released "Sad Girl", their first single and video for Bomb Records.
• In February 1981, they began the sessions for the Bomb Records album 'Twitch And Shout', which was produced by Greg Warren and released in June of that year. 'Twitch And Shout' and its first single, "Take It Back", received a lot of airplay and Twitch played extensively across Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. Various factors typical of the music scene in the early eighties contributed to the band's demise and they played their final show together at Larry's Hideaway on March 11, 1982. Bryan Pratt currently lives in Stratford; Wallace is the Customer Service Manager for Sam the Record Man's flagship store in Toronto. He still makes music for his own enjoyment. - With notes from Garwood Wallace.

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 • Side One:
A1. Rock 'N' Roll Moment 03:33
A2. Ring True 03:30
A3. This Boy's Got It 03:05
A4. Up To You 02:42
A5. Loser 05:37
A6. What Do You Say 04:08
 • Side Two:
B1. Tough As Nails 05:30
B2. Something I Can Touch 02:59
B3. Sad Girl 03:00
B4. My Girl Likes To Fly 02:53
B5. Take It Back 02:25
B6. Talking To You 04:08

 

Musicians:
Steve Feldman - Drums, Vocals
Garwood Wallace - Composer, Guitar, Vocals
Bryan Pratt - Bass, Vocals

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