Hip Flask Junkies
Russell Investments
Band Profile:
The Hip flask Junkies were formed in early 2009. Sick of red screens we went looking for the blues which we found in the bottom of our hip flasks. The 'Junkies', now an international phenomenon following their West Coast summer tour are back in the UK and ready to rock.
Band Members:
Scott Cranshaw – Lead Vocals
Premiere as a live vocal artist in 1979 as Oliver Twist in “Oliver!” at the Whitley Bay Playhouse aged six, his elevated expectations to were left wholly unfulfilled during the following 18-year lull in performance activity. He had a sporadic resurgence as the lead singer of the “Philadelphia Spectrum” which saw seven gigs over five years at venues across London including Camden’s Dublin Castle and the Hope and Anchor in Islington. The latest five-year lull is now complete, and he’s bouncing back with the Hip Flask Junkies, an eclectic madness of pure rock punch, take it or leave it!
Dan Murray – Guitar
Inspired by luminaries such as George Formby and Rick Parfitt, the sound reproduced on the guitar can only be described as unique. Constantly changing time signatures and rhythms, sometimes intentionally, have left audiences speechless if occasionally dumbfounded.
The jazz-fusion arrangement of “Postman Pat” is a legendary crowd pleaser, as evidenced by the now famous quote “Do it again Daddy” (Madeleine, aged two years and nine months). A career in finance required the removal of a full-face spider web tattoo, though the spirit lives on.
Ashley Reid – Drums
His music career really took off in the early to mid 80s at university where bands such as “the Private Members” and “Cream in my Jeans” flourished. While they were of limited ability, they were always able to find audiences with poor taste and high pain thresholds to thrash around in front of.
A year in Brighton in a psychedelic rhythm and blues band called “Enchantment” failed to live up to expectations. The band split acrimoniously. Ashley then had little activity for the best part of 20 years and like Jet Black of the Stranglers, he’s now looking for a second chance later in life.
Andy Harradine - Guitar
Andy has followed the conventional British glide path to rock stardom (triangle, recorder, piano, nylon string, electric guitar). Career highlights so far include school guitarist of the year 1991 (extensive field of three) with rendition of Layla. Subsequent involuntarily draft into the school orchestra was not cool and proved short lived. School band 'Pete and the Rabbis' were a solid outfit but could only play one song which drove neighbours, parents and ultimately the band itself to the edge of sanity. Lets hope his chops will be as memorable as his gangster rap bling-tastic guitar.
Carl "Bootsy" McAndrew - Badassbass
Recent recruit McAndrew adds some much needed girth to an otherwise lightweight line-up. Sporting a comedy monk’s hairdo, he first picked up the bass in October 2011 only to promptly put it down again complaining of lumbago. Described as “a hell of a man for the ladies – no matter how clearly the gents are signposted”, it is rumoured that McAndrew has most definitely got the funk - he just can’t remember where he’s put it.