about the band

Rich Baron

lead vocals, guitar

AKA “Prima Donna” 

MY DAY JOB: Managing a team of diverse personalities.

WHEN NOT PLAYING: Spending time with the family, managing Yoko, being cute & cuddly.

QUOTES: “Many well respected people have come from my hometown [New Rochelle, NY], unfortunately, I’m not one of them.”

Greg Lippert

lead guitar, vocals, synth

AKA “Reuben (Kinkaid)”

DAY JOB: Day job? This is my day job!

WHEN NOT PLAYING: Driving kids around and partying like its 1999!

QUOTES: “There’s nothing wrong with me, it must be the universe”

Mark Bogues

drums, percussion

AKA “The Wookie”

DAY JOB: Life explorer or technology enthusiast!

WHEN NOT PLAYING: Crusin’ in my boat, hangin’ with my grandkids, lighting light bulbs from my mouth and engaging in clever email banter!

QUOTES:“I speak many languages, too bad no one understands them.”

Jim Indelicato

bass, vocals

AKA “§” (formerly the artist known as Mookie)

DAY JOB: A sheppard

WHEN NOT PLAYING: Knitting, Needlepoint, Disney+ and watching Tim Tebow highlights.

QUOTES: “My search is over…I finally found an amp that goes to 11!!!”

A Scratch story!

It began over 30 years ago at Penn State University. Rich and Greg were both freshmen in 1985 when they found themselves living on the same dorm floor. They instantly became friends; hanging out and playing music together. They played in a band called Room 110.

Room 110 performing at the Penn State art festival 1987

Separate ways

After freshman year Rich and Greg did not see each other much. But, as juniors at Penn State, fate brought Rich and Greg back together. They bumped into each other the street prompting Rich to spontaneously ask Greg if he wanted to try an open mic at a local campus dive bar.

They quickly learned five songs including “Your Mama Don’t Dance”, “Little Wing” and “Wish You Were Here” which still reside on Scratch’s song list today. The open mic was a huge success and soon they were playing gigs at bars and fraternities throughout Penn State. They became known as “New England”.

After graduating, Greg & Rich took their act back to southern Connecticut. They changed their name to “Magic Hat” and started playing as an acoustic duo (or trio adding drums) in many area clubs throughout Fairfield County. For several years they performed almost weekly before Rich relocated to Los Angeles to manage a recording studio – hence ending the first great run.

Magic Hat cover photo (original music)

Coast to coast

Greg and Rich both recorded original material (together and apart) and played on each other’s projects in Connecticut and LA.

Five years later, a new job led to Rich being transferred back to Connecticut where he and Greg quickly reconnected. This time, Greg and Rich wanted to form a full band and expand their repertoire and sound.

In 1999, they met Mark through a work colleague he started playing percussion and drums. Kevin joined on bass and the boys landed a great monthly gig in Southbury, CT.

When they were pressed for a band name, they quickly pulled the name “Scratch” from a random word search. They had no idea at the time the name would stick.

Kevin moved away and was replaced by Herb – a talented bass player who pushed the band to get better. The band continued to play the monthly gig in Southbury and an occasional party consistently improving and building synergy. Unfortunately, work forced Herb to relocate to the midwest and Scratch was again in need of a new bass player.

Along comes Jim (our eye candy)

After a few auditions, Greg located Jim on a musician website. At the time, Jim was looking to hook up with a jam band but was intrigued by Scratch’s diverse song list. He decided to give it a try and he fit right in. Within weeks, Scratch was again performing. With the current line up and chemistry building, the band was ready to take it to the next level.

Early band photo with Jim

The 15-year (and counting) tour

In 2005, Scratch began to play bars and clubs, expanding from a monthly gig and occasional party to being a regular band playing all over Connecticut. While landing the first gigs were difficult, the band quickly gained momentum as the mailing list grew and impressed club owners kept asking the band back again and again.

The summer of 2006 turned out to be the biggest yet for Scratch culminating in a headline performance at the famed Levitt Pavilion in Westport, CT.

