Radio Moscow: Escaping to the Woods With Parker Griggs
By Jason P. Woodbury Wed., Jan. 25 2012
Unapologetically catering to dood rockers, Alive launched The Black Keys, and has continued pumping out slabs of wax from psych, garage, blues, and power pop bands (Dan Auerbach of ‘the Keys still shows up to man the producer chair for many of the label’s releases). The labels latest compilation, Where is Parker Griggs? features 14 cuts, ranging from the gospel leaning “Everything that You Took” by Lee Bains and The Glory Fires to brisk pop like “Love Me Baby” from Latino rockers Hacienda. But perhaps the most “out there track” on the record is the opener, “Open Your Eyes,” by Radio Moscow, fronted by the titular Griggs. With its screaming fuzz, echo, and backward tape masking, the song illustrates both the boot scooting Midwest feel of the band’s Iowan roots and the far out, acid washed sounds of Northern California, where the band recorded its latest opus, The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz.
Griggs and I discussed the latest record, the curious remarks of showgoers, and who exactly this “Leslie Magnafuzz” is. [READ MORE]
Radio Moscow is scheduled to perform Graveyard, Destruction Unit, and more on Friday, January 27, at the Yucca Tap Room in Tempe.
Up On The Sun
RADIO MOSCOW + GRAVEYARD TOUR
Fri/Jan-27 Tempe, AZ Yucca Tap Room
Sat/Jan-28 Los Angeles, CA Bootleg Bar [TICKETS]
Sun/Jan-29 Santa Cruz CA The Catalyst
(NOTE: Graveyard is not on the Santa Cruz show)
Mon/Jan-30 San Francisco, CA Cafe Du Nord [TICKETS]
Tue/Jan-31 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge [TICKETS]
Wed/Feb-01 Seattle, WA Tractor [TICKETS]
About Radio Moscow
Radio Moscow came about a few years back in a Story City, Iowa basement. The First version of Radio Moscow Began as a solo project by Parker called Garbage Composal. At this time the sound was very raunchy mid-sixties-ish garage rock heavily influenced by the hidden gems and bands on the nuggets comps, yet still sounding very much its own. Parker recorded one albums worth of the Garbage Composal Demos under the new name Radio Moscow.
Along with the new name came new bass player Serana Andersen. This line-up lasted for a few years without a drummer. Around this time the band started evolving and a whole new sound was created. Still garage-y but now channeled through the blues with experimental breakdowns, unpredictable tempo changes, crazy rave-ups and fuzzed out psychedelic guitar work. For shows parker would pre-record the drums on a 4-track and then blasts it through amplification. Serana and Parker moved to Colorado in the quest for a drummer and a new scene.
Things started out very promising when Dan from The Black Keys called Parker up said he dug the demo that he gave him at a concert and was going to try to push it for us to get it on ALIVE/BOMP records. Parker returned by himself to Iowa to try to get the band up and going. Luke McDuff from Ames filled the vacant bass spot. Together they recorded the debut album for ALIVE/BOMP records with producer Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys. The Album was released Feb. 27, 2007. Luke then had to go back to school, so Parker continued looking for a solid line-up.
After one tryout Zach Anderson jumped on as new bassist — with the help of a few drummer friends (keith rich, todd stevens, paul marrone, cory berry). At the beginning of 2012 Radio Moscow said goodbye to longtime bassist Zach Anderson and touring drummer Cory Berry due to conflicts within the band.
On one day notice, bassist Billy Ellsworth and drummer Lonnie Blanton joined Parker Griggs in the rebirth of Radio Moscow.
Hey Parker,
It’s Sam, the guy from Georgia you met down in Mississippi and again at the Masquerade in Atlanta. You and Nicole hungout with my wife, Virginia, and I before your set and we told you our one-year-old daughter jams out when we play Radio Moscow. Here is a youtube link of her listening to Broke Down:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnxDbTENd5o
By the way. We had a great time at the show and really appreciated you hanging with us a bit. Hope to see you again soon.