JOSEPH LEKKAS- Vocals, Guitar// JAMES ALF BECKER- Guitar, Vocals// CAROLYNNE McNEEL- Keyboards, Violin, Guitar, Vocals// ALEXANDER YAKER- Bass Guitar, Vocals// GRANT WHITTAKER- Drums// GARRETT WARSHAW- Keyboards// CHRIS BUCHANAN- Pedal Steel
We get by with a little help from our friends:Catherine Cavella - cello.Walt Epting- drums.Pete Girgenti- drums.Joe Boyle- drums. Brian Wilkinson- bass. and David McGarry- guitar. John Sakoian- Trumpet, Percussion.
Influences
Rock n Roll, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, Libraries, Cocteau, Rembrandt, History, Intellectuals, Eccentrics, Aging Spinsters, Love (unrequited and otherwise), Dastardly deeds, Fallen heroes, Church bells, Autumn, Long Walks on the Beach, Narcissism, Humanities, Lustful gazes, Bloodthirsty longing, Chanson...
"An endearing mish-mash of some of the best bits of indie pop over the eighties and nineties, GRAMMAR DEBATE! are proud to wear their hearts and influences on their sleeves and then carry on down their trouser legs, such is their love of what has inspired them. From the times when Richard Butler knocked out great three and a half minute pop classics for Psychedelic Furs, a la “Believe It Away” here to their obvious esteem in which they hold the grand old David Lowery, especially with tracks like “Seventh and Girard”, one of the best songs that Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven never wrote. They sail through their record collection.
This debut is a hearty collection of hooks and riffs, of harmonies and tinkling, of guitars soaring then stopping, sometimes starting again. This is catchiness personified with a band just, plainly, having fun and to hell with what anybody thinks. A bit of Cheap Trick bombast here, a nod to Uncle Tupelo there, the band unashamedly want to stick in your head but not drive you insane." -Losing Today"...But after a few listens I finally realized what Grammar Debate! are up to. With complex vocal harmonies, whimsical guitar melodies and bouncy, upbeat tempos—GD! have crafted an album catchy enough to lure unsuspecting local indie music fans to the fun of grammar." - Philadelphia Weekly.Grammar Debate! formed in the summer of 2005 and is a product of the concerted efforts of Joseph Lekkas (vocals and guitar), Grant Whittaker (drums), James Alf Becker (guitar and vocals), Carolynne McNeel (guitar, keyboards, violin and vocals), John Sakoian (trumpet, percussion) and Alexander Yaker (bass and vocals).
Grammar Debate!'s sound is found somewhere between the saccharine-sweet indie-pop of Death Cab for Cutie and Stars, the quick-draw energy of bands like The New Pornographers and Guided By Voices and the warm Americana of Son Volt and Early Wilco.
Joseph spent 5 years leading Hilliard, a punk-infused, rock n roll band considered by Magnet Magazine to be "Your jeans and t-shirt defense against fashionable music trends". J.A. Becker is the guitarist of one of Philadelphia's hardest working rock n roll bands, Taggart. A band who, among many other things, has hosted the amazing Guided By Voices live karaoke nights throughout the city. Grant Whittaker has played in many of Philadelphia and New Orleans' best rock n roll and jazz fusion bands. John Sakoian has played the trumpet for most of his life, in addition to leading the Alt-Country rock project, The JRB. Carolynne McNeel comes to us straight from the Rarebirds, a band the Philadelphia Weekly says "Writes smoky, twinkling tunes well above standard singer/songwriter fare. Fans of Tsunami and the Spinanes would be wise to take note." Last but certainly not least, from Birmingham, Alabama by way of Eastern Europe is Alexander Yaker. He comes to us from The John P. Strohm Band (a founding member of the legendary Blake Babies and Antenna), the now defunct brit-poppy the Northern Hues, and Roomtone, his own 8-piece indie-bossa project you've most likely seen performing around the city.
Grammar Debate! played their very first show in public on the legendary Jon Solomon show on WPRB radio and will most likely continue to do equally as crazy things for the duration of their career.
