The Gramotones

Radio Interview with Gary Crowley and The Gramotones - Amazing Radio

Het is warm buiten en de zomer is eindelijk begonnen. Binnen speelt Paul Weller (The Jam, The Style Council) op vrijdag 6 juni in Paard van Troje een greatest hit set. Een degelijke set met liefst twee toegiften. En toch schijnt als we buiten komen nog steeds de zon. Heerlijk.

The Gramotones @ Paard van Troje
The Gramotones @ Paard van Troje
© Danijel Mihajlovic
Paul Weller, wie kent hem niet? Evergreens als ‘You do something to me’ vinden al decennia hun terechte plek op Knuffelrock-compilatiealbums. Niet toevallig ondersteunt deze tour een nieuw compilatiealbum met de niet heel inspirerende naam ‘More Modern Classics’. Het zet de toon wat we vanavond mogen verwachten, een soort best-of tour, waar de laatste tijd meer bands die zich vroeger ook in het spotlicht vonden zich op lijken te werpen.

The Gramotones zijn door Weller waardig geacht als voorprogramma, en in de korte set die deze jonge heren neerzetten wordt duidelijk waarom: deze hipsters weten een aardig stukje muziek te produceren. Geen enkele muzikant wordt graag vergeleken met een andere band, maar dit lijkt erg op Arctic Monkeys, en dat is echt bedoeld als compliment.

Paul Weller @ Paard van Troje
Paul Weller @ Paard van Troje
© Danijel Mihajlovic
Paul Weller @ Paard van Troje
Paul Weller @ Paard van Troje
© Danijel Mihajlovic
Paul gaat al wat jaren mee, vandaar dus misschien ook dat het publiek in het Paard ook wat volwassener lijkt dan normaal. Met het nummer ‘Sunflower’ trapt Weller de set af, en dat doet hij toch wat harder dan verwacht. Waar de albums wat gladjes zijn afgemixt, legt de band van Weller met liefst twee drummers hier de nadruk op rock in plaats van knuffel. Het volume verrast de helft van de uitverkochte grote zaal enigszins. De andere helft is harde kern, van die mannen die net als Paul bij de kapper hebben gevraagd of het bovenop kort mag, maar aan de zijkanten langer.

Paul is vanavond in een erg goede bui en hij en zijn band spelen de sterren van de hemel. Met twee drummers kun je wachten op de obligate drumsolo, maar als die er dan komt is het te kort en niet boeiend genoeg, hoewel niet-drummend Den Haag daar misschien anders over denkt. We krijgen precies dat wat ons is beloofd. Paul Weller, zoals u hem eigenlijk al wel kende. Niets is verrassend, maar oh wat is het lekker om zo ondergedompeld te worden in nostalgie. Waarom moeilijk doen als het schijnbaar ook zo makkelijk kan? - 3voor 12

De Britse singer-songwriter Paul Weller maakte in de jaren 70 furore met The Jam, in de jaren 80 met The Style Council en in de jaren 90 als soloartiest. In Groot-Brittannië wordt hij gezien als een van de meest invloedrijke artiesten en werd hij door de Britpop generatie gekroond tot ‘The Modfather’.

Waar The Jam de bekendste Britse band was in de punkperiode, onderscheidde Weller zich tijdens de hoogtijdagen van new wave met The Style Council. Een mindere periode volgde, maar Weller keerde terug naar zijn roots en dit was het begin van een succesvolle solocarrière. Hij scoorde grote hits als ‘Wildwood’, ‘You Do Something To Me’ en ‘The Changing Man’ en bracht twaalf soloalbums uit, waaronder het geprezen en succesvolle ‘Stanley Road’. Tegenwoordig heeft Weller ook de hits van The Jam en The Style Council weer in genade opgenomen in zijn setlist. Een avondje Britse popmuziek van de bovenste plank, uiteraard strak gekleed uitgevoerd, zoals een echte ‘mod’ betaamt

