"Best band in the land!"
That's the phrase I kept hearing a concertgoer shout during a show by New Orleans' favorite sons, the Radiators, Friday night at amphitheater at South Park.
Certainly, that's open to debate, but watching the Rads tear through a two-hour set might convince some folks this band is in contention.
From the rousing opener, "I Like It Like That," through an encore of "I Just Want to Make Love to You" and "Ring of Fire," the Radiators showed that playing together for nearly 30 years makes for one tight performance.
The band formed in 1978 and has the same five members it did then: keyboardist Ed "Zeke" Volker, guitarists Dave Malone and Camille Baudoin, bass player Reggie Scanlon and drummer Frank Bua. Their repertoire varies between well-written originals and an unmatched collection of cover versions spanning blues, funk, classic rock and a few other genres.
One of the highlights of Friday's show was the band's distinctive interpretation of Neil Diamond's "A Solitary Man," which the Radiators transform into a smoldering performance complete with a long, intensive instrumental section.
Among the originals, a standout was Volker's "Umbilical," with its catchy sing-along chorus, "Everybody say yeah!" He's known to change the lyrics around here and there, and Friday's version mentioned a president running around the world like a chicken with his head cut off. (In the '90s, he'd make a reference to a president with a "cute little intern ...".)
Best in the land? I don't know, but the Radiators certainly are well worth seeing next time they're anywhere near town.
That's the phrase I kept hearing a concertgoer shout during a show by New Orleans' favorite sons, the Radiators, Friday night at amphitheater at South Park.
Certainly, that's open to debate, but watching the Rads tear through a two-hour set might convince some folks this band is in contention.
From the rousing opener, "I Like It Like That," through an encore of "I Just Want to Make Love to You" and "Ring of Fire," the Radiators showed that playing together for nearly 30 years makes for one tight performance.
The band formed in 1978 and has the same five members it did then: keyboardist Ed "Zeke" Volker, guitarists Dave Malone and Camille Baudoin, bass player Reggie Scanlon and drummer Frank Bua. Their repertoire varies between well-written originals and an unmatched collection of cover versions spanning blues, funk, classic rock and a few other genres.
One of the highlights of Friday's show was the band's distinctive interpretation of Neil Diamond's "A Solitary Man," which the Radiators transform into a smoldering performance complete with a long, intensive instrumental section.
Among the originals, a standout was Volker's "Umbilical," with its catchy sing-along chorus, "Everybody say yeah!" He's known to change the lyrics around here and there, and Friday's version mentioned a president running around the world like a chicken with his head cut off. (In the '90s, he'd make a reference to a president with a "cute little intern ...".)
Best in the land? I don't know, but the Radiators certainly are well worth seeing next time they're anywhere near town.
1 Comments:
I think I have a Radiators disc or two in my collection that I should pull out some time...
The amphitheatre at South Park is in some ways an underappreciated gem. I saw Patty Griffin there last summer and Tift Merritt last week, and it's a good venue and you can't beat the admission price!
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