The Grates | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Brisbane, Queensland, Australia |
Genres | Indie rock, alternative rock, pop rock |
Years active | 2002 | –2020
Labels | Dew Process, Death Valley |
Past members |
|
Website | thegrates |
The Grates were an Australian indie rock band, which formed in Brisbane, Queensland in 2002 with Patience Hodgson on lead vocals, John Patterson on guitars and backing vocals and Alana Skyring on drums. Their first two albums, Gravity Won't Get You High (2006) and Teeth Lost, Hearts Won (2008), both reached the ARIA Albums Chart top 10. The third studio album, Secret Rituals (2011), peaked at No. 11. Their highest charting singles "Science Is Golden" (2006) and "Burn Bridges" (2008) reached the ARIA top 100. A video album, Til Death Do Us Party: Live at the Forum (2007), peaked in the ARIA Top 40 Music DVDs chart. Hodgson and Patterson married in November 2012 and were proprietors of Southside Tea Room in Morningside from 2012 to 2019. The Grates disbanded in 2020.
The Grates were formed in 2002 in Brisbane by Patience Hodgson on lead vocals, John Patterson on guitars and backing vocals and Alana Skyring on drums. [1] [2] Patterson and Skyring had attended Alexandra Hills State High School. [3] In 1999, they met Cleveland District State High School student, Hodgson, in year 12 at a drama class, which all three attended at the local TAFE to avoid physical education classes. [2] [3] Hodgson discovered her singing voice at a karaoke bar, where she performed "A Whole New World" (from Aladdin ). [2] According to Patterson the rendition "was less than stellar". [4] The three were watching rage in 2002 when they decided to form a group. [2] They independently released a limited number of a six-track extended play, The Grates in that year. [1] [2] After several rehearsals Hodgson, with her then-boyfriend, travelled to Scotland for a year where they planned a two-piece band, [2] Prix Divers. Hodgson, Patterson and Skyring kept in contact and swapped ideas for songs. [2] Patterson and Skyring each played in bands, [2] Zombie Crime Boss and Clifton, as well as forming short-lived groups together or with others.
Once back in Australia Hodgson rejoined Patterson and Skyring to rehearse in Patterson's garden shed. [2] Patterson described their band roles, "[Hodgson] couldn't play an instrument, so she was the singer. I was bored of playing keyboards so I started playing guitar, and [Skyring] just drums however she wants." [5] They deliberately chose not to have a regular bass guitarist, according to Craig Mathieson of The Age this indicates "they've shown a disdain for convention." [6] They performed under a different name each night – they might trick regular customers into thinking they were a new band instead of the same "shitty" one. [2] During 2003 they independently issued three more EPs Crocodile, four-track Black Dog Black Dog and Pyrate Kids. [1]
In January 2004 they first performed as the Grates at Ric's bar, Brisbane. [7] Subsequent noise restrictions limited live performances at that venue, Patterson recalled "It's pathetic. Ric's is our favourite place to play in Brisbane... We played our first couple of shows there about a year ago and miss playing there terribly." [5] According to Australian music journalist, Ed Nimmervoll, "They name the Pixies and Weezer as influences." [2] Whereas Tammy la Gorce of AllMusic opined their early material were "Ramones and Yeah Yeah Yeahs-influenced songs." [8] Musicologist Ian McFarlane added X-Ray Spex as another influence, whereas the group create "one hell of a racket with their... blasts of indie punk rock." [1]
Later in 2004 they sent a rough demo of "Trampoline" to national youth radio station, Triple J, [2] which was accompanied by a hand-written biography and press release. It was co-written by Hodgson, Patterson and Skyring. [9] They used an 8-track recorder with two cheap microphones in Patterson's shed. The track received high rotation on Triple J. [2] [6] Mathieson described it as "a kinetic pop mantra where Hodgson skewers alternative rock's predilection for sultry female vocalists." [6] "Trampoline" was used for a Just Jeans "Shortcuts" TV ad. [5]
During 2004 they supported tours by Rocket Science, the Tremors, TISM and then Regurgitator. [4] [5] They were signed to Dew Process in 2004 and released a four-track extended play, The Ouch. The Touch. (February 2005). [1] Kathryn Kernohan of FasterLouder felt it was "a perfect taster... you couldn't ask for a stronger selection of tracks. It gives an indication of how good you'd be live, and it leaves me hanging out for an album." [10] The Ouch. The Touch peaked in the top 100 on the ARIA Singles Chart. [11]
In April 2005 Hodgson explained her song writing style, "My attitude used to be just make up some shit that fits in and we'll be sweet, but now I want to work on the lyrics... I think when Daniel Johns first got some success, he didn't really know about music history, so he studied it, but I don't feel like I need to know. I just pick up stuff as we go along." [6]
In 2005, the band appeared at the Big Day Out, Meredith, Splendour in the Grass, Falls Festival and Homebake. They supported the Go! Team on their tour over late 2005 to early 2006.