Support: Gramotones:
Bij Gramotones staat songwriting voorop, met invloeden als Elvis Costello en Squeeze valt dat ook te verwachten. De muzikanten van Gramotones hechten veel waarde aan goed doordachte songsteksten en prachtige, complexe vocalen. In de sound hoor je subtiele invloeden van The Hollies en The Beach Boys, wat resulteert in een sound die dicht bij dat van The Band komt. Desondanks geeft Gramotones een moderne draai aan dit geheel, waardoor ze niet onder het revivalband genre vallen. - UIT

Lorsque l’Ancienne Belgique accueille Paul Weller, le rituel est immuable. Les fans les plus motivés, pour la plupart Anglais, attendent tranquillement l’arrivée du tour bus la bière à la main à la terrasse du café qui jouxte la salle. Dans tous les concerts de Weller, et on a en a plus de 10 à notre actif, on trouve de vrais Mods, ouverts sur les musiques d’aujourd’hui comme le veut l’esprit originel du mouvement (Modernist), et d’autres, confits dans un passé sentant dangereusement le formol, revendiquant une époque qu’ils n’ont pas vécue, comme s’ils avaient vu Stevie Wonder au Flamingo en 1964. Weller adore les sixties mais il le déclarait encore très récemment, il n’y vivrait pour rien au monde (Uncut, Juin 2014) et il n’a jamais caché son aversion pour ces gardiens d’un temple infiniment trop figé.

Ça ne rate jamais, Weller se pointe vers 16 heures 30 et selon ses ever changing moods, on aura droit au passage éclair ou à une séance dédicace plus détendue. Ce sera la version quick and go pour cette fois. On avoue qu’on ne sait jamais bien quoi penser de cette attitude. Passer dix minutes avec les fans n’est pas un effort surhumain, mais on peut admettre aussi que voir, depuis le bus, les inévitables clones, ça doit être très étrange... Madame Weller descend tranquillement, Steve Cradock aussi, Steve Pilgrim, le batteur, maigre, tendu, extrêmement timide. Aucune tension, c’est le Weller continental, celui qui n’est pas l’ex leader des Jam, l’ex porte parole d’une génération, etc. Il charrie nettement moins sa propre histoire, étouffante parfois, sur le continent que sur la chère Albion qu’il définit en ces termes : Water all around. Un fan organise gentiment la collecte de tout ce que l'on a envie de faire dédicacer et le garde du corps les ramènera 90 minutes plus tard...

Seul le concert compte et l’Ancienne Belgique se remplit vite et bien, une nouvelle fois au bord du sold out alors que c’est le quatrième passage de Paul Weller et du même groupe (à l’exception de Ben Gordelier en renfort aux percussions) en 6 ans. Un concert pauvre et bâclé en 2008 au point qu’il écrive Shithole au lieu de Bruxelles sur la setlist (no comment), très compact en 2010, une très bonne seconde partie en 2012 après avoir tenté le difficile pari de jouer tout Sonik Kicks dans l’ordre. Ce soir, la partie se joue sur le mode du best of tour après la sortie de More Modern Classics (N°6 en UK) et du single d’appui Brand New Toy. Tout le monde en parle, de Miles Kane à Noel Gallagher à Sir Paul McCartney lui-même. Weller fait la couverture de Uncut. La routine, sa routine. Célébré constamment en Angleterre, heureusement qu’il est de nature terre à terre même s’il adore être Paul Weller, le King of the modern world (Uncut).

Les Gramotones, quartet très prometteur, ouvrent pour le Modfather et s’en sortent très bien, entre influences diversement maîtrisées. La belle Rickenbacker du chanteur les envoie dans les plus soyeuses pages du catalogue anglais : The Jam, Cast pour une voix qui évoque John Power, Arctic Monkeys et Miles Kane. Une belle assise scénique, une réelle qualité de compositions : à suivre, sans aucun doute. Prometteurs, comme la soirée.

