|
Ask fans of Radio Nationals what they like about the band, and you'll hear a variety of answers. For some, it's the twangy, roots-oriented sound that defines the band. For others, it's the melodic pop songs that seem to stick in your head for days. For others still, it's the incendiary live shows that have made Radio Nationals well known throughout the Northwest.
Since the release of their debut EP, Exit 110, Radio Nationals - Jared Clifton (vocals/guitar), Jon Wooster (bass/vocals), John Hollis (drums), and Aaron Taylor (guitar/vocals) - have been earning rave reviews for their strong songwriting and take-no-prisoners live performances. Their last full-length CD, Place You Call Home, further established this fusion of rock & roll, pop, and country to create a uniquely American rock sound that critics have compared to Neil Young, the Replacements, and Wilco. From distortion-filled aggression that leaves crowds begging for more, to tortured cry-in-your-beer songs that confirm Clifton's West Virginia roots, Radio Nationals rock with abandon while clearly displaying a sophisticated songwriting style. Combining a solid rock & roll foundation with powerful melodic vocals, Radio Nationals deliver catchy hooks through original music that sounds both fresh and timeless.
Place You Call Home immediately hit the charts on KEXP 90.3FM, entering the Americana charts at ..1 where it stayed for 14 straight weeks.. The new CD is inspiring inquiries and CD sales from internet listeners all over the country. In the words of KEXP's program director Don Yates, Radio Nationals has released "...a mighty impressive slab of gritty country-rock ranging from blistering twang-rockers to pensive, moody ballads." College radio across the U.S. has followed suit, leading to a growing buzz in new markets.
As one of Seattle's top bands, Radio Nationals regularly bring their unforgettable live performance to other Northwest cities, sharing the stage with such diverse national and international acts as Buffalo Tom, Mike Watt, Slobberbone, Visqueen, The Minus 5, and The Catheters. R.E.M.'s Peter Buck even surprised the band by joining them onstage during a performance at the Crocodile Cafe in Seattle; they had ripped into an overdriven cover of R.E.M.'s 'Driver 8' when Buck was moved to grab a guitar and jump in. Shows like this are the reason that Radio Nationals has quickly moved up the ranks of the Seattle scene, securing headlining spots at every major club in town, and making the band quite literally a very hard act to follow.
In 2003, readers of The Stranger, Seattle's leading alternative weekly, voted Radio Nationals their ..1 choice to play a showcase at SXSW in Austin, TX. Later the same year and again in 2004, music editors at The Seattle Weekly nominated Radio Nationals as one of Seattle's best Americana/Roots bands. The band was featured in the Jan/Feb 2004 issue of No Depression magazine, and also received a glowing review in the Feb. 2004 issue of British music magazine Maverick Country. As the band extends their touring into new markets in 2003/2004, look for such popular and critical praise to grow as the rest of the country discovers what people in the Northwest have known for some time - that Radio Nationals have what it takes to be a major force in the chaotic world of rock & roll.
|
