Taking their name from the reclusive neighbor in Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mocking Bird” The Boo Radley’s music tends to share an affinity to this Capote inspired character. It is mysterious, reserved, sometimes misinterpreted, but at the core pure and wonderful.
Their live shows are filled with stored up teenage angst, youthful exuberance delivered in a tongue and cheek style. They are one of the 90s bands that absolutely epitomizes jangle pop and their sound clearly resonates in more of the modern twee pop groups like A Sunny Day In Glasgow or Los Campesinos. Their sound fluctuates between clear guitar driven pop and psychedelic freakout sessions. During parts of their shows you might wonder if you are listening to a Byrds cover band, but the next moment you might begin to consider whether or not someone slipped some hallucinogenic in your drink.
The song “Lazarus”, which is a mainstay in their setlist is an example of their experimental side. In their live rendition of this track you can hear the sound of phased out guitars dispersing throughout the venue, a trumpet blaring through the distorted cacophony, blaring drum fills and rumbling bass. Buried somewhere in the middle of the noise is the shockingly languid voice of lead singer, Sice Rowbottom. Given the sheer intensity of the instrumentation throughout their psychedelic tracks you would expect Rowbottom to be yelling at the top of his lungs to be heard. Rather he sings in an unbothered even slightly depressed voice. This contrast is what the band specializes in an why they are so loved.
They can be singing peppery pop tunes with biting sarcasm or playing sonically assaulting soundscapes while maintaing a calm presence. Whatever they do play it seems to always meet the audience’s approval. Their shows always far exceed my expectation.
Don Toliver
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