Quand on a 40 ans de songwriting sous le coude et des albums aussi immenses que Sound Affects ou Stanley Road, 22 dreams, Wake up the nation et même si on a partiellement raté le dernier Sonik Kicks, on n’a que l’embarras du choix pour envoyer une Set List impeccable. Weller ne va pas se prendre les pieds dans le tapis et envoyer du lourd, du très lourd, très vite. Il déboule sur ce pas rapide et empressé qui est sa marque de fabrique et salue en inclinant le buste sans cesser de marcher. Quatre as pour commencer et mettre tout le monde d’accord : puisque c’est une tournée best of, on n’a personne à convaincre : From the floorboards up / Wake up the Nation / Fast car slow traffic / Come on let's go. Quatre tempos très enlevés et une indication très sûre quand on a révisé son petit Weller illustré, le groupe joue très bien Floorboards, et c’est toujours une précieuse indication : pas facile à jouer, parfois difficile à caler en tempo, le titre est parfaitement réussi, immédiatement, dans la veine du jeu de guitare de Wilko Johnson.

Autre signe qui ne trompe pas, Weller ne regarde aucun de ses musiciens, ne demande aucun ajustement son, secoue la tête, joue son petit pas de côté comme s’il piaffait. C’est très bon signe, l’homme ayant tendance à chercher de tous côtés une responsabilité quelconque quand ça ne va pas. La voix est impeccable et soulful. L'homme est fidèle à son code : on ne vaut que son dernier concert...

L’énergie monte pour de bon du plancher, from the floorboards up. Il est en forme, il vient de donner à Amsterdam, un concert qu’il considère comme l’un des meilleurs de sa vie. Il a viré les chansons qui étaient devenues le signal commode pour aller chercher une bière ou en assumer les conséquences au sous sol ! Plus de Wildwood, You do something to me, Broken Stones. On reprend même Foot of the mountain et autre signe de grande forme, Weller prend lui-même beaucoup de solos et joue de manière très exacte. On joue tout debout, on enchaîne vraiment très vite les changements de guitares et on se dit qu’à ce train, ça ne durera pas trois heures. On termine de fait la première partie tout en muscles nerveux et félins en 1 heure 10 et on fait littéralement péter Start ! écrit alors que les Jam jammaient sur le Taxman des Beatles, ce single à l’histoire incroyable qui intégra le top anglais alors qu’il n’était sorti qu’en Allemagne. Le son est rond, d’une densité inouïe, la basse claque le riff dans tout l’AB, déchaînée comme rarement. Weller remercie en trois mots mais on le sent heureux, il ne bâcle rien. Pas le genre atelier choral ou long discours. Ain’t no fuckin’ circus, pas de nostalgie bêta et pas d'auto célébration. On joue, point..

Premier et long rappel, hommage à Ronnie Lane des Small Faces, en Mod éternel, Out of the sinking, Stix, l’étrange Be Happy Children qui voit Steve Pilgrim prendre la partie vocale qu’assure Leah Weller sur le disque. Et de deux rappels : Wild Blue Yonder, Whirlpool’s end. Dernier faux départ pour revenir mettre tout le monde à genoux sur Changingman, nouveau véritable signal de fin comme a pu l’être Town called malice pendant des années. Rien de nouveau sous ce très beau ciel wellerien, Wild and Blue, et forcément, en vrai mod, on attend les nouveautés, pour l’instant coincées dans son auto radio et que seul un journaliste anglais a pu écouter. Et si on braquait sa voiture, le traffic est lent à la sortie de l'AB... Fast car, slow traffic...

