Melbourne psych rock 4 piece The Grand Rapids are 60's influenced psych rock merchants from the near future. Droney walls of fuzz, reverb drenched vocals, caveman drums and Tax Man bass lines construct the sonic makeup whilst kaleidoscopic projections, lasers and smoke machines are used to create a visual feast that is creating a local groundswell for these paisley troubadours.
The Grand Rapids are Sasha L Smith (guitar & vox), Daniel Hallpike (guitar), Deon Slaviero (bass) and Keith Ratnan (drums). Although formed in early 2007 it is really for The Grand Rapids. Regular gigging in the healthy local psych scene and multiple trips interstate has seen them develop an impressive live show, where jammy soundscapes are becoming a feature, along with their kaleidoscopic fractal soaked light shows.
Sonic experimentation drives their vision of channelling the 60's darkness of The Doors, the 80's minimalist psychedelia of Spacemen 3 through the modern take of The Warlocks, The Blue Angel Lounge, Vibravoid and The Brian Jonestown Massacre.
Following on from the debut 7” single release of Blow Up in Oct 2012, The Grand Rapids released their debut album ‘Great Shakes’ in Oct 2013 on local label Psyche Ward. Recorded & mixed by Callum Barter, (British India, The Pictures, Money For Rope) at Melbourne's iconic Sing Sing Studios, the album is a sonic tour de force that is definitely no flower child. An upbeat sense of darkness exists in all corners of The Grand Rapids' world. The skull-laden Twiggy on the cover of Great Shakes points to the paradox of the beauty that lies within ugliness, and vice versa. The melodies are dark and brooding yet still have an uplifting appeal as can be experienced with the likes of The Cure, Joy Division, or even Leonard Cohen. The subject matter is no boy-meets-girl summer romance stuff either.
Very well received by fans & critics alike “Great Shakes” received Beat Mag (Melb) & Brag Mag’s (Sydney) album of the week. This release has seen The Grand Rapids rise in profile with international supports in 2014 (The Growlers – US & Alpine Decline – China) and constant shows in Sydney’s burgeoning psych club scene have been the result.
The lads are now set to release the first single “Copper Girl” from their next, as yet unnamed album which should be due early 2015. “Copper Girl” is a two & a half minute slice of pure 60’s guitar pop straight out of The Kinks handbook. Verse/chorus/verse/chorus/exploding drums & guitar outro & you haven’t even had enough time to put the kettle on. A live favourite this is three chord guitar rock with melody & power in perfect balance. Sasha L Smith’s haunting ramblings of obtaining the unobtainable (the heroine in this short tale) are underpinned melodically with Daniel Hallpike’s lead guitar. The bass & drums of Deon Slaviero & Keith Ratnan pound on till the breakdown, where all hell breaks loose with some fine work on the skins & lead guitar to send it all home. Boomshanka!!!
Listen back to Pojama People with Chris Pearson for a live set from The Grand Rapids.
