The Grates
Encyclopedia
The Grates are a two-piece band from Brisbane, Australia
, comprising Patience Hodgson (vocals) and John Patterson (guitar). They have been lauded for their catchy songs and enthusiastic and energetic live shows, as Patience spends much of the time bouncing around, even while singing. Their music is frequently described as "fun" and their sound has been compared to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
and Be Your Own Pet
. In March 2006 they played at the South by Southwest
trade music fair in Texas
.
, had been good friends since Year 9, and they met Cleveland State High School student Patience Hodgson in year 12 at a drama class all three were attending at the Alexandra Hills TAFE to avoid physical education classes. Patience didn't discover that she had a singing voice until a night at a karaoke
bar, when just as a joke, she performed "A Whole New World
", from Aladdin. A month or two later, while watching rage
together in 2002 she suggested to Alana and John that they form a band together. But just three weeks later, after a handful of rehearsals Patience travelled to Scotland
for a year where she formed the idea of a two-piece band, Prix Divers, with her then-boyfriend. She kept sending back ideas for songs. Alana and John in the meantime played in bands Zombie Crime Boss and Clifton as well as forming a number of short-lived bands together and with others.
On her return, Patience started jamming with John and Alana again in John's family garden shed. Prix Divers performed various gigs for approximately a year, while at the same time The Grates were in their formative stages. They started performing under a different name every night. They thought they might trick audiences into thinking they were a new band instead of the same “shitty” one. But the Grates name stuck once people started hearing them. That happened in 2004 mainly through their sending a rough demo of the song "Trampoline" (featured originally in the Just Jeans "Shortcuts" TV ad), recorded on an 8-track recording
with two cheap microphones in John's shed, to national youth network Triple J
accompanied by a hand-written bio and press release.
The band has a distinctive style. All three members have a background in art and they design their own album artwork, posters, t-shirts and even socks. http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,18718000-5003421,00.html
They released an array of limited edition recordings before releasing what is referred to as their debut EP, The Ouch. The Touch, in Australia on 14 February 2005. The EP received a United Kingdom
release two months later via the Captains of Industry
collective.
In 2005 the buzz surrounding the band only grew, with festival performances at the Big Day Out
, Meredith
, Falls Festival
and Homebake
.
Their debut album, Gravity Won't Get You High
, was released on 8 April 2006. It debuted at #9 in the ARIA charts
and reached a peak of #9. It has also been released in the UK and the United States (June 2006). The first single off the album, "19 20 20", was released in March as a 7" and iTunes music download.
They have been growing in popularity since being invited to perform at the 2006 Big Day Out
Australian leg. They also launched on a national tour in the first half of 2006 and have supported Sleater-Kinney
on their 2006 Australian tour, The Zutons
on their 2006 UK tour, The Young Knives
in 2006, The Go! Team
in 2005/2006 and Arctic Monkeys
in their 2006 tour of Australia.
Four of their songs got into the Hottest 100 2006, entering the top 20 and top 10. "Lies Are Much More Fun" was #71, "Inside Outside" was #42, "Science is Golden" was #17 and "19 20 20" reached #10.
Their live DVD 'Til Death Do Us Party' was released on 30 April 2007. It was filmed at the Forum Theatre
in Melbourne on 13 October 2006.
Their new album titled "Teeth Lost, Hearts Won" was released on 2 August, with the first single release, "Burn Bridges", released 5 July. As of August 2008, the album had peaked at number six on the ARIA Charts
.http://google.com/search?q=cache:gh8Dy9Ra1NAJ:www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display.asp%3Fchart%3D1G50+http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_album.asp%3Fchart%3D1G50&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=uk
The Grates again featured in the Triple J Hottest 100
with three entries in the 2008 countdown
; Burn Bridges at number 34, Aw Yeah at number 80 and Carve Your Name at number 83.
In January 2011 it was announced via the band's website that drummer Alana Skyring had left the band, and that The Grates would continue as a two piece.
