FIRE IN THE RADIO – RED STATIC ACTION

If there were ever a “hold my beer” moment, I think we’ve arrived at that point. When things take a turn, and you’re entrusted with something that’s easily comparable to an assortment of other things, is there any originality left? Maybe, but I’m sure for many, those moments are far and fleeting. The 4-man PA outfit Fire In The Radio has been releasing music since 2015, but the group’s sound is reminiscent of ‘90s emo.

The group, made up of Richard Carbone (vocals, guitar), Jonathan Miller (vocals, guitar), Adam Caldwell (drums), and Ed Olsen (bass), just re-released its Red Static Action (Wednesday Records), which, from my understanding, is a collection of demos that doubled as the band’s full-length debut. The release probably should have been stashed in obscurity because the songs back then were far from comparable to the group’s music today. Don’t believe me? Listen to the band’s 2020 Monuments, which does seem to hit with the fervor of a blazing sun. While there is something to be said about the “charm” of indie/garage rock bands hitting off-key vocal notes, here, matched with trailblazing songwriting that would have been popular in the latter half of the ‘90s, today it doesn’t.

The only saving grace on this re-release is the inclusion of two newer tracks, “Hide The Knives,” which showcases well-seasoned musicianship, interesting songwriting/dynamics, and creative vocal interplay, as well as “Prairie.” The second track there, an ode to post-punk, plays again with dynamics and is both frantic and challenging. It’s easy to fall in love with the song’s melody and the band’s attack with its instruments. I’m here for it ALL DAY!

In the end, thinking of Fire In The Radio’s Red Static Action, it’s difficult to disassociate the band from a Hulk/Thor conversation when the god of thunder compared himself to a raging fire, but the smashing machine tells him that he’s like a big raging fire, and Thor, well, he’s more of just some burning embers. Of course, that’s without the last two songs. If you want to listen to the band, focus on Monuments, and just leave this recording where it belongs, in the past.