Set List : From the floorboards up / Wake up the Nation / Fast car slow traffic / Come on let's go / Sea spray / My ever changing moods / Foot of the mountain / The Attic / Tales of the riverbank / Going places / Friday street / Porcelain Gods / Dangerous age / Above the clouds / Dragonfly / Seven and Three / Peacock Suit/ Start. Encore 1: He's the keeper / Out of the sinking / Picking up Sticks / Be happy Children / Encore 2: Wild blue Yonder / Whirlpool's end. Encore 3: The Changingman. - Lillenuit

Since catching the Gramotones supporting Steve Cradock on his Travel Wild – Travel Free tour last year I have been hooked. Back then I got myself a copy of their debut EP A Soldier’s Kiss which I just could not stop playing, and was delighted when I got my hands on their second EP at their intimate gig at Glasgow’s Flat 0/1 earlier in the year. Hearing the band back in April, I could not help but think that their songs would sound even more immense on a big stage; when I discovered Gramotones were joining Paul Weller at Mouth Of The Tyne Festival I knew this was a gig needed to be at. For those of you not familiar with Gramotones, the band consists of Jake (Vocals, Guitar), Sid (Vocals, Guitar, Keys and Harmonica), Ryan (Bass) and James (Drums). Not only do Gramotones look like stars – they produce terrific tunes about everyday life that sound even better live.

Pleasingly, the festival crowd is swelling to near capacity by the time Gramotones take to the stage, looking sharp as always. Sid and James appear to be in full summer mode sporting Hawaiian style flower shirts whilst Ryan and Jake look every bit as cool (Jake in particular in one of his trademark jackets). Set opener ‘Money, Girls And Life’ sets the tone for a blistering set and is followed by ‘Dog With A Bone’ and ‘Marjorie’. Despite none of these opening songs appearing on the two EPs released to date, they’re instantly infectious numbers and the intensity continues to build throughout the set with stand-out tracks ‘M62’ and ‘Corporate Whipping Boy’ sounding dynamite on the big stage. Gramotones are the complete package with high entertainment from the outset and visible energy pouring out as Jake and Sid share lead vocals, guitar and keys and Ryan also contributing to the vocal harmonies.

Having supported Paul Weller on a number of dates on his European tour, it’s evident that Gramotones are at ease on the big stage and appear to be enjoying every minute. The talent is unquestionable and in Sid the band have a natural entertainer who enjoys banter with the crowd between songs. Indeed, as Jake and Sid trade places on lead vocals throughout the set the crowd are suitably impressed and show their appreciation between songs with applause and cheers. Such is the depth of quality tunes Gramotones have in their locker, only two EP tracks make this set-list and the set is brought to a rousing close with the unforgettable ‘Soldier’s Kiss’ and ‘Old Man’ (the lead track from their current EP). Both songs are personal favourites of my own and hearing them on the big stage I am left in absolutely no doubt Gramotones are headed for big BIG things in the future!

The Gramotones have it all…. fantastic songs that sound even better live and a natural stage presence that resonates visibly with their audience. The band are appearing at Kendal Calling this month and I suggest if you have the opportunity you take them in live before they explode and become absolutely massive. - Gigslutz

It's rare for a band to sneak under the Manchester hipster radar and get to the point where there's sold-out signs on a venue the size of Band On The Wall, but tonight The Gramotones demonstrate that this is merely a stepping stone to much bigger things.

Operating away from the circuit of Manchester venues and support slots of anyone coming to town, The Gramotones have built themselves a sizeable following over two years of hard slog and one-off gigs. They've spent the summer touring round the forests of the UK with Paul Weller and tonight is a homecoming to show that they've taken in so much from the Modfather and are now surely one break away from very big things.

The great thing about The Gramotones is the versatility of their sound. They can play songs influenced by Weller and Cradock, who's also been a huge supporter of theirs and has helped them develop a harder edge on songs like Daltry Street and Old Man, yet make them truly their own. Equally importantly, they still have their trademark gorgeous three-part harmonies that got them so many fans in their early days and the two strands twine together perfectly across a fifteen-song (impressive for a band with no album recorded) set to keep the audience entertained and on their toes without the quality dropping over the hour and a bit they played.