Their third album "Secret Rituals
" was released on 17 June. The band revealed the first single 'Turn Me On' on Triple J on Friday 29 April and streamed it on their official Facebook page - www.facebook.com/thegrates
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, comprising Patience Hodgson (vocals) and John Patterson (guitar). They have been lauded for their catchy songs and enthusiastic and energetic live shows, as Patience spends much of the time bouncing around, even while singing. Their music is frequently described as "fun" and their sound has been compared to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an American indie rock band formed in New York City in 2000. The group is composed of vocalist and pianist Karen O, guitarist and keyboardist Nick Zinner, and drummer Brian Chase. They are complemented in live performances by second guitarist David Pajo, who joined as a touring...
and Be Your Own Pet
Be your own PET
Be Your Own Pet was a four-piece punk/garage rock group from Nashville, Tennessee, USA.-Members:* Jemina Pearl – vocals* Nathan Vasquez – bass, backing vocals* Jonas Stein – guitar, backing vocals* John Eatherly – drums...
. In March 2006 they played at the South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
trade music fair in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
History
John Patterson and Alana Skyring, who both attended Alexandra Hills State High School at Alexandra Hills, QueenslandAlexandra Hills, Queensland
Alexandra Hills is a suburb of 16,985 people located in Redland City, south east of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Alexandra Hills sits between two major areas of Redlands, with Cleveland to the east and Capalaba to the west. Best known for the Squeeze Club.-Education:**Alexandra Hills State...
, had been good friends since Year 9, and they met Cleveland State High School student Patience Hodgson in year 12 at a drama class all three were attending at the Alexandra Hills TAFE to avoid physical education classes. Patience didn't discover that she had a singing voice until a night at a karaoke
Karaoke
is a form of interactive entertainment or video game in which amateur singers sing along with recorded music using a microphone and public address system. The music is typically a well-known pop song minus the lead vocal. Lyrics are usually displayed on a video screen, along with a moving symbol,...
bar, when just as a joke, she performed "A Whole New World
A Whole New World
"A Whole New World" is the Oscar winning featured pop single from the soundtrack to the 1992 Disney film Aladdin. It was composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Tim Rice. The song is a ballad between the primary characters Aladdin and Jasmine about the new world they are going to discover together....
", from Aladdin. A month or two later, while watching rage
Rage (TV program)
Rage is a popular all-night Australian music video program broadcast on ABC1 on Friday nights, Saturday mornings and Saturday nights. It was first screened on the weekend of Friday, 17 April 1987. With Soul Train no longer being produced, it is the oldest music television program currently still...
together in 2002 she suggested to Alana and John that they form a band together. But just three weeks later, after a handful of rehearsals Patience travelled to Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
for a year where she formed the idea of a two-piece band, Prix Divers, with her then-boyfriend. She kept sending back ideas for songs. Alana and John in the meantime played in bands Zombie Crime Boss and Clifton as well as forming a number of short-lived bands together and with others.
On her return, Patience started jamming with John and Alana again in John's family garden shed. Prix Divers performed various gigs for approximately a year, while at the same time The Grates were in their formative stages. They started performing under a different name every night. They thought they might trick audiences into thinking they were a new band instead of the same “shitty” one. But the Grates name stuck once people started hearing them. That happened in 2004 mainly through their sending a rough demo of the song "Trampoline" (featured originally in the Just Jeans "Shortcuts" TV ad), recorded on an 8-track recording
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
with two cheap microphones in John's shed, to national youth network Triple J
Triple J
triple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
accompanied by a hand-written bio and press release.
The band has a distinctive style. All three members have a background in art and they design their own album artwork, posters, t-shirts and even socks. http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/story/0,20797,18718000-5003421,00.html
They released an array of limited edition recordings before releasing what is referred to as their debut EP, The Ouch. The Touch, in Australia on 14 February 2005. The EP received a United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
release two months later via the Captains of Industry
Captains of Industry (record label)
The Captains of Industry were an independent record label based in London and Durham, UK. They announced their launch in 2003 "as a self-funded experiment in art and commerce" with a plan to exist for 5 years, and as a result ceased trading while in profit in 2008.They released material by artists...
collective.
In 2005 the buzz surrounding the band only grew, with festival performances at the Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
, Meredith
Meredith Music Festival
The Meredith Music Festival is a three-day outdoor music festival held every December at the Supernatural Amphitheatre, a natural amphitheatre located on private farmland near the town of Meredith in Victoria, Australia...