Scratch's first big show at the Levitt Pavillion in 2006

As demand grew, 2007 was a great year for the band. Scratch played over 40 shows at many of the top clubs throughout Connecticut including The Field (Black Rock), O’Neills (South Norwalk), Tiernan’s (Stamford), Crab Shell (Stamford), Molly Darcy’s (Danbury), and many more. Just about every club that Scratch tried out asked them back for more. Scratch also headlined a big show at the Danbury City Center.

Scratch's headlines the Danbury City Center concert series

2007 turned out to be a launching pad for the future. In 2008, Scratch played over 50 shows including many parties, new clubs and, another big show at the Levitt Pavilion. The band got a feature article written about the in the Norwalk Hour and also got mentioned by the morning DJ Chaz at 99.1 WPLR the premier rock station in the area. Chaz called Scratch “A great band” when he caught our show at Cooks Cafe.

Since 2008, Scratch has been playing about 50 shows and parties each year. For over 15 years, the lineup has stayed the same. 

The band has even toured nationally, playing in Las Vegas, Nashville, Austin, New York City and ski resorts in Vermont and New York.

In 2018, Scratch adapted their show to Scratch acoustic, playing more acoustically with percussion as a duo, trio or full band. It has proven extremely popular for smaller venues who don’t the volume (or expense) of a full band.

It’s 2024 and Scratch can still be heard at clubs around Connecticut and beyond.

Pavilion gets Scratch

BY LAURIE LAWLESS, Staff Writer

A special presentation of classic 1970s and ’80s rock ‘n’ roll tunes mixed with new-age ’90s to present rock songs will be held at the Levitt Pavilion tomorrow night as the local cover band, Scratch, hits the stage. Audiences of all ages are invited to join what Scratch considers the “highlight” of their summer.

Scratch musicians Rich Baron, Greg Lippert, Mark Bogues and Jim Indelicato are from all over southwestern Connecticut including Danbury, New Fairfield, Trumbull and Southbury. Lead guitar and back-up vocalist, Lippert, is originally from Westport.

The history of Scratch really started back in 1985 when Lippert and Baron met and started playing at bars in college. Years later, they decided to reunite and form a full band. After a few members came in and fell out, Scratch finally has a steady group and has started to hit local clubs scenes at a demanding level.

“Our name has gotten around and our mailing list has grown. We played one place, the guy said we were the best band he ever had in there,” said Lippert.

Scratch seems to have almost regular shows at popular spots O’Neils in South Norwalk, The Crab Shell in Stamford and Molly Darcy’s in Danbury. Lippert said that they also play shows sometimes in New Haven, Black Rock and Rowayton.

“We found if you want to get a lot of work, you have to give people what they want,” explained Lippert. “We’ve had long debates about the type of much we want to play.”

Eventually they decided to void out two songs — “Jesse’s Girl” by Rick Springfield and “867-5309/Jenny” by Tommy Tutone — and continue to play almost any other request given to them.

The band’s repertoire has something for everyone, including songs from Santana, Van Morrison, Grateful Dead, BB King, Def Leppard, AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Lynard Skynard, Neil Young, Bon Jovi, U2, Jimmy Buffet, Blink 182, Greenday, Matchbox 20, Fall Out Boy, Sugarcult, Jimmy Eat World, Third Eye Blind, The Foo Fighters, and Oasis.

“A lot of these song that are popular almost happen by accident,” said Lippert. He explained that a few songs just had an incredible response when it was requested the first time. “Wonderwall,” by Oasis, was one of them, and so was “Sweet Home Alabama,” by Lynard Skynard.

Scratch is “very much looking forward” to playing at the Pavilion this year. They hope to see friends, clients and family there as well as new fans or anyone else who would like to check it out.

“When it’s good, it’s really fun! Even playing the same old tunes,” said Lippert.

Scratch hits the Levitt Pavilion tomorrow night, Aug. 1st at 8 p.m. The concert is free and is located on Jesup Road behind the public library. The rain location is Saugatuck Elementary School at 170 Riverside Ave. Westport. 

Check out Scratch at www.scratchtheband.com.