Grates expectations

The Blue Van were followed by another active band, from farther afield: The Grates came all the way from Australia for a mini-tour of Canada to dovetail with their NXNE shows. Frotnwoman Patoence Hodgson is a livewire, full of risque banter and bouncing.

Patience shouts!



Guitarist John Patterson is more the quiet type.



They had some help on this tour, but I'm afraid I never got the bloke's name.



John sings!



Keyboard action!



The whole lot, including drummer Alana Skyring.



Alanan hits!



Patience sings!



Running around action!



Hair-shaking action!



Monitor sounding action!



More Alana!



Patience works the crowd.



Their latest album, Teeth Lost, Hearts Won is out in Canada now.

• Show reminder: Corpse of the Seventh, Signs of Chaos, House of Horvath and Sacrifice the Remains get metallic at Mavericks; Reversing Falls, Knifemare and The Girlfriends blow minds at Umi Cafe; Hinterlandband play the Elmdale House with Friend on Friends. Slyde performs at Zaphod's. Failures' Union and The Mnemonics rock the pizza party at Nine.