In April 2006, the band released their debut album, Gravity Won't Get You High , which peaked at No. 9 on the ARIA Albums Chart. [12] It was recorded in Chicago with Brian Deck (Holopaw, Iron and Wine, Josh Ritter) producing. [2] [13] Nimmervoll noticed that "Some songs had been with them for a long time, others were wtitten just days before going into the studio." [2] It was released in the UK and the United States in June. Nate Dorr of PopMatters opined that it provided "an infectious variety... At times, there's a sense of catchy frivolity to the proceedings, but it can easily be forgiven... sheer excitement of hearing such unbridled enthusiasm in an emerging talent. And they are talented." [14] Pitchfork 's Sean Fennessey felt "electric Hodgson, who sounds like she's riding a jet-fueled pogo on almost every song, is joined by guitarist John Patterson and drummer Alana Skyring, who make a sweet, playful style of basement band music." [15]
The lead single, "19 20 20", was released in March 2006. It was followed by "Science Is Golden", which was released in September 2006 and reached the ARIA Singles Chart top 60. [16] The third single, "Rock Boys", was issued later that year. Four of the album's tracks were listed in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2006: "Lies are Much More Fun" (No. 71), "Inside Outside" (No. 42), "Science is Golden" (No. 17) and "19 20 20" (No. 10). [17] During 2006 they performed at the Big Day Out (Australian leg), headlined a national tour in the first half of the year, supported Sleater-Kinney on their Australian tour, supported the Zutons on their UK tour, supported the Young Knives, and then Arctic Monkeys in their tours of Australia. [18]
On 13 October 2006 they performed at the Forum Theatre, Melbourne, which was issued as a live DVD, Til Death Do Us Party, on 30 April 2007. Mess+Noise's Ben described how Hodgson's "a genuine livewire, swanning across the stage in a flouncy white dress, all red-cordial energy and child-like abandon. But her voice, in a live setting, is a tuneless thing. The harmonies and the melodies of the recording just aren't there." He felt that Patterson's guitar work is "bare too, skipping between clangy clean sounds and high-school-band distortion" while Skyring's "drums are solid, in the Meg White style, but she still looks like the whole thing – her, being here, behind these drums, and all those people, out there, pogoing – is a surprise." [19]
The Grates' second album, Teeth Lost, Hearts Won , was released on 2 August 2008, which peaked at No. 6. [12] According to the Dwarf.com website's reviewer it "needs good set of speakers and an appropriate setting to really be appreciated. When you have seen a band like this live, the expectation is that they will try and capture some of that vibe – and for some reason – unless this sucker is played loud, the vibe is totally lost." [20] Its lead single, "Burn Bridges", was released in July 2008, which reached the top 100. [18] It was followed by "Aw Yeah" (October 2008). The Grates were listed onto the Triple J Hottest 100, 2008 with three tracks: "Burn Bridges" (No. 34), "Aw Yeah" (No. 80) and "Carve Your Name" (No. 83). [21] [22]
In mid-2009 the Grates travelled to New York where they performed and continued song writing for six months. [23] Skyring left the band in 2010 to study a baking course at Institute of Culinary Education, New York; initially the Grates continued as a two-piece with Hodgson and Patterson writing tracks together in that city. [23]
