Concert Review: Radars to the Sky debut material from their upcoming album @ the Echo (6.29.09)

Having spent the first half of 2009 lying low and recording material for their debut album, Radars to the Sky opened for Oliver Future last Monday at the Echo, offering a live preview of the material that will make up the soon-to-be-finished record.  In a set also peppered with such ‘classic’ material (some of which will reappear on the new album) as “I Might,” “Zurich,” and “Victoria,” Radars offered a glimpse into their new direction as a band since the departure of guitarist Seamus Simpson in January (Simpson is now working with the excellent Thailand)—dense, insular and bruising, with just as many nods towards complex indie-rock as there were towards hooky new wave.

Opener “Sharpen Your Teeth” began as a dreamy, slow-motion metallic clash of guitars and keys, which unfurled into the sci-fi bounce of the suite-like, multi-part jangle of “As the Nurses Scurry.”  A crucial tension in the music of Radars to the Sky is the tug-of-war between epic, long-form art-rock and crushing, melodic indie; with those two opening songs, the band seemed to be signaling a move in the direction of the former.  However, they can still detonate a catchy rock ‘n roll tune when the inclination strikes—“The Apple Never Falls” was all slash and burn guitar kinetics, while “Sergeant,” was a series of stop-start grooves and crunching, anthemic hooks, as well as one of the evening’s strongest tunes.

The highlight of the set, though, may have been the closer, “1624.”  A driving song of divebomb guitar swoons and rhythmic surges wrapped within a rumbling new wave dirge, “1624” exemplifies the sound of Radars to the Sky as it is today—a band far more interested in grooves, texture and detail, or as Mouse of Classical Geek Theatre put it, they’re playing “indie rock for the indie rocker.” And while nothing concrete has been announced, the band is planning on a few more live dates in the near future to build up momentum towards the release of their debut; make sure to catch them when you can—they are an indie fan’s indie band.

July 1, 2009 | Filed Under Concert Reviews, Music News, New Local Music in 2009, New Music Preview 

Comments

2 Responses to “Concert Review: Radars to the Sky debut material from their upcoming album @ the Echo (6.29.09)”

  1. the echo and echoplex » Wednesday 11.18.09: Web In Front & KROQ Present RADARS TO THE SKY / LE SWITCH / MARVELOUS TOY / THE HAPPY CASUALTIES @ echo on November 11th, 2009 2:18 pm

    [...] The highlight of the set, though, may have been the closer, “1624.” A driving song of divebomb guitar swoons and rhythmic surges wrapped within a rumbling new wave dirge, “1624” exemplifies the sound of Radars to the Sky as it is today—a band far more interested in grooves, texture and detail, or as Mouse of Classical Geek Theatre put it, they’re playing “indie rock for the indie rocker.” – Web In Front [...]

  2. the echo and echoplex » Friday 02.19.10: IPROMOTEBANDS and Echo present RADARS TO THE SKY / ONE TRICK PONY / MISSISSIPPI MAN / RADEMACHER @ echoplex on February 4th, 2010 5:56 pm

    [...] The highlight of the set, though, may have been the closer, “1624.” A driving song of divebomb guitar swoons and rhythmic surges wrapped within a rumbling new wave dirge, “1624” exemplifies the sound of Radars to the Sky as it is today—a band far more interested in grooves, texture and detail, or as Mouse of Classical Geek Theatre put it, they’re playing “indie rock for the indie rocker.” – Web In Front [...]




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