[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hen it comes to the state punk rock of 2015, there’s always some kind of debate. People that were around during its second rise of popularity in the early- and mid-’90s say that it’s completely dead, while others say that it’s exactly where it belongs — entrenched in the independent underground. There are a rise of bands echoing the styles of The Stooges, The MC5 and The Ramones as of late, which is a very, very good thing. One band of brothers that know how to rip it in badass fashion is performing at Great Scott in Allston tonight. They are called Radkey.
The St. Joseph, Missouri, garage punks have been blazing a trail over the past few years, releasing a couple of EPs (including one off of actor Adrian Grenier’s label Wreckroom Records), and most recently putting out their debut full-length Dark Black Makeup this past August. Lead by the scorching guitar riffs and howling voice of Dee Radke, the trio really know how to bring it in loud and emphatic fashion. Ahead of tonight’s festivities, Vanyaland had a chat with bassist Isaiah Radke about being home-schooled, recording Dark Black Makeup across the pond, the Afro-Punk genre, and who Radkey would like to share a stage with in the future.
Rob Duguay: You and your brothers Solomon and Dee grew up home-schooled, which even today is a unique way to grow up. Was there any social stigmas you had to deal with from people who went to public or private school?
Isaiah Radke: When you’re home-schooled you definitely are a little weird, which is cool. With getting out there in the world, meeting people and hanging out, it kind of taught us how to interact with people. As far as dealing with other people, we didn’t really get that much shit for being home-schooled really.
Sometimes people will give others weird looks if they find out they’re home-schooled for some odd reason, but if you didn’t have to deal with anything like that then it must have been very beneficial.
Yeah.
This past August, Radkey released their debut full-length album Dark Black Makeup. The album was recorded primarily in the United Kingdom, so what made the band want to cross the Atlantic to make the album? What was it like living in another country during the time of the album’s creation?
We recorded the first four tracks in San Francisco with our producer Ross Orton and he’s in Sheffield [England] so he came all the way down to do that. The we decided to finish the record where he lives so he invited us down there. We recorded there and it was really cool living in Sheffield, we spent about two weeks there and we just had to walk to the studio every day which was nice. It was interesting recording a record because you’re spending every day working on your own music. We didn’t take any days off because every day was just so cool, it felt like a day off anyways.
Not taking any days off must had made the process quicker which is convenient. Do you consider it a huge learning experience making your first LP?
Definitely, we played live throughout the whole process. It’s different now, it’s a lot tighter. Making this record and working with Ross was really cool and it makes you want to play harder and tighter. I learned how to get a really good bass tone which helps a lot with our live shows, which is pretty excellent.
Ever since Radkey has been noticed by the press the band has been placed in the genre of Afro-punk among other acts like Bad Brains, Fishbone, Rough Francis and many more. How do you feel about the term?
I’m not super into it just because I feel rock music is kind of for everybody and stuff so being black doesn’t really matter. I guess it stands out because there aren’t a ton of them but as far as the music we just feel like it sounds like anything else anyone else is doing.
Radkey is still a fairly young band and if you’ve been on the road consistently since the band started out around 2010. How often are you home in St. Joseph? Does touring ever get tiring for you guys?
We’re not home that much anymore, which is fine because we’re on tour and that’s what we want to be doing. We actually moved to Kansas City not too long ago, we will sometimes be home for like five days and then we’ll be back on the road. It’s all pretty much a wild ride.
It definitely seems like it. Radkey have gotten to share the stage with the likes of Titus Andronicus & Fishbone. If you had to pick any band out there today that is still around to play a show with, who would it be?
Probably would be the Foo Fighters or Queens Of The Stone Age or someone like that. Definitely Weezer as well.
Any particular reason why?
They’re just like huge influences on our music. We really love those bands, they really love to rock out and they’re keeping it alive.
RADKEY + SALEM WOLVES :: Friday, October 2 at Great Scott, 1222 Commonwealth Ave in Boston, MA :: 10 p.m., 21-plus, $10 at doors :: Advance tickets :: Facebook event page