, Falls Festival
Falls Festival
The Falls Festival is a New Year's Eve music festival, held annually in Lorne, Victoria and Marion Bay, Tasmania Australia since 1993.It lasts four days, from 29 December to 1 January each year. The headline acts play mostly over two evenings, 30 December and 31 December...
and Homebake
Homebake
Homebake is an annual Australian rock festival, featuring an all-Australian lineup . The festival was first held on 4 January 1996 at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay, on the far north coast of New South Wales...
.
Their debut album, Gravity Won't Get You High
Gravity Won't Get You High
Gravity Won't Get You High is the debut album of The Grates. It was produced by Brian Deck, and features studio produced versions of songs from their EP...
, was released on 8 April 2006. It debuted at #9 in the ARIA charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
and reached a peak of #9. It has also been released in the UK and the United States (June 2006). The first single off the album, "19 20 20", was released in March as a 7" and iTunes music download.
They have been growing in popularity since being invited to perform at the 2006 Big Day Out
Big Day Out
The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...
Australian leg. They also launched on a national tour in the first half of 2006 and have supported Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney
Sleater-Kinney was an alternative rock band from Portland, Oregon that formed in 1994. Originally formed in Olympia, Washington, the group's name is derived from Sleater-Kinney Road, Interstate 5 off ramp #108 in Lacey, Washington, the location of one of their early practice spaces. They were a...
on their 2006 Australian tour, The Zutons
The Zutons
The Zutons are an English indie rock band from Liverpool. They were formed in 2001 but did not release their first album, Who Killed...... The Zutons?, until May 2004. They achieved their biggest hits with "Why Won't You Give Me Your Love?" and "Valerie", both taken from their second studio album...
on their 2006 UK tour, The Young Knives
The Young Knives
Young Knives are an English indie rock band from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. The name is based on a misunderstanding of "young knaves", which was found by the band when rummaging through a book....
in 2006, The Go! Team
The Go! Team
The Go! Team are a six-piece band from Brighton, England. They combine indie rock and garage rock with a mixture of blaxploitation and Bollywood soundtracks, double dutch chants, old school hip hop and distorted guitars similar to the style of Sonic Youth. Their songs are a mix of live...
in 2005/2006 and Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band. Formed in 2002 in High Green, a suburb of Sheffield, the band currently consists of Alex Turner , Jamie Cook , Nick O'Malley and Matt Helders...
in their 2006 tour of Australia.
Four of their songs got into the Hottest 100 2006, entering the top 20 and top 10. "Lies Are Much More Fun" was #71, "Inside Outside" was #42, "Science is Golden" was #17 and "19 20 20" reached #10.
Their live DVD 'Til Death Do Us Party' was released on 30 April 2007. It was filmed at the Forum Theatre
Forum Theatre
The Forum Theatre is a theatre located on the corner of Flinders Street and Russell Street in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. The building was designed by American architect John Eberson, who has designed many theatres across the globe, along with a local architectural firm...
in Melbourne on 13 October 2006.
Their new album titled "Teeth Lost, Hearts Won" was released on 2 August, with the first single release, "Burn Bridges", released 5 July. As of August 2008, the album had peaked at number six on the ARIA Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
.http://google.com/search?q=cache:gh8Dy9Ra1NAJ:www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display.asp%3Fchart%3D1G50+http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_album.asp%3Fchart%3D1G50&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=uk
The Grates again featured in the Triple J Hottest 100
Triple J Hottest 100
The Triple J Hottest 100 is an annual music poll, based on the votes of national Australian radio station Triple J listeners, in order to determine their favourite song of the year. Voting is conducted by the internet and begins roughly two weeks prior to the new year for the previous year's songs...
with three entries in the 2008 countdown
Triple J Hottest 100, 2008
The 2008 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on Australia Day, 26 January 2009. It was the sixteenth countdown of the most popular songs of the year, as chosen by the listeners of Australian radio station, Triple J....
; Burn Bridges at number 34, Aw Yeah at number 80 and Carve Your Name at number 83.
In January 2011 it was announced via the band's website that drummer Alana Skyring had left the band, and that The Grates would continue as a two piece.
Their third album "Secret Rituals
Secret Rituals
Secret Rituals is the third album from Brisbane indie pop duo The Grates. It is their first album to be recorded as a duo, with longtime drummer Alana Skyring having left the band to pursue a culinary career....
" was released on 17 June. The band revealed the first single 'Turn Me On' on Triple J on Friday 29 April and streamed it on their official Facebook page - www.facebook.com/thegrates
Albums
- Gravity Won't Get You HighGravity Won't Get You HighGravity Won't Get You High is the debut album of The Grates. It was produced by Brian Deck, and features studio produced versions of songs from their EP...
