The Grates, Faker, Central Deli Band
HQ
Sun 2 October


The pairing of The Grates and Faker was always going to be a perfect match. Although they are significantly different in musical styles, their fan base definitely overlaps and they are both fronted by a show-stealer. The Central Deli Band's sample-heavy tunes and habit of switching instruments brings the impression that they are trying their best Avalanches impersonation.

Faker strode onto the stage with the swagger and confidence fitting to a band who received a roar from a capacity HQ crowd. Opening with the song Rabbit, Nathan Hudson began his leaping about the stage (more like a frog than a rabbit) as well as doing his characteristic stumbling and squatting moves. He told people to dance with him for Kids On Overload, but it wasn't till the time Quarter To Three hit that the crowd were really following his instructions. The set highlights were the more aggressive and angular guitars in their rendition of Teenage Werewolf and the sheer passion of Hurricane, which saw Hudson rolling on top of the speaker stack while still managing to sing well.

The Grates' stage was set up like a winter wonderland complete with snow-covered trees and penguins with glowing red eyes; it was absolutely enchanting just like the star of the show, Patience Hodgson. She entered the stage brimming with energy as always, virtually unable to keep both feet on the ground at any one time as the band bounced through Trampoline and then began to Howl, during which Hodgson enticed members of the crowd to bark like dogs into the microphone.

There are few Australian musicians that have mastered the art of relating to the crowd as naturally as Patience Hodgson. She joked about shoes, marriage proposals, hook-ups and short people. The keyboard-playing Panda switched to the banjo for Sukkafish and Hodgson had everyone clapping along without even really trying. Feels Like Pain sounded more angsty than ever, the strobe lights and snow-like foam that floated over the crowd set up an amazing atmosphere. After all that dancing, jumping, twisting, kicking and running on the spot Patience Hodgson still seemed to raise the energy level even higher to finish off the night with crowd faves Inside Outside and 19 20 20.

Another sold out show for The Grates and Faker, another truckload of fans left happy.

Scott Berry

Pics: Alan Riley