Cicada Radio
Cicada Radio | |
|---|---|
 Cicada Radio at the 2017 North Jersey Indie Rock Festival | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Alternative rock, post-hardcore, indie rock |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Labels | Killing Horse Records |
| Members | Brandon J. Barron John Bartsch Mike Keefe Pat Keefe |
Cicada Radio is an American rock band from New Jersey.
History
Cicada Radio is an alternative and post-hardcore rock band from Hoboken, New Jersey, that formed as a trio in 2009. The Keefe brothers began playing in their house garage, along with drummer Mike Kundrath, while attending Kean University in Union, New Jersey.[1][2] Cicada Radio was part of the Tiny Giant Artist Collective, based out of New Brunswick, New Jersey.[3] The band consists of bassist Brandon J. Barron, drummer John Bartsch, guitarist and vocalist Mike Keefe, and guitarist and lead vocalist Pat Keefe. Their music is described as a blend of haunting melodies and lush noise-scapes, with reverb-drenched vocals, and they cite musical influence from At the Drive-In, Desaparecidos and the Police.[4] The Jersey Journal says that Cicada Radio "unabashedly draws from many of the emo scene of the Nineties, when bands combined throttling punk rock melodies with introspective, personal lyrics," and their music is compared to post-hardcore groups, such as Sunny Day Real Estate, Braid, the Promise Ring and Knapsack.[5][6][7] Their first release is the four-track EP Imposter, on June 14, 2011. It is described by Speak Into My Good Eye as "visceral, [with] pointed tone," and it got the band picked up by the Kearny-based label, Killing Horse Records.[8][1]
Killing Horse Records
Cicada Radio's debut eight-track album, entitled No Fate But What We Make, was released on compact disc and digital download on December 1, 2012, with Killing Horse Records, who reissued their first EP and have released all their subsequent albums. It is called "early millennial post-punk blended with the impassioned, non-pretentious vocal and lyrical work of the high emo era," and is noticeably heavier with hazy and distortion-laced guitars, than their previous record.[8][6][7] A review by The Aquarian Weekly says "singer Pat Keefe sounds just about ready to launch off the melodies and lose his mind, but the band behind him manages to let that urgency land with an unexpectedly light touch."[9] The release party for No Fate But What We Make was held at the Court Tavern in New Brunswick, New Jersey, that night, with Let Me Run, A Balance Between, the Rose Riot and Meet Pause.[6] The music video for the song "Oceans" contains footage of the band performing on marshland coastline, riding a motor boat, and wandering around Kearny, New Jersey.[8] Shortly after the release of the album, their original drummer left, and Bartsch joined Cicada Radio.[1]
Their second full-length release is the six-track Crime Waves, on December 2, 2014. Themes on the album include loss of love, and the death of the American dream.[7] They performed at the 2014 The Fest, in Gainesville, Florida.[7] Cicada Radio's third full-length album, entitled Drift/Dream, was released on October 28, 2016. The record release party was held at the Funhouse in Jersey City, New Jersey on November 4, with Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Dead Bars, Crazy & the Brains and Nervous Triggers. During that year, a concert promoter says of their live performances, that they "always rock out like they may never have a chance to play again."[5]
They performed at the North Jersey Indie Rock Festival on September 23, 2017, and in 2018 they performed at The Fest.[10] The five-track EP Catch and Release was released on June 15, 2018, and is compared to the music of Jimmy Eat World. The music video for the song "Erased on Re-Entry" was shot in Tokyo, Japan, by Cicada Radio's former drummer Kundrath.[2]
Members
- Brandon J. Barron – bass
- John Bartsch – drums
- Mike Keefe – guitar and vocals
- Pat Keefe – guitar and lead vocals
Past members
- Chris D'Ambrosio – bass
- Mike Kundrath – drums
Discography
- Albums
- No Fate But What We Make (2012)
- Crime Waves (2014)
- Drift/Dream (2016)
- EPs
- Imposter (2011)
- Catch and Release (2018)
References
- Citations
- Bibliography
- Appio, Jim (June 5, 2015), "Even More Stuff I Missed from Cicada Radio, Life Eaters, Vomitface", CoolDad Music, retrieved April 9, 2019
- The Fest Staff (2014), "Cicada Radio", The Fest, archived from the original on March 28, 2016
- Frometa, RJ (February 2, 2019), "Cicada Radio Release New Music Video For "Erased On Re-Entry"", Vents, retrieved April 9, 2019
- Killing Horse Records Staff (2016), "Cicada Radio", Killing Horse Records, retrieved April 9, 2019
- Machchinski, Anthony J. (March 12, 2014), "Tuning in to Cicada Radio", The Observer, retrieved April 9, 2019
- Mehalick, Mike (November 20, 2012), "New Video: Cicada Radio – "Oceans"", Speak Into My Good Eye, retrieved April 9, 2019
- Mehalick, Mike (January 5, 2017), "Listen: Cicada Radio Crafts Massive Atmospheres On "Golden Sands Motel"", Speak Into My Good Eye, retrieved April 9, 2019
- Norrell, Darryl (May 1, 2013), "Cicada Radio: No Fate But What We Make", The Aquarian Weekly, retrieved April 9, 2019
- The Pop Break Staff (November 30, 2011), "Pop-Preview: Cicada Radio Record Release in New Brunswick", The Pop Break, retrieved April 9, 2019
- Sacher, Andrew (June 12, 2018), "The Fest 2018 adds Menzingers, Get Up Kids, Lawrence Arms, Mock Orange, more", BrooklynVegan, retrieved April 9, 2019
- Testa, Jim (November 2, 2016), "Jersey City's Cicada Radio releasing road-tested new album at the Funhouse", The Jersey Journal, retrieved April 9, 2019
External links
- Cicada Radio discography at Discogs
