Harry Stafford and Marco Butcher – Rules of the House

“Rules of the House,” the electric collaboration between Manchester’s underground music legend Harry Stafford, best known for his work with Inca Babies, and the US-based trash blues virtuoso Marco Butcher, is a raucous and unapologetically gritty track that pays homage to the post-punk and no-wave movements. Drawing inspiration from influential bands like The Fall and The Birthday Party, Stafford and Butcher create a sonic experience that is both nostalgic and fresh, showcasing their deep understanding of the genre. This track exudes a captivating rawness from the very beginning, immediately leading listeners to the hazy, energetic days of post-punk’s heyday. The opening guitar riff, dripping with a distorted, lo-fi charm, sets the tone for what’s to come. As the pounding rhythm section joins in, the track gains momentum, and the urgency in Stafford’s vocals becomes palpable. At its core, “Rules of the House” is a rebellious anthem that captures the essence of its influences. The jagged guitar lines, reminiscent of The Fall’s signature sound, intertwine with Marco Butcher’s bluesy yet dissonant guitar work, creating a mesmerizing juxtaposition. The track’s arrangement is deliberately loose and unpolished, paying tribute to the no-wave movement’s rejection of traditional song structures. The heart of the song, as revealed by Harry Stafford, was inspired by the cryptic set of rules displayed on a pub’s specials blackboard. This narrative thread adds a layer of intrigue to the track, as listeners are invited to decipher the unspoken dynamics of the establishment and the patrons it serves. Harry Stafford’s gravelly vocals inject the track with an authentic and weathered quality. His delivery captures the spirit of post-punk’s visceral storytelling, where emotion and attitude often outweigh technical precision. The chorus, with its infectious repetition of the titular phrase, is bound to become a sing-along anthem in live settings.

Harry Stafford and Marco_Butcher photo by Harry Stafford and Allie Butcher

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