Biography

Introduction

The Grates are a three-piece band from Brisbane, Australia, comprising Patience Hodgson (vocals), John Patterson (guitar) and Alana Skyring (drums). 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": "We just wanna have fun and hope other people do too." (Patience [1]). 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.

Biography

John Patterson and Alana Skyring had been good friends since Year 9, and they met Patience Hodgson in year 12 at a drama class all three were attending to avoid physical education classes. Patience didn't discover that she had a voice herself 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", 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. [2]

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 April 8, 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.[3]

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.

Discography

Albums

Gravity Won't Get You High (2006)
Teeth Lost, Hearts Won (2008)

EPs and singles

"Two Kinds of Right" CD Single (2009)
"Aw Yeah" CD single (2008)
"Burn Bridges" CD single (2008) #61 AUS
"Science is Golden" CD single (2006) #52 AUS
"19-20-20" 7" (2006)
The Ouch. The Touch. EP (2005 on Dew Process, and on Captains of Industry Records in the UK) #77 AUS
Sukkafish 7" (2005)
Nightstick + Grates Double A-Side 7" (2004)
Pyrate Kids EP (2003)
Black Dog Black Dog EP (2003)
Crocodile EP (2003)
The Grates EP (2002)