So! First off, thanks to Bigfoot for introducing me to this cool band. I have decided they are the Aussie version of Be Your Own Pet except with more pop and less punk influence. Which is spectacular.

The Grates are currently blessing the US of A with their presence, and I had the distinct pleasure of seeing them tonight. The energy in a Grates live show is really something you have to witness to understand. Oh my word, Patience is like an angel descended from heaven. A very spunky one. I cannot believe how much energy she has. I did not think it was possible to move around that much on stage and still sing so well.

One thing I love about this band's approach is how minimalist it is. They don't even have a bass! They've got a keyboard player, but he only jumps in occasionally. For the most part, this is just slammin' garagey guitar, pounding drums, and Patience's powerful voice. Picture a relatively short, pretty girl in a simple summer dress jumping around, wailing and thrashing like a banshee on speed (only with a much prettier voice), and you have some idea... but you really have to see it to believe it.

I took pictures! For the most part, I refuse to use flash at shows, so they are pretty dim, but I did break down and get one flash picture when Patience pulled out the streamer:

<img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/alabasterperapets/grates010.jpg>

<img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/alabasterperapets/grates012.jpg>

<img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/alabasterperapets/grates019.jpg>

<img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/alabasterperapets/grates021.jpg>

<img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/alabasterperapets/grates031.jpg>

<img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/alabasterperapets/grates032.jpg>

<img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/alabasterperapets/grates033.jpg>

<img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/alabasterperapets/grates034.jpg>

This last photo resulted because when I introduced myself to Patience after the show she told me she had been singing at me, because I was tall and smiling. Needless to say, I thought this was pretty swell, and told her so! I asked if I could get a picture with her and she decided we needed one of her singing to me. Thus it was done.

<img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/alabasterperapets/grates036.jpg>

Conclusion: I win at shows.

Oh, and Bigfoot, I mentioned that I had been introduced to them by my friend in Australia, and they said to say hi to you! So, the Grates say hi!

did you score with her y/y?

lol, in all seriousness, they look pretty gr9 and if they are anything like BYOP, i will love them a lot. as you may or may not know, i pretty much /swoon gr9 female vocalists and simplistic music ftw also. glad you had such a swell time~

You certainly do win at shows good sir.

You certainly do win at shows good sir.

x2, that's excellent

That's really great!

I have made my feelings known in yer LJ, so I will save further gushing and crushing and swooning and such.

The Grates are awesome and you're a lucky sod.

<img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/alabasterperapets/grates036.jpg>

Lucky bastard.

<img src=http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/alabasterperapets/grates036.jpg>


I'd hit it!

TK, are the Grates great haha! Good going man.

LA, that is not a very funny/intelligent/cool thing to say whenever there is a picture of an attractive female. =/

Mossy, yes. That joke also got made several times when I was seeing them. I love it because I love dumb puns.

Who says I was talking about the female? ;)

I love it because I love dumb puns.

That is terrific, ridiculously silly puns are the best.

Who says I was talking about the female? ;)

Nice save!

Oh don't flatter yourself, I was talking about the bottle. :P

Umm... nice save!

Exactly!