The set ranges from the familiar to the brand new, with them not having just spent the summer touring, but also writing a formidable set of songs to back up tracks like M62 Song, Soldiers Kiss, Money Life And Girls and set-closer Little River which are known and loved by the crowd down the front.

The new songs show that they're not afraid to make social commentary such as on Child Benefit Train and Corporate Whipping Boy, which XFM has picked up ahead of this gig, but doing so whilst allying it to great tunes. The fact that three of them share vocal responsibilities, sometimes alone, sometimes together means that they can change styles effortlessly, Jake's softer tones complimenting Sid's rougher ones perfectly. Whether they adopt a twin guitar approach or whether Jake takes on keyboards, there isn't a weak link in this set.

The crowd lap it all up, there's shouts of "Gramotones, Gramotones" between each song and there's a genuine buzz around the venue that they're on the verge of something special. They've already more than enough material for a defining debut album and have developed into a live band at home on any size of stage.

They played Horror, M62 Song, Dog, Marjorie, Heaven Knows Me Now, Child Benefit Train, Wrong Side Of The Road, Now Matter How Hard I Try, Hang Onto All Things Lost, Daltry Street, Soldiers Kiss, Corporate Whipping Boy, Money Life And Girls, Old Man and Little River.

Gramotones EP is out now and available from their website.

They can be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Thanks to Angela Moore for use of her photos. - Even the Stars

The Gramotones

Band On The Wall, Manchester

3rd Oct 2014

XFM’s ‘First Friday’ monthly live showcase for their ‘ones to watch’ for October was left to local up and coming quartet The Gramotones to take the sole spotlight. Not that anyone was out to complain with the chance of a full set for The Gramotones in a sold out, packed solid Band On The Wall.

Six months ago The Gramotones were LTW’s new band of the day. The promise which has been in evidence for the last eighteen moths saw them the acclaim of and a win a high profile support slot with Paul Weller – only missing out on a US trip with The Modfather due to frustrating working visa ‘issues’. The stint with Weller however, seems to have injected the band with a new confidence and dare we say, slight swagger sees them sitting at the fore of an exciting new wave of young bands. Combine that with a partisan crowd of hometown fans, friends and family meant a triumphant home win was a given.

The range of musical influences, encapsulated in their three track ‘Gramotones’ EP (noted by Louder Than War as “a short, sharp, shock to the system”) means their sound is one which can’t easily be labelled. Of course there are all sorts of comparisons both in sound and look which allows the band to be favourable tagged alongside some of the greats of British music both contemporary and historical, but The Gramotones are nothing but their own band. ‘Classic Englishness’ might be a new genre which they’ve invented. In duel frontmen Sid Cooper and Jake Fletcher who switch between lead vocals, guitars and keys, they boast a strong aura and presence yet in very different respects. Cooper, the epitome of a young Lennon or Townshend, shirt buttoned up to the neck and offering up a vocal which works just as effectively either in the lead or alongside Fletchers. And now there’s a young man who looks the part – maybe taking a tip of two on what constitutes a stylish cool from Mr Weller, but resplendent in button up velvet looking frock coat, not that this was a fashion show at all, but certainly on the path to becoming a real star.

Alongside and behind the front two you’ll find bassist Ryan Comac – all decked out in smart three quartet jacket and trimmed beard and putting Radcliffe back on the map – and of course, a no nonsense drummer in James, who add their stamp to an archetypal four piece sound.

Kicking off with a familiar opening blast of instantly recognisable to the hordes songs, the set found the space to give an airing to some new material. Having announced themselves they too the chance to throw a couple of new songs in the set quite early on – ‘Heaven Knows Me Now and ‘Child Benefit Train’ already showing that even with the song titles, there’s a developing maturity about their writing, and in the sound, the feel of something verging on country rock is starting to creep into the repertoire as well as showcasing their own distinctive and impressive vocal harmonies. With Jake heading off to the keys for ‘No Matter How Hard I Try’, it was almost musical anarchy, with Sid taking over bass duties and Ryan picking up a nice looking gold top while ‘Clinging Onto All Things Lost’ added a more bluesy element to the night.

