I had no preconceptions when The Grates took the stage in the fourth spot of My Old Kentucky Blog’s showcase at the Radio Room. I hadn’t done my usual pre-show research - a copy of their latest LP, Teeth Lost, Hearts Won, lay unplayed in my iTunes folder (I had to buy it through iTunes Australia) and their Wikipedia page hadn’t made it to my browser. It didn’t matter though - even though I had not listened to a note of their music, The Grates put on the type of performance that I came to SXSW for.
I’m guessing that, like me, most of the people in the Radio Room weren’t familiar with The Grates music. But The Grates sound is so bouncy and energetic, and the band so instantly likeable, that it took only moments before the capacity crowd was bobbing and surging to the music. Or the audience may have been following lead singer Patience Hodgson’s example. Hodgson jumped, danced, twirled and whipped her hair about all through their much too short performance. Near the end of the set, Hodgson yelled “Get ready, I’m coming down!” A moment later, she jumped into the crowd, carrying the microphone and a long purple ribbon. Spinning around with the ribbon whipping through the air, she dazzled the already impressed crowd. What a show!
As if The Grates could not have been any more likeable, when they were leaving the stage, Hodgson approached a young girl who had been dancing throughout the performance. Hodgson thanked her for her “wonderful dancing” before helping pack up equipment. It was a sweet moment and made their show seem even more genuine. If ever The Grates come to your city, see them.
DOWNLOAD: The Grates - Burn Bridges (MP3) or Follow us for more The Grates MP3s (Twitter)
he is amazing bro his style can not be touched....some people dont know what he is talking about caz u dont do what he does he is sickkk bra
by dylyn on Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 11.59 am from the entry: Wiz Khalifa: Burn After Rolling (Mixtape)
Wow,Great post.Thanks for sharing with us. land wi
by wisconsin land on Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 09.53 am from the entry: of Montreal + Gang Gang Dance - Orpheum Theatre (Boston, MA; Oct. 30, 2008)
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
