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"Radio 4: Defiance And Debauchery Defined"
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Like a good Happy Hour in your favorite bar, New York City's 5-piece collective known as Radio 4 continued to build a deliciously satisfying sonic base commenced by local band Backdrop Bomb in the inaugural Tokyo edition of Magic Rock Out, an all night rock 'n' rave created by the same people who brought you Fuji Rock and Asigiri Jam.
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| Wasting no time to switch gears into their own from the clearly 311-inspired dual vocals hip hop, rasta rock power of Backdrop Bomb, Radio 4 opened cleanly with their first cut "Our Town" from their latest CD titled 'Gotham' into a straight ahead 13 track set that also traversed their 'The New Song And Dance' CD as well as there 'Dance To The Underground' EP. |
| With these roots, you definitely noticed an international, yet trans-Atlantic skewed beauty to their colloborative efforts this night within each cut. Switching vocal duties, train conductor hat wearing bassist Anthony Roman and guitarist Tommy Williams delved away both vocally and musically as keyboardist/ backing vocalist Gerard Garone drenched it all in his early 80's vintage synth work. |
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| Throughout and without fail, drummer Greg Collins anchored it all with his differing beats and a high hat not far behind as P.J. O'Connor exercised his most impressive Pete Escovedo-like skills on his congos, drum, and a host of other percussive efforts. |
| While highlights were naturally peppered throughout their set, what was most evident was their increasing sonic power which seemed to be just getting unleashed by the end of it all. Whether it was the late 70's/early 80's synth grandeur of the impassioned "Start A Fire"to the hypnotic urgent plea in the clapping along of "Speaking In Code" to the nocturnal nightmarish descending breakdown within "New Disco," Tommy, Gerard, Anthony, Greg, and P.J. were laying it all out there for us to enjoy in their relaxed attitude and mild sarcastic swagger as they performed away.Naturally, what added to this rich 14 track cocktail provided by Radio 4 was the fact that you a most interesting colloboratioon of styles. |
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Firstly, you had 2 very different vocal styles which duly tap into different emotions where Anthony's is more along a talking style, Tommy's is more of a earnest croon which smooths it all out. For example, "Sink So Low" has its late night Latin-infused shock therapy softened with Tommy's lead whereas the alt funk of "Calling All Enthusiasts" has Tommy pay tribute accordingly as Anthony swaggeringly talked away bass-strapped with a knowing smile. |
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| Secondly, you had the retro Korg duties laid out by Gerard opposed to the straight ahead roking beat of Greg behind the kit. Lastly, the overtly Latin-inspired percussive work of P.J. O'Connor.
Ending it all with their current smash of defiance and debauchery "Dance To The Underground," Radio 4 plowed ahead to a commanding crescendo that left all present buzzing with their strongest weapon of infectious high hat percussive grooves rounded out with edgy guitars, bouncy bass lines, snappy drums, and swirling keys. A stiff, but smooth drink most delicious in this expansive setting, but no doubt best savored in an intimate one. Like anything tasty, Radio 4 are worth going for seconds.
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| Report by Mike Lara. Photos by ORG-maki. The copyright of the photos belongs to Makiko Endo and They may not be reproduced in any form whatsoever. (Feb 8, 2003) |
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