Local US musician, Ben Marshall, joined the band on drums in New York to finish recording their third album, Secret Rituals (17 June 2011), which peaked at No. 11. [12] [23] Matt Shea of Mess+Noise felt it was "a little like a ledger of artistic assets: for the band to come out on top, the final statement needs to show a positive balance of improved songwriting over receding whacked-out style." [24] The Alphabet Pony's reviewer found the work had "benefited from this increased sensibility, and the time taken to marinate in the creative hub of Brooklyn has done wonders for their revitalised sound... It's classic Grates sound, brought kicking and screaming into 2011 – but it's in the conflict between the old stuff and the new stuff that's the killer." [25] Marshall toured with the band in Australia in June to July on the Secret Rituals tour with auxiliary member, Miranda Freeman on bass guitar and keyboards. [26] Freeman is Hodgson's former high school mate. [26]
The Grates premiered its lead single, "Turn Me On", on Triple J in April 2011 and it was streamed on their official Facebook page. Marshall was also on their Summer's Breath tour later that year in October and November. [23] On the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2011, "Turn Me On" was listed at No. 54.
Marshall left the Grates in 2012 due to commitments back in the US. The Grates took a hiatus from live shows soon after, to focus on the opening their cafe, bar Southside Tea Room. [27] Their new drummer, Ritchie Daniell, who drummed for Brisbane indie rock band The Trouble with Templeton and currently Hatchie, officially joined The Grates in 2013 to play their live shows.
In December 2014, The Grates released their fourth studio album, Dream Team, on their own label, Death Valley. Everett True of The Guardian described how it "sounds more 'grown up' – what with the hyper-energetic brat-pop Grates of old switched for something a little more refined, more radio-friendly – there are still enough moments of euphoria to lift it above the mundane." [28] He was disappointed by its "solid, muscly bloke drumming... Not everything has to be treated like it's an anthem." [28] It did not reach the ARIA top 100, although it appeared on the ARIA Digital Albums top 50 [29] and debuted at #48 on the Australian iTunes chart.
At the 2015 Queensland Music Awards, the band won Best Rock Artist for their song "Holiday Home". [30]
In 2018, Skyring officially rejoined the band. They went on tour that year to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Teeth Lost, Hearts Won. [31]
The Grates played their final shows as part of the 2020 Hotter Than Hell festival alongside Everclear, Unwritten Law and Frenzal Rhomb. [32]
Skyring joined Neil and Sharon Finn's group, Pajama Club in May 2011, [33] for live performances. That group had recorded their self-titled album, which appeared in September 2011. [23] Skyring, as a member of Pajama Club, completed a tour of UK and US. [34] In May 2012 Hodgson and Patterson opened Southside Tea Room, a bar and cafe, located at Morningside. [35] It received positive reviews and hosted various events: markets, gigs, and craft tutorials. Daniell initially worked as a barista at the cafe. [35] [28] Southside Tea Room closed in 2019. [36] Hodgson and Patterson had been dating for several years before marrying in November 2012. [27] As of 2019, the couple have two children. [37] Hodgson and Patterson separated in 2020.
