The Grates

1) I'm in love with Patience of the Grates.
2) I love this song so much:
(removed the video because it auto played. Click here instead)

3) Did I mention I'm in love with Patience from the Grates?

She's one of the best performers I've ever seen. She dresses up, dances around to every beat of every song and just looks like she's always having the best time of her life.

Oh she's very cute too.

And writes some great music.

She, and the band she is part of, the Grates, will be playing a bunch of shows in our area to celebrate their new album.

October 27, Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
October 28, the Tivoli
November 17, Coolangatta Hotel
November 18, Kings Beach Tavern

EDIT: Someone should hook me up with a photo pass to this. I'd love to photograph her dance moves. It would be a fun challenge.

Here's Johnny!

A line from a classic Simpson's episode and from a classic Stephen King-inspired movie.

And now it's being used as a pun-title for a new tour featuring two of Australia's indie darlings: The John Steel Singers and Jonathon Boulet (of the band Parades). The tour is shaping to be a bit of a collaborative effort, with them both promising surprises and a little magic in all of the shows.

Here's a video I took (and re-mastered using my audio ninja-ness) of the John Steel Singers (and others) covering the Saints:

Maybe they'll do something like that again? But without Robert Forster I imagine.

March 9, Great Northern, Byron
March 10, Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
March 11, Kings Beach Tavern, Caloundra
March 12, HiFi

John Steel Singers and the Australian music bonanza

Let's step back into my time machine right now. Wind the numbers back to 2008. Chuck had just returned from his first international work trip, 2 weeks spent at 5000 metres above sea level in Peru, struggling to work in the oxygen deprived environment where there was neither phone nor internet (but surprisingly a large number of heavily armed police officers). He had only been back for a few hours, struggling to adjust to being able to breathe and speak English again. When he got a text message from his girlfriend at the time breaking up with him.

Devastating.
Childish.

And for that reason alone, I've been avoiding the shit out of the John Steel Singers for the last few years. Given how the Brisbane live music scene works, with all the same bands playing with each other, it's been a hard slog.


What's that? You don't see the connection? Hmm, yeah, I should probably explain that. The girl is good friends with this band. Petty? Yes. Childish? Yes. But so is getting dumped via text message. But time heals all wounds and I actually have seen the Steelers (that's the name I've just decided to give them, let's hope it sticks) a few times, I have a few of their songs, and you know what, I like them. A lot. As discussed a lot recently, their guitar heavy (and jangly style) guitar indie is really tickling my musical bone this month.

Apparently I'm not the only one jumping on the band wagon. As Triple J has selected them to headline the Australian Music Month show at the HiFi! Good for them. They'll be sharing the stage with other Brisbanites such as Hungry Kids of Hungary and Ballpark Music.

Not only that, they're off around the country to launch their new album Tangalooma, named after the resort of dolphins just off the coast here.

Wed 17 Nov: THE HI-FI, BRISBANE
Triple J Australian Music Month show also starring
Hungry Kids From Hungary + Ball Park Music + special guests

Thu 18 Nov: COOLONGATTA HOTEL, GOLD COAST
Fri 19 Nov: GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL, BYRON BAY
Sat 20 Nov: SPOTTED COW, TOOWOOMBA

Here's their Unearthed page. Can anyone say free mp3s?