Patchwork Grace
Nottingham, England, United Kingdom | SELF
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It feels like Patchwork Grace haven’t played London in ages, or indeed done much in the line of touring down South either. But tonight they’re back, with a new permanent guitarist and a new set list.
After original guitarist Crip’s departure last year to pastures new (and in January, to become a father), no-one was sure who was going to fill the shoes of the Worlds Smallest Axe HeroTM, with various faces stepping for the second half of 2009. But, a few months back, they welcomed in Chris Marrizon as permanent lead guitarist, a regular from the Leeds rock scene – prompting bassist Joey Strange, in a broad Nottinghamshire accent, to comment tonight ‘he’s got a Leeds accent, we think that’s dead funny’.
Tonight, the new line-up’s first London show, as part of their first bit of proper touring, play mid-bill in an otherwise fairly uninspiring studentish indie lineup. As the opening act play some very rough meandering electro-rock to a near empty basement room, you can’t help but feel a bit embarrassed between songs when their one friend claps from the back.
But, I’m happy to say this all changes for Patchwork Grace. With a handful of their own fanbase in attendance, they also win over the rest of the growing crowd. The set list tonight is, as far as I can tell, entirely comprised of new material, a brave move from a band that must be very sure of themselves. And rightly so, as the new songs fully embody their winning formula of quirky oddity over subtly disguised melodies, and of course, rocking like a bastard at the same time.
On stage, the band remain highly engaging, with singer Tori less chaotic than perhaps we are used to, but the more controlled approach to mania all the more arresting for it, and a treat for the photographers in attendance. I have to admit I wasn’t entirely convinced by the light show, jumping schizophrenically between pitch blank and epileptic (in the same song), but it certainly provided some interesting moments.
Honed on the grubby and sleazy toilet circuit, Patchwork Grace prove how easily and readily they can take on the trendy student crowd on a Thursday night and win. The grunge / britpop / indie pretenders that follow, frankly, didn’t stand a chance. - Pure Rawk
Discography
Milk Teeth (BUT Records Sept 08)
The Lovecats (single BUT Records Oct 08)
Play Dead EP (single Independently Released Sept 2010)
Photos
Bio
Exploding out of Nottingham and Leeds Patchwork Grace live and breathe art and soul and are married to struggle and determination. You’ll hear the band drawing inspiration from the likes of The Doors and David Bowie, The Manic Street Preachers and Queens of the Stoneage alongside more modern and perhaps less obvious icons like Muse and Lady GaGa.
Their music and lifestyle is also influenced by the stylistic imagery of Tim Burton and the pop-rock car crash of a Tarantino movie. As a live act the band perform with passion, playing with both emotion and aggression. They have a dedicated UK wide fan base and already fans overseas.
The identification with the emotion in their musical style makes them hard to pigeonhole into a specific musical genre. They are Glamorous and Narcissistic; there is enough of an Indie vibe for the indie kids and more than enough Rock for the rockers. The band is cross-genre in the same way that The Foo Fighters staked their claim to all tribes. Quite simply a brilliantly entertaining and genre defying act.
In September 2010 Kerrang! Radio Listeners voted Patchwork Grace the UK's hottest unsigned female fronted band off the back of their independently released EP 'Play Dead'. After selling around 400 copies of the EP and receiving thousands of votes from Kerrang! Radio listeners the band decided to get to work on their second album.
Patchwork Grace have completed work on their album 'Vincent' with producer John Michell (YouMe@Six, Alterbridge, Kids in Glass Houses, Architects).
The band have had their song 'Play Dead' used by TNA Wrestling to promote their IMPACT show and January 2011 arena Tour.
The Bands love of live performance constantly pays off with their complimentary reviews:
"No problems for Patchwork Grace whose quirky rock goes down a storm" - Kerrang!
"so tight, so slick, so professional! they have something special on stage" - Komodorock.com
"The Grunge/ Britpop/ Indie pretenders don’t stand a chance!" - PureRawk.co.uk
The British four-piece Patchwork Grace consists of band members; Tori Tea (The Voice)
Cristoph Marrizon (The Guitar)
Scott O'Conner (The Bass)
Dan Rolfe (The Drums).
Vocalist Tori Tea sums up the bands attitude "Were trying to do something a little different, we'd like to think we’re opening people’s eyes and ears to something unpredictable. Were big believers in our live shows - if you’re going to perform you have to believe in what you’re doing and we do."
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