Touring members
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
---|---|---|---|
AUS [12] [38] | |||
Gravity Won't Get You High |
| 9 | |
Teeth Lost, Hearts Won |
| 6 | |
Secret Rituals |
| 11 | |
Dream Team |
| - |
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [11] [39] | ||
The Grates |
| - |
Crocodile |
| - |
Black Dog Black Dog |
| - |
Pyrate Kids |
| - |
The Ouch. The Touch. |
| 77 |
The Versions Suicide(with Whyte Fang) |
| - |
Title | Year | Chart Positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
AUS [12] [38] | |||
"Trampoline" | 2004 | — | The Ouch. The Touch |
"Nightstick" | — | ||
"Sukkafish" | 2005 | — | The Ouch. The Touch |
"19-20-20" | 2006 | — | Gravity Won't Get You High'' |
"Science Is Golden" | 52 | ||
"Rock Boys" | — | ||
"Burn Bridges" | 2008 | 61 | Teeth Lost, Hearts Won. |
"Aw Yeah" | — | ||
"Turn Me On" | 2011 | — | Secret Rituals |
"Sweet Dreams" | — | ||
"Buffalo River" | — | non-album single | |
"Holiday Home" [40] | 2014 | — | Dream Team |
"Call Me" | 2015 | — | |
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
AUS [41] | ||
Til Death Do Us Party: Live at the Forum |
| 31 |
The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2006 [42] | The Ouch. The Touch. | Best Performing Independent Single / EP | Nominated |
The APRA Awards are presented annually from 1982 by the Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA), "honouring composers and songwriters". They commenced in 1982. [43]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | "Turn Me On" (Patience Hodgson / John Patterson) | Song of the Year | Shortlisted | [44] |
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. The Grates have been nominated for three awards. [45]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Gravity Won't Get You High | Breakthrough Artist - Album | Nominated |
Best Cover Art | Nominated | ||
2007 | Til Death Do Us Party | Best Music DVD | Nominated |
The 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.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Gravity Won't Get You High | Album of the Year | Nominated |
The J Award is an award given by Australian youth radio station Triple J to Australian Album of the Year. It is judged by the music and on-air teams at triple j, Unearthed and Double J.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2006 | Gravity Won't Get You High | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated |
2008 | Teeth Lost, Hearts Won | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated |
The Queensland Music Awards (previously known as Q Song Awards) are annual awards celebrating Queensland, Australia's brightest emerging artists and established legends. They commenced in 2006. [46]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result (wins only) |
---|---|---|---|
2007 [47] [48] | "Science is Golden" | Published song of the Year | Won |
2012 [49] | themselves | The Courier-Mail People's Choice Award Most Popular Group | Won |
2015 [50] | "Holiday Home" | Rock Song of the Year | Won |
Something for Kate are an Australian alternative rock band, which formed in 1994 with Paul Dempsey on lead vocals and guitar, and Clint Hyndman on drums. They were joined in 1998 by Stephanie Ashworth on bass guitar and backing vocals. The group have released seven studio albums: both The Official Fiction (2003) and Desert Lights (2006) topped the ARIA Albums Chart; while Beautiful Sharks (1999), Echolalia (2001) and Leave Your Soul to Science (2012) reached the top 10. Two of their singles have reached the ARIA top 20: "Monsters" (2001) and "Déjà Vu" (2003). The band have received a total of 11 nominations for ARIA Music Awards in 1999, 2001 and 2003.
The John Butler Trio were an Australian roots-rock band led by guitarist and vocalist John Butler, an APRA and ARIA-award-winning musician. They formed in Fremantle in 1998 with Jason McGann on drums, Gavin Shoesmith on bass and John Butler on vocals. By 2009, the trio consisted of Butler with Byron Luiters on bass and Nicky Bomba on drums and percussion, the latter being replaced by Grant Gerathy in 2013. After both Luiters and Gerathy exited the trio in early 2019, bassist OJ Newcomb and drummer Terepai Richmond joined the band, accompanied by touring musician Elana Stone on keyboards, percussion and backing vocals.
Peter Kenneth Murray is an Australian musician who has had three albums reach number 1 on the Australian (ARIA) charts. Murray has received 17 ARIA nominations throughout his career so far. He has sold over 1.2 million albums in Australia.
