|
deaconlight.com/radiobirdman
Radios Call On The Capitol: Radio Birdman Live at The Black Cat, Washington, D.C.
by Gary "Stigmata" Carter, 6 September 2006
Copyright © Deaconlight.com. You may reproduce this feature story at no charge provided you note the author as Gary Carter and Deaconlight.com as the source.
I've been a die-hard fan of Radio Birdman for 27 years, but never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be standing in front of a stage waiting to see them perform live. On the evening of September 6, that dream came true as I (possibly the only fan from North Carolina to make the pilgrimage) found myself in the Washington DC venue, The Black Cat, waiting to see the group live.
 Before the show, I milled about the club alongside other local rockers eagerly awaiting the band's entrance, which did not disappoint. When Radio Birdman walked onstage, the crowd greeted them with a deafening roar of welcome. In response, they blew out of the starting gate with a blistering rendition of "Burn My Eye" from their second album, Living Eyes and never let up the intensity the rest of the evening, successfully blending a barrage of early classic Birdman tunes with a healthy sampling of cuts from their new album Zeno Beach.
Any doubts as to the band's ability to translate its music from the studio to the stage quickly evaporated. These songs were made to be played live, and it was obvious that all the band members were having a blast playing their material before an audience of overwhelmingly avid fans. Rob Younger handled his vocals with an intensity that sounded as fresh and powerful as ever, while Chris Masuak and Deniz Tek demonstrated in song after song that they are truly a guitar force to be reckoned with.
 Jim Dickson on bass and Russell Hopkinson on drums provided a rhythm section that hurtled the band relentlessly forward with pinpoint accuracy. And last, but certainly not least, keyboardist Pip Hoyle added those wonderful musical phrases that apply a distinctive stamp to the entire Radio Birdman catalogue. Together, these gentlemen form an ensemble that is still one of the greatest rock and roll bands in the world – period.
The main set of the show covered a giant swath of the group's songbook, from "I-94," "New Race" and "Man With Golden Helmet," to the freshly-penned "We've Come So Far (To Be Here Today)" and "Zeno Beach." As expected, the crowd went crazy at the end of the show, prompting an encore set which included a few more well-known tunes, plus one very special and unexpected surprise. For a millisecond, the audience was stunned, then exploded into cheers of ecstatic disbelief when the band launched into a cover of the The Stooges' classic, "Search and Destroy"!
 When everyone had recovered from that bombshell, the guys continued with more songs but, as they played, I couldn't help saying to myself (and I'm sure I wasn't alone) that they couldn't possibly leave the stage without playing THE tune that everyone was waiting for. Sure enough, for their final encore offering, the old familiar drumbeat kicked in, inaugurating a scorching rendition of "Aloha Steve and Danno." At that supreme moment, I felt extremely satisfied that - in that entire club - I was the only person there wearing a Hawaiian shirt. Book'em, Danno!
Until you experience Radio Birdman live, you can't fully appreciate the group's complete lack of ego or "legendary rock star" attitudes. I was privileged to meet the band members after the show, and I can honestly say that, if you're looking for any of that type of useless garbage, you've got the wrong band here! During my backstage visit, these ordinary blokes graciously welcomed me into their midst, chatted with me and signed a poster I had brought along.
Both on and off-stage, these down-to-earth guys love what they're doing and are very appreciative of their loyal fan base. At times during the show, both Rob Younger and Deniz Tek thanked the audience after renditions of such high energy classics as "Do The Pop," or the more recent "You Just Make It Worse" and "Hungry Cannibals." At times, they seemed genuinely surprised at the sheer intensity of the crowd's delight.
Simply put, these guys were there for their music and their fans, and you can't ask any more from a band than that!
- 30 -
Radios Call On The Capitol: Radio Birdman Live at The Black Cat, Washington, D.C.
by Gary "Stigmata" Carter, 6 September 2006
Copyright © Deaconlight.com. You may reproduce this feature story at no charge provided you note the author as Gary Carter and Deaconlight.com as the source.
This page was updated July 6, 2008.
Please contact us to report errors or out-of-date links.
Page Top ^
|
