Patience Hodgson, The Grates
I'd been looking forward to seeing the Grates again since the short set I saw them play in Austin. They knocked my socks off at the Parish during SXSW and did so again in New York City. I spoke a bit to the band's drummer, Alana, between sets, who confessed that the band was a bit nervous about their first headlining gig in NYC, and thanked me profusely for coming. Never fear, the room filled up around 11 o'clock, and the show was great.
I just couldn't keep my eyes off of Patience the entire time--she's bubbly, energetic, funny, hyper, charismatic, and jumping around the stage and pogo-ing. When she's actually standing still, she's got a thousand watt smile, and gesticulates wildly with her hands. Part of her schtick is also pointing and involving people from the audience using song lyrics. She humorously called me out during an intro to a song dedicated to short people, which was sweet. Because most of their songs are fast-paced and around the three-minute mark, it felt like the Grates were only on stage for five minutes before the show ended with "19-20-20." An Australian friend of mine thinks they have the best shot among popular Aussie bands at crossing over to a US audience and I'd have to agree, especially after their debut is released in the US on Interscope.
Also, I made off with a Grates balloon only to lose it in a sudden thunderstorm on Houston Street. Alas. Thanks to Jerry's friend Jeff for trying to rescue it for me. More photographs here.
Photographs on this site are © Kathryn Yu. Don't steal.
