First the Vikings Now the Aussies !
To say I've been looking forward to this gig is a gross understatement, the Graveltones have been regularly assaulting my ears over the last couple of years from their earliest ep and 1st album 'Don't Wait Down', to the newer release of 'Love Lies Dying' some 3 months ago. So it's with great anticipation that they finally visit my hometown of York and to one of the finest small venues in Yorkshire – Fibbers (yes I know there are others - Brudenell and Picturedrome are very fine too!!).
A Tuesday night in York, it's not very rock'n'roll, and sadly the venue is way less than half full, to make matters worse there's an early curfew because its freshers week and tonight hundreds of those fresh faced students are about to spend their allowance, drink way too much and end the night probably puking up on their new yellow Tshirts whilst listening to a dirge of the latest cheesy DJ 'choons'.
An hour earlier the Graveltones took to the stage and with a no nonsense approach they battered the selected few at the front with an assault on York that hasn't been seen since vikings Halfdan and Ivor the Boneless (check your history books) invaded. It didn't matter how many were there, it could have been 10, 100 or 1000 – you were going to get the same full force experience from this Aussie two piece whether you came in to see some rock'n'roll, or just to get into the warm from the cool autumnal air outside.
The Graveltones are Jimmy O on guitars/vocals and Mikey Sorbello on drums/vocals. I say drums, but his kit set up is strange to say the least. Skins are tipped forwards making his bearded ‘man mountain’ presence even greater, he has a tendency to forget about sticks and use his hands, tambourine or anything else lying around – and I swear at one point he pulls a tube out of the side of a tom and inflates it using his own breath. This is a normal gig for these guys, Jimmy bouncing around shrieking his lyrics like they were his last dying wish and Mikey keeping time and rhythm by hitting, scraping, and blowing up things. Both building up a sweat and giving it everything.
Two piece bands are vogue right now, with Royal Blood leading the latest charge, but there is room for more and The Graveltones could certainly be added to that roster. There are clearly a few nods to the guitar style of Jack White here and the bombastic 'Bonham' drums adds to this infectious special brew.
They have a setlist but its actually just a list of all their songs, they play what they like when they like and it makes it such an adventure. We get old songs and new, 'Sullen Blue' a firm old favourite with its lengthy drum and cymbal (and blowtube) experience and also a crowd requested 'Catch Me On The Fly' with its handclap singalonga 'Deep in the River' chorus.
'Crime to be Talking' got a rare outing tonight, it’s a not so subtle blend of gentle, quiet, sinister under breath vocal, Jimmy pacing the floor like a cat waiting to pounce, sweat dripping off his spikey locks and then Boooom!!! both musical parts converge producing a wail of a noise reminiscent of any Led Zep bouncer that you can name.
Immediately after they end the set both band members make a point of greeting every member of the audience with a handshake and a heartfelt 'thanks for coming' message, Mikey wasting no time in ripping off one of his drumskins and signing it for an eager 'Graveltoner' who had received a special golden ticket for tonights show.
There was a pivotal moment in the set when Jimmy O decides that its time for everyone to get involved, he stepped forward and without the need of a microphone, asked if everyone in the building can come down to the front, all the wallflowers sitting at the side nursing their drinks, maybe even the bar staff themselves, they all duly obliged and we got full participation from that point onwards.
A clear plea to those in the room, but really it's an analogy to the general populace out there to get up off your arse, switch off the x-idol-voice-factory and come to your local venue to see some real music, its ok, its only rock'n'roll but you will like it !
