Thursday, March 30, 2006
keep it quiet, we'll kiss in the deep end
Despite being bogged down with papers, I managed to escape my house today to check out the Grates at the Red Room. I was attending on the strength of Sean's recommendation, my friend Shea's recommendation (and the fact that he got us in for free - thanks!), and the strength of their current single "19-20-20."
I have to admit, when their lead singer, Patience Hodgson, strolled out, I was wondering where the oodles of charisma that I had heard so much about were. About two songs in, however, and I could see what all the fuss was about. I don't think I've ever seen a performer who exuded such unabashed happiness. And, rather than coming off as hokey or lame, the joy was infectious. It wasn't all about the frontwoman, however. Alana Skyring bashed out some crashing rhythms, and John Patterson's guitar riffage was razor sharp.
If you've read about the Grates already, you've probably heard the Yeah Yeah Yeahs comparisons. And, while overstated, they're definitely warranted. Although I will be so bold as to say that, while I'm pretty fond of Show Your Bones, songs like "Message" and the afermentioned single, would make the album that you thought the NYC trio were going to follow Fever to Tell with.
The Broolyn Vegan has some .mp3 links.
Sean's got some YouTube action covered.
"19-20-20" is currently only available as an Australian Itunes Only single, but you can stream it from the band's MySpace. I know the traditional marketing plan is one region at a time, but do labels not understand how the internet spreads hype like the plague across borders?
I came home early to work on school stuff, so I can't tell you what We Are Scientists were like, though I will note that Foreign Born seemed like a synthesis of that dancy NYC sound that everyone is trying to do these days mixed with Coldplayesque vocals... at first. Their last song, however, had a little more grit, and was pretty damn good.
now playing: the Grates - Message
keep it quiet, we'll kiss in the deep end
Despite being bogged down with papers, I managed to escape my house today to check out the Grates at the Red Room. I was attending on the strength of Sean's recommendation, my friend Shea's recommendation (and the fact that he got us in for free - thanks!), and the strength of their current single "19-20-20."
I have to admit, when their lead singer, Patience Hodgson, strolled out, I was wondering where the oodles of charisma that I had heard so much about were. About two songs in, however, and I could see what all the fuss was about. I don't think I've ever seen a performer who exuded such unabashed happiness. And, rather than coming off as hokey or lame, the joy was infectious. It wasn't all about the frontwoman, however. Alana Skyring bashed out some crashing rhythms, and John Patterson's guitar riffage was razor sharp.
If you've read about the Grates already, you've probably heard the Yeah Yeah Yeahs comparisons. And, while overstated, they're definitely warranted. Although I will be so bold as to say that, while I'm pretty fond of Show Your Bones, songs like "Message" and the afermentioned single, would make the album that you thought the NYC trio were going to follow Fever to Tell with.
The Broolyn Vegan has some .mp3 links.
Sean's got some YouTube action covered.
"19-20-20" is currently only available as an Australian Itunes Only single, but you can stream it from the band's MySpace. I know the traditional marketing plan is one region at a time, but do labels not understand how the internet spreads hype like the plague across borders?
I came home early to work on school stuff, so I can't tell you what We Are Scientists were like, though I will note that Foreign Born seemed like a synthesis of that dancy NYC sound that everyone is trying to do these days mixed with Coldplayesque vocals... at first. Their last song, however, had a little more grit, and was pretty damn good.
now playing: the Grates - Message
3 Comments:
Yep, Patience definitely killed it. I thought We Are Scientists were fantastic, although there seemed to be more drunken heckling than usual. Also, the crowd's chanting for the splits somehow turned into a chant for Michael Tapper to take his pants off (and it sounded like mostly guys...) Oh, and I think I saw Steve Bays hanging out by the washroom.
Btw, South is playing the Red Room on April 20.
By 
, at
2:23 a.m.
OBEY ME ALWAYS
By , at
3:59 a.m.
i left after Foreign Born. wasn't in a mood to wait till 11pm for w.a.s to go on.
By , at
1:31 p.m.