Eskimo Joe are an Australian alternative rock band that was formed in 1997 by Stuart MacLeod, on lead guitar, Joel Quartermain, on drums and guitar, and Kavyen Temperley, on bass guitar and vocals, in East Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia.
The Waifs are an Australian folk rock band formed in 1992 by sisters Vikki Thorn and Donna Simpson as well as Josh Cunningham. Their tour and recording band includes Ben Franz (bass), David Ross Macdonald (drums) and Tony Bourke.
Butterfingers are an Australian rap rock group from Brisbane, Queensland. Most of their releases are on their own label, Valley Trash Records. They are currently signed to New World Artists.
The Beautiful Girls are an Australian roots music group founded in Sydney in 2001 by Mat McHugh, Clay MacDonald, and Mitchell Connelly. They have released three extended plays, Morning Sun (2002), Goodtimes (2002), and The Weight of the World (2004), plus five studio albums, Learn Yourself (2003), We're Already Gone (2005), Ziggurats (2007), Spooks (2010), and Dancehall Days (2014). The last four albums have all peaked into the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Spooks and Dancehall Days also debuted at No. 1 on the Australian Independent Chart and No. 7&5 on the American Billboard Reggae Albums Chart, respectively. Their single "I Thought About You" reached No. 60 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
Faker are an Australian alternative rock band, formed in 1996 by mainstay Nathan Hudson on lead vocals, piano and guitar. They have released three studio albums, Addicted Romantic, Be the Twilight and Get Loved. Their highest charting single, "This Heart Attack" (2007), peaked at No. 9 on the ARIA Singles Chart. The group disbanded in December 2013, but they announced their reformation in October 2020.
The Drones were an Australian rock band, formed in Perth by mainstay lead vocalist and guitarist Gareth Liddiard in 1997. Fiona Kitschin, his domestic partner, joined on bass guitar and vocals in 2002. Other long-term members include Rui Pereira on bass guitar and then lead guitar; Mike Noga on drums, vocals, harmonica and percussion; and Dan Luscombe on lead guitar, vocals and keyboards. Their second album, Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By, won the inaugural Australian Music Prize. In October 2010 their third studio album, Gala Mill was listed at No. 21 in the book, 100 Best Australian Albums. Two of their albums have reached the top 20 on the ARIA Albums Chart, I See Seaweed and Feelin Kinda Free. The group went on hiatus in December 2016 with Kitschin and Liddiard forming a new group, Tropical Fuck Storm, in the following year.
"Please Leave" is a song by Australian alternative rock band Jebediah. It was released on 13 March 2000 as the third and final single from the band's second studio album, Of Someday Shambles. "Please Leave" was co-written by all four band members, Chris Daymond, Brett Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell and Vanessa Thornton. Brett, the group's drummer, in a run through Of Someday Shambles' track list, described it as "The lost song. We played it at Planet before Slightly Odway. Kevin had written out the lyrics and gaffa taped them to Vanessa's back. After that we totally forgot about it and Chris found the lyric sheet in a guitar case somewhere."
Emma Louise Lobb, who performs as Emma Louise, is an Australian indie pop singer-songwriter from Cairns. She is best known for her 2011 debut single "Jungle". Two studio albums, Vs Head vs Heart and Supercry, have reached the ARIA Albums Chart top 15. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013 she was nominated for Best Female Artist.
Art vs. Science are an Australian electronic dance band based in Sydney. Formed in February 2008, the three-piece consists of James Finn on vocals and keyboards; Daniel McNamee on vocals, guitars and keyboards; and Daniel Williams on drums and vocals.
Megan Alexanda Washington is an Australian musician, songwriter and voice actor who has worked mononymously as Washington. Originally performing jazz music, her style shifted to indie pop and alternative rock. She has released four studio albums, I Believe You Liar, There There, Batflowers, and Hot Fuss (2022). Both I Believe You Liar and There There reached the top 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart and Batflowers peaked in the top 25. Outside of music, she also voices primary school teacher Calypso in the animated series Bluey.
