The Grates

by Sean McGahey

* Debut EP ‘The Ouch. The Touch’ released April 11th 2005 *

“I’ve got a message for you and it’s URGENT / I’ve got a message for you and it’s DAMMIT!”

So begins ‘Message’, the sub-two minute slice of hyped up lo-fi brilliance that is The Grates’ ‘The Ouch. The Touch’ debut EP.

The Grates are Patience Hodgson (singing), John Patterson (guitar) and Alana Skyring (drums). They are from Brisbane, Australia and they just might the most exciting, stripped-down pop band you’ll hear all year. And The Grates are very much a pop band – just not like the pop you ever hear about.

The Grates debut UK shows in March 2005 were sweaty, celebratory affairs – the sheer exuberance of the band’s music and personality leaving London collectively beaming from cheek to cheek. Their subsequent shows at SXSW in Austin were similarly as much-talked about and both XFM and Radio 1’s Zane Lowe, Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens have all been playing ‘Message’ and ‘Sukkafish’.

What the press say…

“Out of the middle of nowhere (literally) comes the new wave of grrrlll power. The best thing about this record is that you can play it to those you love and hate the most at the same time and still get the same reaction from either. Invincible.” (4.5 / 5) – Drowned In Sound

“A happily scattered and free-spirited trio playing catchy lo-fi rock pop stamped with Patience’s wonderfully unhinged vocals.” – Rolling Stone.

“The impression they leave is like being punched in the dark…the brilliantly daft lead track sounds like the Ramones bouncing off their practice room walls on pogo sticks, and if the stomping boogie-beats of ‘Trampoline’ are any indication, hard-hitting fdrummer Laana Skyring was quite clearly a dangerously hyperactive child…” – NME

“With their raw and frenetic energy, singalong delivery and catchy dynamics, the trio have all of a sudden shot to national radio exposure on the strength of their first two singles, the sexually charged ‘Trampoline’ and the fuzzed-out bliss of ‘Message’.” Rob Moran, The Brag.

“The most pared down post punk pop you might here this year. Production? Pah! that’s for wimps.” – Tasty fanzine

“Patience is a compact ball of energy…she bounces in her nightie like the girl next door living out her fuzz-punk fantasies. With a stylist she could she be the next Karen O, but that would rob her of her own impish charm…” – NME

“In January I thought I was in love with The Grates. It’s five short weeks later, and I think I’m ready to take them down the aisle. If it was legal to marry an entire band, I’d have dropped down on one knee last night.” – FasterLouder.com

“The EP, is absolute gold. – Scene

“The Grates are fantastic… it’s a show that just keeps on giving.” – Time Off.

www.thegrates.com
www.captainsof.com
info: ben@captainsof.com

3 Responses to “The Grates”

~ This piece was posted on Monday, April 11th, 2005 and was filed under Blog. You can make comments on it below. ~