Grammar Debate! have self-booked and promoted four successful national tours, spanning 30 states with over 200 local and national shows, self-produced and recorded a full-length record and are currently working on their second. Grammar Debate! have performed nationally and locally with such great bands as Midlake, Longwave, the Ike Reilly Assasination, The Modern Skirts, Dirty on Purpose, The Plastic Constellations, John P. Strohm (ex-Blake Babies, Lemonheads), Hopewell (ex-Mercury Rev), The High Dials, Measles Mumps Rubella, Dressy Bessy, John Ralston, Jai Alai Savant and Tommy Keene.
GENERAL CONTACT:
Joseph Lekkas, joe@villagegreenproductions.net 267.687.1667
as my new years resolution i am actually multi-tasking on my resolutions' resolutions. one of which is uploading years and years worth of photos to my flickr page. and since grammar debate has been such a huge part of my life for the past 5 (?) years, there are a lot of photos to go along with that. tours, mid-night diners, just hanging around with all of you and acting like fools. you all should probably just go check it out, cause it's pretty amazing.
flickr. com/aviaire please ignore all of the embarrassing photos of me and my family. but feel free to peruse the pics of my awesome dog. :) cheers.
10/30: RICHARD LLOYD (of TELEVISION) w/ Stars Apart and Greyhounds @ M ROOM 11/1: MJ PROJECT w/ Psylab and Digital Frontier @ 941 THEATER (ALL AGES) 11/2: DANIELSON (CD Release) w/ Cryptacize (mem. of Deerhoof) , Dan Zimmerman and Ortolan @ 941 THEATER (ALL AGES) 11/6: THE SHACKELTONS w/ Arizona and The Bye Byes @ M ROOM 11/6: TODAY IS THE DAY w/ Weedeater, Slumlord and Intergalactic Incense Burners @ MILLCREEK TAVERN 11/8: THE AKAs w/ Dirty Tactics and Trouble Everyday (Original Lineup Reunion) @ 941 THEATER (ALL AGES) 11/8: HOLLY GOLIGHTLY w/ The Brokeoffs, Scott Churchman and Chet Delcampo @ M ROOM 11/8: LIKE A FOX (CD Release) w/ BC Camplight @ JOHNNY BRENDAS 11/9: DANCER VS. POLITICIAN w/ In Grenada and The Swivel Chairs @ M ROOM 11/12: THE MODEL @ SILK CITY 11/13: COLOUR REVOLT w/ Restorations, Padre Pio and Castle.Worries @ M ROOM 11/14: ZO2 (from IFC’s Z Rock) @ 941 THEATER (ALL AGES) 11/15: DENISON WITMER w/ Tyler James and John Mallinen @ M ROOM 11/20: ROBES w/ East Hundred, Do You Need The Service? And Jeremy Messersmith @ M ROOM 11/23: BENJY FERREE w/ Shortstack and Two Handed Engine @ M ROOM 11/26: 18th DYE w/ Devon Williams @ MILLCREEK TAVERN 11/30: ORCHARD LOUNGE @ M ROOM 12/1: LITTLE DRAGON w/ Devin Greenwood @ M ROOM 12/6: BANG CAMARO w/ Hooray For Earth and Leslie @ NORTH STAR BAR 12/11: RADAR BROS. w/ Roomtone and Swivel Chairs @ JOHNNY BRENDAS 12/13: MAC LETHAL w/ Grieves, DJ Sku and Jawnzap 7 @ M ROOM 12/13:BLACK LANDLORD w/ Da Rezarect and Swift Technique @ 941 THEATER (ALL AGES) 12/16: FRIGHTENED RABBIT @ JOHNNY BRENDAS
hey joe!! i just had to stop on and say i actually heard you guys mentioned on WMMR on friday by Pierre...i cant remember where he said you guys were playing, but i heard it...Cool, one of these days i will get out to see you!!
hey i wanna see the video of me climbing the tower of unbelievable extreme fun time fantasy at gipper's (the happiest place on earth) :) .... or do i...??
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