Chicago – “Well you’re not hardcore, unless you live hardcore!” It seems that perhaps the Radke brothers took this line from The School of Rock to heart. After watching the Jack Black comedy, the three home-schooled Missouri teenagers decided to teach themselves to play music. The end result was Radkey, with Dee on lead vocals and guitar, Isaiah playing bass, and Solomon knocking it out on drums. Under their father’s guidance, this young punk band began performing around the Midwest and eventually throughout the U.S., including festivals like Afro-punk Fest and SXSW. Radkey has been applauded for their high-powered shows, and their two EPs – Cat & Mouse and Devil Fruit – have received rave reviews from critics, making them a rising band to watch.
Last month, while on tour with Rise Against, Radkey played Riot Fest in Chicago, where Best New Bands caught up with Dee, Isaiah, and Solomon. We talked anime, music, and more anime.
Sarah Hess: You’ve been working on a new album. When should we expect it out?
Isaiah Radke: January or February. Something like that.
SH: Can you talk about what inspired it?
IR: Yeah, once again kind of anime inspired, but not like ‘hey this is comic, anime music,’ you know. We’re really stoked about some of the new sounds we’ve got. It’s a new sound, not like a 180 turn, but still something cool and unique.
SH: Will “Feed My Brain” be on it?
IR: Yeah!
SH: Is your songwriting collaborative or do you each take your time to hash stuff out and then bring it to the table?
IR: It’s a lot of different things. It’s collaborative, but sometimes it’s our own thing.
SH: Tell us about “Romance Dawn.” What inspired it? Who wrote it?
IR: We all wrote it. It’s inspired by this anime called One Piece. It’s our favorite anime.
SH: The song “N.I.G.G.A (Not Okay)” deals with racism. Tell us what inspired this song. And how have fans reacted to it?
IR: There’s a kid who went to a predominately white school, and we saw a lot of his white friends call him “nigga” and shit. It’s really annoying. It shouldn’t be an okay thing like that. It shouldn’t be that casual, and he shouldn’t let his friends do that. It really irritated us, so we wrote a song about it. And the reactions have been pretty good.
SH: Did you guys talk to him about it? Does he know you wrote the song about him?
IR: No.
SH: Do you think perhaps he figured it out by now?
IR: No, he doesn’t know.
SH: Some musicians have spoken out about the events in Ferguson. Since you guys are from Missouri, does Ferguson hit home more? And have you felt the desire to speak out and maybe write a song?
IR: No, I mean everyone should know already that black people get unfairly treated. It hasn’t changed, probably won’t change. We just need to watch our fucking backs. It’s unfair man.
SH: Okay, from serious to not so serious: Solomon, I hear you love spicy food and toss hot sauce on everything. Cholula, Sriracha, and Tabasco: List from most fave to least.
Solomon Radke: It’d go from Sriracha to Tabasco, and Cholula.
SH: Being the youngest, do you ever feel your brothers baby you?
SR: Nope, not even close! (laughs)
SH: Dee, you hate milk. Does that mean you also hate ice cream?
Dee Radke: No, I can eat ice cream. I just don’t drink milk by itself. I don’t put milk in my cereal.
SH: As the oldest, do you find yourself being the leader of the group? Or does that hat belong to Isaiah?
DR: No one is the leader in our band. No one is a leader.
SH: Isaiah, you’re the middle child. Do you ever have Jan moments?
IR: No, no. I was treated pretty fairly.
SH: You’re really into movies. If you could re-score the soundtrack to any movie, what movie would you pick?
IR: Oh man! I don’t know. See, a lot of the movies I love have pretty perfect [scores]. You know what I mean? I’d ruin it. But maybe like Escape from New York, but with my bassline, my tone.
SH: I know you’re not a fan of the third X-Men movie. How did you feel about Days of Future Past?
IR: It was amazing!
SH: You’re all really into anime. I have some picks for you: Grave of the Fireflies or Spirited Away?
IR: Spirited Away.
DR: Spirited Away.
SR: I wouldn’t know anything about those two.
SH: Are you not into anime?
SR: No, I like anime, but just more like fighting, action anime.
IR: Yeah, big old muscular, shirtless dudes all up on each other! (laughs)
SH: Cowboy Bebop – Rank from best to worst: TV series, movie, comics.
IR: I’ve never read the comic actually! But the anime is my favorite anime ever! And the movie rules.
SH: Speaking of movies, the movie School of Rock inspired you guys to start a band. Do you think at some point, perhaps when you’re older, you guys might teach music or even start your own music school?
IR: Nah, we’re too lazy.
SR: Nah. (shakes his head)
SH: I read you guys discovered music thanks to your dad’s record collection. What are some of your favorite albums or musicians in his collection?
IR: Top three [are] Ramones, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, as far as inspirations, but then there’s like Weezer…
SR: But then there’s albums like The Blue Album!
IR: And Nevermind.
SH: Finally, what are some new bands you guys are into right now?
IR: Drenge would be a big one. Let’s see, Kitten’s cool. The Orwells are cool, but you guys know about that.
Yes, Isaiah we do. We also know Radkey is pretty cool, too! You should definitely check them out. The Radke brothers are finishing up their tour with Rise Against. They’ll also be playing Fun Fun Fun Fest this November. You’ll find tour dates on their facebook page.
Sarah Hess
After attending The School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Sarah went on to study education at Dominican University, earning a degree in history. When not teaching, writing, or taking in a show, she is most likely to be found with a camera to her eye or hanging out in a darkroom.
You can follow Sarah Hess on twitter at @Sarahhasanh and view her music photography on her website: smhimaging.com.
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