Boy & Bear are an Australian indie folk band formed in 2009, consisting of David Hosking, Killian Gavin, Tim Hart, Jonathan Hart, and David Symes (bass). The band has released two EPs and five studio albums. The first two albums, Moonfire and Harlequin Dream, reached the top ten of the Australian albums chart. Their third album, Limit of Love, was released on 9 October 2015, in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and Canada, and on 30 October in the UK and Europe. On 27 September 2019, after a four-year break, they released their long-awaited fourth studio album, Suck on Light. After yet another break between 2020 and 2022 due to the COVID pandemic, the band finally released their self-titled fifth studio album on 26 May 2023.
Stonefield are an Australian rock band comprising the four Findlay sisters: Amy, Hannah, Sarah, and Holly. They were formed in 2006 as Iotah in Darraweit Guim, a small town in rural Victoria. They changed their name in 2010 and have released four studio albums, Stonefield, As Above, So Below — which peaked at No. 19 on the ARIA Albums Chart — Far from Earth, and Bent.
Ball Park Music is an Australian five-piece indie rock band from Brisbane consisting of Sam Cromack, Jennifer Boyce, Paul Furness, Dean Hanson and Daniel Hanson. Since forming in 2008, the band has released seven studio albums. Their debut, Happiness and Surrounding Suburbs (2011), was nominated for Australian Album of the Year at the J Awards, and its 2012 follow-up, Museum, debuted at number nine on the ARIA charts. Their third album, Puddinghead (2014), was supported by the certified-platinum lead single "She Only Loves Me When I'm There".
San Cisco is an Australian indie pop band that formed in 2009 under the original name of King George, in Fremantle, Western Australia. The band are a three-piece, and currently consists of Jordi Davieson, Josh Biondillo and Scarlett Stevens. Davieson and Biondillo share duties on keyboards. In November 2011, the band was signed by Albert Productions, but moved to Island Records for the release of its debut album. In October 2012, the band described its 'vibe' as "squelchy, crispy, streamlined, hairy, indie". At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013 the group were nominated for Best Independent Release and Best Dance Release for the album; and Best Video for "Fred Astaire", which was directed by Andrew Nowrojee.
The Rubens are an Australian alternative rock band from Menangle, New South Wales. The band comprises the three Margin brothers, Izaac, Sam and Elliott, Scott Baldwin and William Zeglis. Their debut self-titled album The Rubens gained them domestic success with it reaching number 3 on the ARIA Charts and being nominated for a J Award for Album of the Year. Band members Scott and Sam dated each other while attending Broughton Anglican College, Menangle NSW. They split shortly before 2017 after a long tumultuous relationship, Scott later spoke of the relationship saying “Sam was good in the studio but bad in bed”.
Jarryd James Klapper is an Australian singer, songwriter and record producer who performs as Jarryd James. He released his debut single "Do You Remember" on 30 January 2015, which peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Singles Chart. His debut album, Thirty One, also reached No. 2 on the related ARIA Albums Chart. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2015, James won Best Pop Release for "Do You Remember".
Gang of Youths are an Australian alternative rock band, which formed in 2012. Since 2020, the group consists of David Le'aupepe on lead vocals, rhythm guitar and piano, Max Dunn on bass guitar, Jung Kim on guitar and keyboards, Donnie Borzestowski on drums and Tom Hobden on violin, rhythm guitar and keyboards. They relocated to England in 2017. Founding member Joji Malani, on lead guitar and backing vocals, left them in 2019 to return to Australia. The band's debut studio album, The Positions (2015), received multiple ARIA Award nominations and peaked at number five on the Australian albums chart. It provided the single "Magnolia", which has been described as their breakthrough hit and was certified platinum in 2018.