The Grates @ The Capitol,Perth (5/11/11)

Wed 9th Nov, 2011 in Gig Reviews

It’s a warm Saturday night in Perth town, The Grates are preparing for their set as their two support acts take to the stage. Gunn’s introduced a progressively filling crowd their psych rock ‘n’ surf-gone-electro set, exciting the crowd with their song Green Sky Tangerine. A local collaboration between Clinton Oliver and Cameron Avery (the Growl), their music uplifted the crowds spirits. However five piece indie pop band Guineafowl commanded the voice of the audience, breezing through their set of uplifting and infectious choruses, causing the audience to sing along with the harmonised vocals of songs such as The Lie Is and Botanist. In the midst of their own tour and their guitarist Aarons birthday, they are a welcome support for The Grates and a band one should definitely see at their own show.

A short interval and a look back reveals Capitol now filled up and packed out to see headliners The Grates. As flashing strobe lights pierce the darkness, Patience Hodgson and John Patterson enter to cheers. Patience smiles at the crowd before her, appearing completely at home and in high spirits. They break out_ Science is Golden_ and Borrowed Skin, getting everyone dancing and jumping in time with the beat. Patience already out of breath from her constant energetic dance moves on stage, casually toys with the idea of a practice crowd surf before jumping into Carve Your Name. She gives an honourable mention to Taka’s Kitchen where The Grates had dinner, recommending everyone to go there after the show.

Simultaneously jumping in the air The Grates burst into crowd favourite 1920 just in time for Patience to fulfil her practice crowd surf through the audience. With a number of great hits its hard to pick any crowd favourites, especially with songs Aw Yeah and newbie Turn Me On.

There is a feel good indie vibe in the air evoked by the sharply timed, in tune performance, confirming that, the group are in their element, they won’t be ones to fizzle out. During the set they travelled back in time to their very first EP playing popular hit Trampoline an absolute crowd pleaser. Securing the affection of audience. Followed by Sweet Dreams, from the album Secret Rituals which all present can hum or sing along with, due to its recent music clip.

You may have come as just a Grates lover and gone home a fan of the apt support acts too. Bustling gig goers leave the venue reciting “Some mother fuckers think they’re born to dance” and with the sense that there will definitely be much more to come from Grates they have not slowed down.