San Diego Reader

Anthony Touchie: Guitar (electric), Vocals | Mishey Touchie: Bass guitar, Vocals

Genre: Punk, Rock

RIYL: The Ramones, the Groovie Ghoulies

Upcoming Local Shows

Song Downloads

• ur friendz suck!

Discography

Related Links:

• http://www.thetouchies.com/

• "Rock 'N' Roller Skates" · May 9, 2012

• Jam Session: "Touchies Take to Touring" · July 4, 2011

• Jam Session: "Touch Some New Touchies on Friday, May 13" · May 11, 2011

• MySpace page

Synoposis

Inception: San Diego, 2008

Ex-Band Members: Lucky Bailey, Drums John “Gigo” Marquez, Drums, Vocals

Influences: The Ramones, the Groovie Ghoulies

Background:

The Touchies (“slang for cuddling with your special someone”) are a beat pop/punk band akin to the Groovie Ghoulies or the Ramones, founded by Anthony Stanze AKA Anthony Touchie (formerly of Happy Endings, Of Worlds Long Dead, and the Esthas) on lead vocals and guitar, Mishey Moreno AKA Mishey Touchie (formerly of Happy Endings, the Esthas, and Starcrossed) on bass and backing vocals.

The duo has played together locally since 1995, originally known as Happy Endings, a band later rechristened the Esthas. “That [name] was our tribute to Fox 6 News anchor Estha Trouw and her awesome pixie haircut,” according to Stanze.

The debut Touchies performance was June, 2009, at the Ruby Room. The original lineup also included Arturo Gonzalez on lead guitar and backing vocals, and John “Gigo” Marquez on drums.

Early 2009 saw the departure of Arturo Gonzalez. As of 2010, the group included Stanze, Moreno, and drummer Lucky Bailey AKA Lucky Touchie, though Bailey was later replaced by original drummer Marquez. An album called Every Song is a Hit remains unfinished and unreleased.

Their album Friends of the Friendless was released in May 2011. At the same time, the band put out a comedic-covers album David Cover-Riverdale, released in May 2011, includes irreverent versions of tunes like “Angelfuck” (Danzig), “First of the Gang to Die” (Morrissey), “Teenage Kicks” (the Undertones), “Only Shallow” (My Bloody Valentine), and “Ziggy Stardust” (David Bowie).

“The song choices may seem uncharacteristic [for us], but we wanted do a fun devil-may-care punk vibe for the Touchies and not take ourselves too seriously. The chosen songs really do reflect artists that we are inspired by.”

At least one track is actually performed as a cover of a cover of a cover. “One of our fave bands, the Groovie Ghoulies from Sacramento, has covered Neil Diamond’s ‘Look Out (Here Comes Tomorrow),’ a song made famous when covered by the Monkees. We cover the Groovie Ghoulies version, which has such a great fun vibe that welcomes the unwelcomed, and who can’t relate to that?”

“We just got a tour van,” Mishey Touchie told the Reader in early 2012, “so we plan to book some shows in Vegas, LA, Phoenix, maybe another tour, or maybe even shows in NYC or Canada or even the UK and Europe.” Drummer John Marquez left the band, to be replaced by Vaughn Franklin (Downs Family), now rechristened Vee Touchie.

In early 2012, drummer John Marquez left the band, to be replaced by Vaughn Franklin (Downs Family), now rechristened Vee Touchie. They next began recording a vinyl EP, Mess with the Unicorn, Get the Horn, for release on their own Seek Therapy Recordings label.