Sometimes things just happen. Like, you're working on this pile of crap that has to been done, like, three days ago and you get an email from someone about a last minute chance to interview some band. Normally, you would be like, "Um, not so sure about that," or maybe you would say yes but you would try to coerce someone like your friend Ivan into doing it. In this instance, though, there are two things that are certain. First, you really want to cover this band. Second, you already stuck Ivan with an assignment for the following night.
That's how I ended up seeing The Grates last night. Despite being dead tired and still one story shy of completion of the next issue of The Rockit, I drove out to Silver Lake to meet up with the band for a 7:30 p.m., post-soundcheck/pre-performance interview.
I called the tour manager as soon as I parked and immediately learned The Grates are surrounded by some of the nicest folks I've met. Within a few minutes, I was linked with John Patterson, who plays guitar. We walked into the smoking area at Spaceland, which is separated from the rest of the club by a glass wall that blocks a good deal of sound, sat down and started talking. A few minutes later, Alana and Patience walked into the room with their interviewers and The Blood Arm soundchecked. Something tells me this tape is going to be a real pain to transcribe, although it should be worth it.
During the course of my interview with John, I learned some really important, potentially life-altering facts. For example, did you know that Foster's isn't Australian for beer? I'm shocked. Apparently, Foster's is considered crap there. I guess this is sort of like Ireland's apparent love affair with Budweiser. Ugh, Budweiser. They have Guiness!
The interview did go pretty well. You'll read it later.
After we finished our chat, I went outside, lit up a cigarette and hung out for the hour-and-a-half that would pass before Carlos arrived. Met a girl who just moved out here from Denver and we hung around together in front of the club until the doors opened and she went inside. Apparently, I saved her ass when I mentioned the $40 tickets that fall on top of cars parked on the street behind Spaceland. She was able to move hers just in time.
If The Grates aren't the cutest band playing around right now, they are at least tied with The Subways. The three members are all under-25, but look to be under-18 and they have crazy old school Jolt Cola style energy.
This is John.

He has a scruffy, teddy bear look to him and likes to thrash about while he's playing guitar.
This is Patience.

Well, it's supposed to be Patience. She sings, jumps and goes on long rants about gross guys trying to dance with her at shows. Grind, I think was the term she used. In case you can't tell from this *stellar* piece of cell phone photography, she's wearing a royal blue flapper dress. It looked disturbingly similar to a pink number I had to wear in one of those dance recitals I did years ago. She was also wearing thick silver glitter tights.
This is Alana.

Alana is very fair and has dark hair worn in a Louise Brooks cut. She wore a pastel-colored striped t-shirt dress and leggings.
"She looks like one of those dolls with the eyes that close when you roll them back," said Carlos.
I was thinking the same thing.
I love the way Alana drums. She slouches and just starts banging away with this look on her face of intense concentration. It's as if she's afraid that if she looks up, she might start cracking up at the way Patience is bouncing across the stage and lose the beat.
By the end of the set, Patience was inside the crowd. I couldn't see well from my side of the stage, but I think she was wriggling around on the floor of the Silver Lake rock club. People were hudled around her and the vocals started to sound a little muffled at this point. By the time the show ended, the whole crowd looked exhausted. Carlos and I left within minutes of the band's last song, basically because we have both seen The Blood Arm already and, you know, work.