TALL KIWI CHICK was a winner in one of our contests for free tickets and of course we chatted it up a bit and met up with her and her crew at the show. After knocking back a few cold ones we were fast friends and thick as thieves.
Anyway - we thought it would nice to get some insight about good ol dietroit from someone with a bit different perspective so we created
Anyway - we thought it would nice to get some insight about good ol dietroit from someone with a bit different perspective so we created
"Downunder Detroit"
is the new column written by our TKC
who is visiting Detroit for a while
from her homeland of New Zealand.
She loves music, men & drinking
"She's Sweet As!"
DOWNUNDER DETROITBY Tall Kiwi Chick
photos/sidekick coolness by Lauretta West
So after meeting/seeing The Grates live on Sunday night,
i couldn't be more excited!
They were bloody awesome!
I would describe their music as Bright Fun Happy Rock that i''ve been psychotically singing my heart out too in the car since seeing them live! You HAVE to listen to them, (if you haven't already) especially with the impending cold weather aka hell.. that is due soon, we all need more joy in our lives!
Check out 'Aw Yeah' as your first taste.
Patience, Alana & John are from Brisbane, Australia, but are currently staying in Brooklyn, NY, writing songs for a new album, and dreaming about buying a dog. They said that breaking into the US market was helped by playing at the South by Southwest show in 2006, they ended up picking up 2 record deals there, with media everywhere saying they were 'the band to watch!'.
However they don't really class themselves as having 'broken' through the market, instead comparing themselves to being on the 'team', but 'sitting on the bench' rather than 'playing'. The Grates have just finished a tour with 'Those Darlins' who they've played 14 shows with across USA, and said it was really awesome to work with more chicks who liked to party!!
Later, I walked into the bathroom at just the right time and scored a make-over from Patience herself, Our eyes became matching seas of Green Glitter. Glitter is AWESOME.
Soooooo sparkly!!
Highlight of The Grates show
was when Patience
made the audience hold hands in a circle
while she sang and danced
and twirled her ribbon around.
Who does that?!
WICKED!!
We Heart The Grates!
Tell me something that people don't know about you guys?
All of our good friends from Australia have just sent us through a song that they have written and performed, especially for us!!! We're really excited to gather around together and listen to it!!
What do you think of America?
We all really love it! It's fun, it's beautiful! Chicago & Seattle
along with New York are some of the favorite places we've visited.
They also agree with us that American food portions are a lot bigger here!!
We were undecided on whether that was a good thing or not...
Which Australian Stereotype annoys you most?
That everyone assumes we hate New Zealanders!! They couldn't have it more wrong! Ever since the Flight of the Conchords TV Show, people always ask us why we hate NZ so much!!?? We love NZ! (We Heart The Grates!)
Which albums are on rotate at the moment?
From Australia 'Violent Soho' (just on tour here) & 'Children Collide' Also 'Those Darlins', 'The Islands', 'The Golden Boys' & 'The Thermals'.
Who are some of the biggest performers you've worked with?
Paul Kelly was amazing to work with! Also we toured with Arctic Monkeys which was awesome.
Most favorite gig?
We did a gig in New Zealand - Snow Jam @ Terrace Downs. It was the best hotel we've ever stayed in, Best food, Best wine, Went Jet-boating and had a ride on a helicopter! Played on a stage with the mountains as the back drop, but it was freezing on stage!! So apart from Alana who likes the cold and was drumming away, me & john froze a bit. But it was still the best weekend ever!!
Where is my mind?
I also got to chat to the newly formed detroit band 'Hounds Below' which is fronted by the Von Bondies singer Jason Stollsteimer. Jason impressed me by recognizing our accents correctly and his NZ music knowledge.The whole band were awesome,
and put on a wicked show!!
I hope to see them play again soon!I also scored a 3 track CD of theirs,
because they were just giving them away
FREE at the show!
WTF Craziness.
I like it like that!
and a few more shots of The Grates!
Other news from me.. Last week i also made it to the 'Night of all things Zombie' @ Royal Oak Main Art Theatre. It was a collection of short films etc from mostly Local artists with a Zombie Theme, put together by the Mitten Movie Project.
It was really entertaining!
The lineup included Sock Puppet Zombies, Claymation Zombies, a Silent Zombie Short and more!! It combined my 2 favorite movie genres, Horror & Comedy!! 'Snippy and the Zombie Apocalypse' which was claymation was my personal favorite, and you can watch this online at www.snippyworld.com,
After watching it, i dreamed of having
my own gimpy zombie for myself!!