Grammatics

Last updated

Grammatics
Origin Leeds, England
Genres Alternative rock, indie rock
Years active2006–2010
Labels Dance To The Radio
MembersOwen Brinley
Rory O'Hara
Lindsay Wilson
James Field
Past membersRebecca Dumican
Michael Watts
Dominic Ord
Emilia Ergin
Website http://www.grammatics.co.uk/

Grammatics were a British alternative rock band from Leeds, England, predominantly influenced by British bands of the 1990s such as Blur, Pulp, and Suede. The band also quotes the following musical influences: Cursive, My Bloody Valentine, Nirvana, Radiohead, Elliott Smith, Queens of the Stone Age, David Bowie, Arcade Fire, Idlewild, Björk, and Kate Bush. [1]

Contents

Formed in 2006, the band was composed of Owen Brinley (vocals/guitar), Lindsay Wilson (cello), James Field (drums) and Rory O'Hara (bass). Affiliated with the independent label Dance to the Radio, the band released a few singles prior to making its full-length debut album, released 24 March 2009. [2]

History

The band was formed in early 2006 by Owen Brinley and Dominic Ord. Owen Brinley was the former singer of the now-defunct band Colour of Fire, under the name of Owen Richards. Owen and Dominic ran a popular monthly club night in York, called Grammar. This is where the name of the band comes from. However, the band made their live debut at Fibbers in York on 1 October 2006, under the name "Rose Parade" (named after the song from Elliott Smith’s Either/Or album). [3]

It was during the Grammar nights that Owen and Dom met bass player Rory O'Hara. Later on, Rebeca Dumican joined the band as cellist. A five-track promo EP was made, and the band was one of the 10 bands selected to play the Unsigned Stage at The Carling Weekend, the 2007 Leeds Festival. Whiskas, from the band Forward Russia and founder of the Dance To The Radio label, was one of the competition judges. Grammatics caught the label's attention and were soon signed to UK independent label Dance To The Radio. [3] [4]

Grammatics' first commercial release was a four-track, Japan-only EP entitled Verity and Reverie. This was followed by a limited-edition 7" vinyl single featuring an early version of the track "Shadow Committee", released through Dance to the Radio in October 2007. The band performed twice on consecutive days at that year’s Leeds Festival. Singles D.I.L.E.M.M.A/Polar Swelling (a limited-edition double A-side 10" vinyl single), New Franchise (offered as a free download) and The Vague Archive were released as the band undertook several headlining tours of small UK venues.

Following a string of sold-out limited-edition vinyl releases, Grammatics’ self-titled debut album was released in March 2009. The album was recorded during June–November 2008 in Bridlington, East Yorkshire with young producer James Kenosha (also drummer with Duels).

Line up changes have now been completed, and the band were thought to be recording their second album. It has since been announced that the group were to split, playing final dates in August 2010.

They supported the band Bloc Party on their British tour in October 2009.

The band announced in July 2010 that after a final tour and EP, they would disband due to financial reasons, as well as members living in different cities.

Brinley now performs as Department M (often written as Dept.M) and has released two albums, a self-titled debut on Fierce Panda and follow up 'Deep Control' on Hide & Seek records.

Musical style

Grammatics’ music was based around Brinley’s complex but melodic songwriting style. Their sound veered between driving cello-led dissonant bombast and a more introverted, plaintive side.

Discography

Albums

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pram (band)</span>

Pram are an English post-rock band formed in Birmingham in 1988 by singer-keyboardist Rosie Cuckston, guitarist Matt Eaton, drummer Andy Weir and bassist Samantha Owen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snuff (British band)</span> British punk rock band

Snuff are a British punk rock band formed in Hendon in 1986. The original line-up was Duncan Redmonds on drums and vocals, Simon Wells on guitar and vocals and Andy Crighton on bass, with Dave Redmonds being added to the line-up on trombone before the release of Flibbiddydibbiddydob.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Enter Shikari</span> British rock band

Enter Shikari are a British rock band formed in St Albans in 1999 by bassist Chris Batten, lead vocalist and keyboardist Rou Reynolds, and drummer Rob Rolfe. In 2003, guitarist Rory Clewlow joined the band to complete its current line-up, and it adopted its current name. In 2006, they performed to a growing fanbase at Download Festival as well as a sold-out concert at the London Astoria. Their debut studio album, Take to the Skies, was released in 2007 and reached number 4 in the Official UK Album Chart, and has since been certified gold in the UK. Their second, Common Dreads, was released in 2009 and debuted on the UK Albums Chart at number 16; while their third, A Flash Flood of Colour, was released in 2012 and debuted on the chart at number 4. Both have since been certified silver in the UK. The band spent a considerable amount of time supporting the latter release through the A Flash Flood of Colour World Tour, before beginning work on a fourth studio album, The Mindsweep, which was released in 2015. Their fifth studio album The Spark was released in 2017. Their sixth album Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible was released in April 2020. Their seventh and latest album, A Kiss for the Whole World, was released on 21 April 2023 which gave them their first-ever No. 1 album.

