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"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 Girardâ€, 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,
[email protected] 267.687.1667
BOOKING:
Craig Grossman,
[email protected] 612.703.0151
