Six months ago The Gramotones were LTW\u2019s 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 \u2013 only missing out on a US trip with The Modfather due to frustrating working visa \u2018issues\u2019. 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.<\/p>\n
The range of musical influences, encapsulated in their three track \u2018Gramotones\u2019 EP (noted by Louder Than War as \u201ca short, sharp, shock to the system\u201d) means their sound is one which can\u2019t 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. \u2018Classic Englishness\u2019 might be a new genre which they\u2019ve 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\u2019s a young man who looks the part \u2013 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.<\/p>\n
Alongside and behind the front two you\u2019ll find bassist Ryan Comac \u2013 all decked out in smart three quartet jacket and trimmed beard and putting Radcliffe back on the map \u2013 and of course, a no nonsense drummer in James, who add their stamp to an archetypal four piece sound.<\/p>\n
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 \u2013 \u2018Heaven Knows Me Now and \u2018Child Benefit Train\u2019 already showing that even with the song titles, there\u2019s 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 \u2018No Matter How Hard I Try\u2019, it was almost musical anarchy, with Sid taking over bass duties and Ryan picking up a nice looking gold top while \u2018Clinging Onto All Things Lost\u2019 added a more bluesy element to the night.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s the added element of a well-established song like \u2018Daltry Street\u2019 clearly becoming a bit of a crowd pleasing, flag waving singalong signature tune and the encore selection couldn\u2019t be faulted \u2013 featuring the brooding yet jingly brilliant \u2018Money Girls & Life\u2019(\u201cpeople say I\u2019m boring\u201d \u2013 never!) with its Springsteenesque mid song crescendos and of course the breakneck blast of \u2018Old Man\u2019, 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 \u2018ones to watch\u2019 \u2013 all combining to fan the flames which are building up around The Gramotones. Apparently \u201cthe best thing to come out of Oldham since the tubigrip bandage\u201d<\/p>\n
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Six months ago The Gramotones were LTW\u2019s new band of the day. The promise which has been in evidence for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":132394,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"portfolio_category":[82],"class_list":["post-138207","portfolio","type-portfolio","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","portfolio_category-archives"],"yoast_head":"\n