The Hot Puppies were a Welsh band formed in Aberystwyth in 2000 and later based in Cardiff. They were signed to Fierce Panda Records. After releasing three albums, they split up in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy von Balthazar</span> American singer-songwriter

Troy Von Balthazar (TvB) is a Hawaii-born American singer, songwriter and poet who fronted the Los Angeles–based indie rock band Chokebore. His work can be described as intense and original, lo-fi pop music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">¡Forward, Russia!</span> English rock band

¡Forward, Russia! are an English rock band from Leeds, active between 2004 and 2008, before re-forming in 2013. The band's debut album, Give Me a Wall, was released in 2006. Until 2006, the band only named tracks with numbers, in the order that they were written. The band had used faux Cyrillic, with its name occasionally typeset as ¡FФЯWДЯD, RUSSIД!. The band went on hiatus after the release of their second album, Life Processes, in 2008. They re-formed in 2013 for a show at the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds in November 2013 for its 10th anniversary, and then played the Live at Leeds Festival at Leeds Town Hall in 2014.

The Longcut are an English rock band, formed in 2002 in Manchester.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dance to the Radio</span> British record label

Dance To The Radio is a British independent record label, based in Leeds, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sunshine Underground</span> English alternative dance band

The Sunshine Underground were an English alternative dance band based in Leeds, England. Their style developed from indie, alternative to electronic music, and they released four full-length albums; Raise the Alarm (2006), Nobody's Coming to Save You (2010), The Sunshine Underground (2014) and their farewell album, Luminescent (2016). The group, named after a song from the 1999 album Surrender by The Chemical Brothers, were often associated with the British nu-rave scene of 2006 and built a respectable live following after years of touring.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Like Trains</span> English alternative/post-rock band

I Like Trains is an English alternative/post-rock band, formed in Leeds, West Yorkshire. It draws its inspiration from historical failings and a pessimistic world view.

<i>Who Needs Actions When You Got Words</i> 2006 studio album by Plan B

Who Needs Actions When You Got Words is the debut studio album released by British rapper and songwriter Plan B on 26 June 2006. The album was recorded with producers such as Fraser T Smith, Paul Epworth, The Earlies and The Nextmen. The title of the album derives from a line in the Meat Puppets song "Plateau".

This Et Al were an English alternative rock band, from Leeds and Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They were active between 2002 and 2008. Their sound was compared to My Bloody Valentine, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Queens of the Stone Age, Interpol, and The Stills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haunts (band)</span>

Haunts was a British rock band based in north London. Described as 'Noirists', their musical style combined elements of punk, new wave, dance, prog rock, indie and Britpop. The band referred to themselves simply as 'new wave'. Haunts' line-up consisted of Banks, Alex Woodcock, Gareth Grover and Mitch Mitchener. Haunts disbanded in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hope & Social</span> English rock band

Hope & Social are a six-piece (plus) rock band based in Leeds, England. Formed in 2008, they have released 3 albums in under three years and have toured extensively. Hope and Social are characterised by their "Pay What You Want" approach to their music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skint & Demoralised</span> British alternative indie/pop act

Skint & Demoralised are a British alternative indie/pop act, fronted by lyricist Matt Abbott from Wakefield, West Yorkshire and produced by David Gledhill from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. Formed in 2007, the band released several records and toured the UK between 2007 and 2013. After spending six years pursuing individual projects, Skint & Demoralised announced a new single, which was released on Fierce Panda in spring 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Big Pink</span> English rock band

The Big Pink are an English electronic rock band from London, consisting of multi-instrumentalists Robertson "Robbie" Furze, Akiko Matsuura and Charlie Barker. Initially a duo, they signed to independent record label 4AD in 2009 and won the NME Philip Hall Radar Award for best new act. To date, they have released five singles, with their debut album A Brief History of Love released in September 2009 and its follow-up, Future This released in January 2012.

This article gives the discography for the British indie rock band Grammatics. Since their formation in 2006 they have released one studio album, six singles, and two EPs.

A Genuine Freakshow were a baroque pop band originating from Reading, Berkshire, England. They were formed in 2005, settling on their current 7-piece permanent line-up in 2008. After several EP and single releases from 2007 to 2009 the band released their full-length debut album Oftentimes in November 2010 on their Peartree Records label.

Hawk Eyes are a rock band from Leeds, England. They formed in late 2004 and released their official debut album Modern Bodies on 1 November 2010 through Brew Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apologies, I Have None</span>

Apologies, I Have None are an English melancholic, punk-influenced quartet from London, England.

References

  1. ↑ MySpace site, Grammatics official website, retrieved 22 October 2009
  2. ↑ "Release "Grammatics" by Grammatics". MusicBrainz. 23 March 2009. Retrieved 20 August 2014.
  3. 1 2 About the Band, Grammatics official website, retrieved 22 October 2009
  4. ↑ First Ten Bands Announced for Leeds, Leeds Music Scene website, retrieved 22 October 2009
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.