Radars to the Sky: Residency Diary, Part Three

This month’s R.D. entries will be from the members of Radars to the Sky, whose churning glass-shard guitar rhythms and artful, thunderously vibrant songs whorl-print into a unique brand of indie rock every Monday in April at the Echo.

March 21. Excited. E-x-c-i-t-e-d. I’ve been sitting in front of my computer all day. I’ve been staring out the window watching the cars drive around Century City. I’ve been fidgeting. The thought of being able to watch and perform with Rademacher, the Airborne Toxic Event and You Me & Iowa has me distracted. I think I look strung out.

I actually can’t remember exactly when it happed, but I do remember who the harbingers were: at some point recently I sat in the Echo and watched Rademacher, and at some point I sat in Spaceland and watched Airborne, and I was hit with this wave of euphoria at the realization that I was now sharing a music scene with bands that I not just liked, but loved. I love these bands. I yell this in the lulls in their sets. I insist this as they drag their gear off stage.

Tonight is no different (except they’re using our gear, so they get to just walk off the stage like true rockstars). Because of slow food service I miss a song or two of Rademacher’s set. But they’re locked in and relaxed and the room sounds great. I would like some booze, but I’ve had to refrain of late because, as I’ve gotten older, drumming has become more of an athletic activity than I remember it being. It’s like drinking a few whiskeys and then going for a run.

With no label execs or other industry stressors gracing the Echo for a change, Airborne is similarly relaxed and tight. Everything is sharp, everything is where it’s supposed to be. Again I reflect on how amazing it is to be able to play with these bands.

Our performance is a blur. I’m never happy with any performance; I only hear the missteps that fortunately the audience usually doesn’t (or perhaps doesn’t care about). I heard people say it went well. Thank god. I guess we’ll find out when we hear the mix that Spaceland Recordings is working on for a live disc of the show.

I’m not going to lie; I only made it through about half of You Me & Iowa’s set. I was exhausted. Some nights I have the whole bill in me, some nights I don’t. I was feeling especially anxious about tonight and am now completely drained. At least You Me & Iowa sent me off with a little pick-up, crowding the stage with a jangly, melodic energy.

Man. Lucky.

Kenny Kupers

Player of Skins
Radars to the Sky

April 29, 2008 | Filed Under Residency Diaries 

Comments

One Response to “Radars to the Sky: Residency Diary, Part Three”

  1. musings from boston » Band Profile: Radars To The Sky on July 8th, 2010 5:22 pm

    [...] Residence Diary, Part Three – 4/21/08 – from web in front [...]




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