There’s the added element of a well-established song like ‘Daltry Street’ clearly becoming a bit of a crowd pleasing, flag waving singalong signature tune and the encore selection couldn’t be faulted – featuring the brooding yet jingly brilliant ‘Money Girls & Life’(“people say I’m boring” – never!) with its Springsteenesque mid song crescendos and of course the breakneck blast of ‘Old Man’, yet for many it will have been the impressive new material which was the talking point. A healthy and dedicated following, a well paced and sequenced series of songs and an attitude which has generates that palpable feel about them which alludes to why they are indeed ‘ones to watch’ – all combining to fan the flames which are building up around The Gramotones. Apparently “the best thing to come out of Oldham since the tubigrip bandage”

- See more at: http://louderthanwar.com/the-gramotones-band-on-the-wall-manchester-live-review/#sthash.vgay56TT.0BtYJxgo.dpuf - Louder Than War

Every once in a while a gig comes around that you know is a must see, Friday night just past was one such event when The Gramotones played an XFM Presents gig at The Band on The Wall. The feeling of this gig being a must see was one felt by many, the gig was a complete sell-out with some unlucky fans being turned away at the door.

This is quite a rarity for an unsigned band in today’s pretty stagnant music scene, The Gramotones are not like other local bands who usually focus on acquiring a small but loyal following before deciding music isn’t for them and calling it a day. In the age of X-Factor and false hype The Gramotones are doing things the old fashioned way, they’re making a name for themselves through talent and hard work. With great success too, it is this magic combo that attracted the attention of the legend and music giant that is Paul Weller.

He touted The Gramotones, which consists of Jake Fletcher, Sid Cooper, Ryan Comac and James Cardus, in MOJO magazine as one of his favourite’s of 2013 alongside David Bowie, Arctic Monkeys and Laura Marling. With accolades like this behind them 2014 was tipped to be a big one for the band and indeed it has been. They started off the year with a UK tour after which they recording an EP at Weller’s Black Barn Studios and when this was finished they embarked on a UK & European Summer tour as support for the big man himself. It was a tour that saw the band visit Belgium, Holland and Germany before ending the tour in the UK with a gig in front of 10,000 people at Warwick Castle, not bad at all for a band that only started two years ago at another castle in Oldham that is now sadly a car park. They would have also been touring the USA with Mr Weller right now but due to problems with working visas they weren’t able to go.

The Gramotones are a band that don’t take themselves too seriously, which is a breath of fresh air that allows their talent to shine through instead of their ego. They are all about having fun with their music which is why they don’t have a main man leading the way, they take it in turns with the vocals or harmonise in great displays of versatility. The fans at Band on The Wall on Friday night knew of this summer’s achievements, they also knew achievements like this don’t come around for nothing. They were expecting a special gig and the band didn’t let them down.

Gramo Cover
Source: Angela Moore
gramotones2
Source: Angela Moore
gramotones3
Source: Angela Moore
gramotones5
Source: John Middleton
The crowd loved every second of the 15 song set; from old familiar favourites like M62, Daltry Street to the new songs with a social message like Child Benefit Train and Corporate Whipping Boy, a song that got radio airplay on XFM for the first time the day before the gig. Everyone in the crowd knew they were watching and listening to a band that could be on the verge of becoming something big. The set was solid throughout, The Gramotones have what it takes to be the business. They have got the tunes, the talent, the looks and the fans. All they need now is the wider recognition and they will well and truly be on their way.

Set list for the Gig: Horror, M62 Song, Marjorie, Heaven Knows Me Now, Child Benefit Train, Wrong Side of The Road, No Matter How Hard I Try, Clinging Onto All Things Lost , Daltry Street, Soldiers Kiss, Corporate Whipping Boy, Money, Girls & Life, Old Man and Little River.

Hear the band yourself and download their EP and off their website. - Manc Bible