(2006) #9 AUS - Teeth Lost, Hearts WonTeeth Lost, Hearts WonTeeth Lost, Hearts Won is the second album from Brisbane indie pop trio The Grates.The album debuted at #6 on the ARIA Charts on the 11 August, 2008....
(2008) #6 AUS - Secret RitualsSecret RitualsSecret Rituals is the third album from Brisbane indie pop duo The Grates. It is their first album to be recorded as a duo, with longtime drummer Alana Skyring having left the band to pursue a culinary career....
(2011) #11 AUS
EPs and singles
- The Grates EP (2002)
- Crocodile EP (2003)
- Black Dog Black Dog EP (2003)
- Pyrate Kids EP (2003)
- Nightstick + Grates Double A-Side 7" (2004)
- Sukkafish 7" (2005)
- The Ouch. The Touch.The Ouch. The Touch.The Ouch. The Touch. is an extended play released by the Grates. It contains alternate versions of "Sukkafish" and "Trampoline" to the one released with their debut album, Gravity Won't Get You High....
EP (2005 on Dew Process, and on Captains of Industry (record label)Captains of Industry (record label)The Captains of Industry were an independent record label based in London and Durham, UK. They announced their launch in 2003 "as a self-funded experiment in art and commerce" with a plan to exist for 5 years, and as a result ceased trading while in profit in 2008.They released material by artists...
in the UK) #77 AUS - "19-20-20" 7" (2006)
- "Science is Golden" CD single (2006) #52 AUS
- "Burn BridgesBurn Bridges"Burn Bridges" is the first single of The Grates second album Teeth Lost, Hearts Won. " Burn Bridges" was released on June 5, 2008. The two B-Sides for this single are "Worldwind" and "Flavour of Last Month"-Track listing:# "Burn Bridges" – 2:27...
" CD single (2008) #61 AUS - "Aw YeahAw Yeah"Aw Yeah" is the second single of The Grates new album Teeth Lost, Hearts Won. Aw Yeah was announced from The Grates website on the Tumblr post blog....
" CD single (2008) - "Turn Me On" digital single (2011)
Nominations
- 2006 Australian Music PrizeAustralian Music PrizeThe Australian Music Prize is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The award made by Australian Music Prize Ltd, a sole-purpose entity sponsored by a variety of music industry figures and...
- Best contemporary music album (Gravity Won't Get You HighGravity Won't Get You HighGravity Won't Get You High is the debut album of The Grates. It was produced by Brian Deck, and features studio produced versions of songs from their EP...
) - 2006 Jack AwardsJack AwardsThe Jack Awards are a set of popularly-voted Australian music awards, sponsored by Tennessee whiskey company Jack Daniel's. The awards were conceived by Damien Wilson, former creative director of Peer Group Media to create a national platform that rewarded all areas of Australian live music, from...
- Best Live Newcomer - 2006 Triple JTriple Jtriple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
J AwardJ AwardThe J Award is an award given by influential Australian youth radio station Triple J to Australian Album of the Year. It is judged by a panel of members of the music industry, led by Richard Kingsmill...
(Gravity Won't Get You HighGravity Won't Get You HighGravity Won't Get You High is the debut album of The Grates. It was produced by Brian Deck, and features studio produced versions of songs from their EP...
) - 2006 ARIA Award - Breakthrough Artist - Album
- 2006 ARIA Award - Best Cover Art
- 2007 ARIA Award - Best Music DVD ('Til Death Do Us Party')
- 2008 Triple JTriple Jtriple j is a nationally networked Australian radio station intended to appeal to listeners between the ages of 18 and 30. The government-funded station is a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
J AwardJ AwardThe J Award is an award given by influential Australian youth radio station Triple J to Australian Album of the Year. It is judged by a panel of members of the music industry, led by Richard Kingsmill...
(Teeth Lost, Hearts WonTeeth Lost, Hearts WonTeeth Lost, Hearts Won is the second album from Brisbane indie pop trio The Grates.The album debuted at #6 on the ARIA Charts on the 11 August, 2008....
)
External links
- The Grates (official site)
- The Grates Message Board (a.k.a "TREGBO" official message board)