Scotty Rocks Hoops For Troops
Scotty Bratcher began playing guitar when he was 2. Now he’s just barely old enough to drink and already he’s rubbin’ elbows and sharing stages with big name bands.
In 2000, he entered Guitar Center’s National Jam with Kenny Wayne Shepherd Contest. Contestants were to download via computer, KWS’s new single of which the lead solo was to be made up by the competitors. Out of 1,200 entries, Scotty received 1st runner up. He still remains friends with lead singer Noah Hunt to this day. In fact Noah flew in for the “Hoops for Troops” Screaming Eagles Gala benefit show.
Scotty’s young but his drummer looks middle school young. Known only as Ryan “S” this kid looks like he couldn’t ride the beast without a parent. He kicks ass on the drums though. The band is rounded off with veteran bassist Dan “C”. Dan thumps that thing good too. The mystery keyboard player was awesome as well.
Scotty has played with and opened for names like Ted Nugent, Buddy Guy and many more.
He wails with the best of them and if your a fan of the Stevie Ray style of six string scream Scotty’s bound to get you going. He has amazing talent and dedication. It all shows in every note. He’s young and he can go far, real far. Friends/fans like Noah Hunt can’t hurt either.
You can catch The Scotty Bratcher band at Charlie’s Throttle Stop. The complete schedule is on his website www.scottybratcher.com or www.myspace.com/thescottybratcherband. Check Scotty out on youtube, in particular look at www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGoEhugey8Y that’s The Scotty Bratcher Band playing “No Quarter” by Zeppelin. A rare cover and a great performance. It was our favorite on the tube.
Special thanks to the band, also to Noah Hunt for flying out for the benefit show and playing with such enthusiasm. It makes all the difference for many people aside from those in attendance.
Hoops for Troops put on a nice event all in the hopes of sending the troops some much needed new gear and supplies. It’s hard to believe the best military in the world doesn’t provide all that the troops need. Crazy.
Thank God for civilians like Hoops for Troops, Screaming Eagles, The Scotty Bratcher Band and Noah Hunt are willing to help. Not to mention the staff, auction donations and local sports star support. Anthony Munoz was the key speaker and Carson Palmer attended too. Cool.
The second place we were fed a fish worth mentioning is The Newport Pizza Co. Opened in 2009 at 601 Monmouth Street in Newport, this place serves pizzas, salads, hoagies and appetizers. The bar is chock full of craft, import beer and good wines are available by the bottle or glass.
Yes the pizza is good. The dough has a crisp and perfect stretch-to-chew ratio, fresh produce toppings and good meats make a difference too. Many of the specialty pizzas sound great. The people’s pick in the blogs is the Zeus ($13.75-$16.75). Baby spinach, feta cheese, Roma tomatoes, roasted garlic, olive oil, and Asiago cheese. We would have went for that but this last lent we were treated to an awesome fish sandwich lent special. The Newport Pizza Company owner said customer response was so good he might keep it on the menu.
Good idea Mr. because you don’t not sell fish sandwiches like this. Two (not one but two) big fat slabs of beer battered cod. I watched him batter it from my bar stool. Two handfuls of hand cut fries (the only good fries) and a real decent cole slaw. Not to mention fresh made tartar sauce too. Awesome, as good as any in the city. And cheap, 6 bucks.
We went back this month and there it was. When people keep spewing compliments in-between mouthfuls of your cod you just go with it and answer their call. Newport Pizza did and it’s a good thing. I guess something good did come from lent after all huh. Other good things are; live concert dvd’s (we’ve seen Phish and Dave Matthews so far), easy going attentive service, late hours (1 am Fri. & Sat.), military cleanliness, delivery and (some) free parking all play parts in the whole of this place. Added altogether with hands on owner attention, it’s arguably a perfect 10 pizza pub. A pizza pub worth going to just for the fish.
