A video album, Til Death Do Us Party: Live at the Forum (2007), peaked in the ARIA Top 40 Music DVDs chart.

[1][2] After several rehearsals Hodgson, with her then-boyfriend, travelled to Scotland for a year where they planned a two-piece band,[2] Prix Divers.

[2] Patterson and Skyring each played in bands,[2] Zombie Crime Boss and Clifton, as well as forming short-lived groups together or with others.

"[5] They deliberately chose not to have a regular bass guitarist, according to Craig Mathieson of The Age this indicates "they've shown a disdain for convention.

[7] Subsequent noise restrictions limited live performances at that venue, Patterson recalled "It's pathetic.

"[8] Musicologist Ian McFarlane added X-Ray Spex as another influence, whereas the group create "one hell of a racket with their... blasts of indie punk rock.

"[1] Later in 2004 they sent a rough demo of "Trampoline" to national youth radio station, Triple J,[2] which was accompanied by a hand-written biography and press release.

[2][6] Mathieson described it as "a kinetic pop mantra where Hodgson skewers alternative rock's predilection for sultry female vocalists.

[11] In April 2005 Hodgson explained her song writing style, "My attitude used to be just make up some shit that fits in and we'll be sweet, but now I want to work on the lyrics...

Nate Dorr of PopMatters opined that it provided "an infectious variety... At times, there's a sense of catchy frivolity to the proceedings, but it can easily be forgiven... sheer excitement of hearing such unbridled enthusiasm in an emerging talent.

"[14] Pitchfork's Sean Fennessey felt "electric Hodgson, who sounds like she's riding a jet-fueled pogo on almost every song, is joined by guitarist John Patterson and drummer Alana Skyring, who make a sweet, playful style of basement band music.

[18] On 13 October 2006 they performed at the Forum Theatre, Melbourne, which was issued as a live DVD, Til Death Do Us Party, on 30 April 2007.

Mess+Noise's Ben described how Hodgson's "a genuine livewire, swanning across the stage in a flouncy white dress, all red-cordial energy and child-like abandon.

[23] Skyring left the band in 2010 to study a baking course at Institute of Culinary Education, New York; initially the Grates continued as a two-piece with Hodgson and Patterson writing tracks together in that city.

[23] Local US musician, Ben Marshall, joined the band on drums in New York to finish recording their third album, Secret Rituals (17 June 2011), which peaked at No. 11.

[12][23] Matt Shea of Mess+Noise felt it was "a little like a ledger of artistic assets: for the band to come out on top, the final statement needs to show a positive balance of improved songwriting over receding whacked-out style.

"[24] The Alphabet Pony's reviewer found the work had "benefited from this increased sensibility, and the time taken to marinate in the creative hub of Brooklyn has done wonders for their revitalised sound...

[26] The Grates premiered its lead single, "Turn Me On", on Triple J in April 2011 and it was streamed on their official Facebook page.

The Grates took a hiatus from live shows soon after, to focus on the opening their cafe, bar Southside Tea Room.

[27] Their new drummer, Ritchie Daniell, who drummed for Brisbane indie rock band The Trouble with Templeton and currently Hatchie, officially joined The Grates in 2013 to play their live shows.

In December 2014, The Grates released their fourth studio album, Dream Team, on their own label, Death Valley.

Everett True of The Guardian described how it "sounds more 'grown up' – what with the hyper-energetic brat-pop Grates of old switched for something a little more refined, more radio-friendly – there are still enough moments of euphoria to lift it above the mundane.

[31] The Grates played their final shows as part of the 2020 Hotter Than Hell festival alongside Everclear, Unwritten Law and Frenzal Rhomb.

[34] In May 2012 Hodgson and Patterson opened Southside Tea Room, a bar and cafe, located at Morningside.