Chicago – Missouri sibling trio Radkey rolled on into Chicago to do what they do best: rock hard. Best New Bands caught Radkey opening for Fu Manchu at the Double Door. Now you’d think that since the punk band wasn’t headlining, they wouldn’t draw in much of a crowd, but you would be greatly mistaken. Radkey brought in plenty of devotees, who sang along to fan favorites like “Cat & Mouse” and “Romance Dawn.” One young man even managed to sneak into the VIP area up front, thrashing around wildly, before getting hauled off by security.
Since we spoke with Dee (lead vocals and guitar), Isaiah (bass), and Solomon Radke (drums) at Riot Fest last year, they’ve accomplished some remarkable feats, from playing Coachella to touring with Jane’s Addiction and Failure, and soon they’ll be releasing their debut full-length Dark Black Makeup. They’ve also grown ten-fold as musicians. While Radkey’s performance at Riot Fest was killer, their show at the good old DD was phenomenal. We’re talking jaw dropping! Clearly the threesome’s time on the road this past year has helped them grow as performers, making for one damn good night!
The guys started the night out with “Out Here In My Head,” off the 2013 EP Cat & Mouse. Fans up front quickly riled up. Some chanted, “Radkey, Radkey!” They then played two songs that’ll be on Dark Black Makeup: “Le Song” and “Song Of Solomon,” the latter of which was written by Sir Solomon Radke.
Next up was “Evil Doer,” which they usually dedicate to the comic book character King Pin, but on this night they switched things up, giving a shout out to villain Lord Beerus, earning hoots and hollers from the crowd. But it was “Start Freaking Out” that really made fans go nuts.
Isaiah then introduced a new track off Dark Black Makeup, titled “Love Spills.” He told the room that Radkey’s latest material is a bit faster, louder, and wilder, and in his opinion, it finally makes them worthy of being labeled a hardcore punk band.
About halfway through the set, Radkey experienced some mic trouble. No bother though. While the sound guys were busy troubleshooting, Isaiah led a group conversation with, “Did you guys see The Lego Movie?” Aside from the brothers’ amazing music, what makes a Radkey show so great is watching Dee, Isaiah, and Solomon’s personalities shine, whether they’re making crazy faces, thrashing about, or talking movies, comics, and anime. They remind you that at the end of the day they’re just three teenage boys having a great time doing what they love.
Speaking of having a great time, the audience seemed to enjoy themselves the most during “Cat & Mouse,” especially when Dee wailed on his guitar, and during “N.I.G.G.A. (Not Okay),” when Isaiah jumped in the air, with his legs split, like the Michael Jordan of punk rock.
Radkey ended the night with “Romance Dawn.” Isaiah introduced it with, “The next one is a sing-along song.” People sang and shouted, “Hey, hey now,” while Isaiah and Dee crawled atop of each other and around the floor of the stage. Based on people’s reactions, it was safe to assume that those in the crowd who were solely there for Fu Manchu were now hardcore Radkey enthusiasts.
Radkey will be touring Europe soon. A full list of dates is available on the band’s facebook page. Dark Black Makeup is due out in August and is available for pre-order.
Photo of Radkey live by Sarah Hess
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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