Customer Reviews

The Radiators - Earth vs. the Radiators - The First 25

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I only recently have come to this party..... and boy am I happy, and I don't feel late. This was my first intro to these guys, and I've gone on to get a couple of studio recordings (good but not great),but this live show (New Orleans, January 2004) is incredible.

The opening number (City Of Refuge) is easily one of the top 10 songs I've ever heard; a simple 2 chord tune that churns and twirls to dizzying heights and blazing glory in a deep everso familiar groove (feels like I've known it since rockin in my cradle). And it goes on from there... These guys are as comfortable as that local bar band or festival garage/jamband you may never know the name of, but as masterful as the big boys they are sometimes compared to (Zappa-toned guitar solos, freewheelin' funky grooves reminiscent of Little Feat, Allman Brothers influenced riffs, Dead-like jamming and vast repertoire, and ZZ Top style songs). Yet they are unique and distinctive, unpretentious and a wholelotta fun. I'm just amazed they aren't a household name.

The Radiators combine the best of all worlds, New Orleans jazzbluesrockfunk, great rhythm, tasty pulsing horns, intertwined lead guitars, groovy keyboards and soulful vocals and catchy simple lyrics. They are obviously a live band first, but are way beyond the league of jambands that are fun live but boring recorded.

Warning, this recording is addictive, and you'd better make room to move.

I just read about this CD in Blues Revue magazine and picked it up yesterday. Where have these guys been? I love their sound and the mix of covers and originals. Having finally gotten a chance to go to New Orleans last year I have a greater appreciation for that sound. Excellent party music. This is the first of hopefully many Radiators CDs that I will add to my collection.

Alright. If you've made it this far, just go a little further and buy the damn thing!! It's simply an amazing CD!!

The Rads could put out a live album every month if they wanted -- and each one would be different and interesting on its own. Their catalogue is enormous -- both of covers and originals (of which Zeke supposedly has hundreds and hundreds).

This captures an exceptional run at Tipitina's in January of 2004. Man, is it a smokin' disc. GPJ, Karl Denson, and some incredible trombone players (names are slippin' my head right now) contribute to the already awesome tracks.

Here's to the first 25. And I'll be there for the next.

GO BUY IT!!!

I have listened to a lot of live music on CD, and this is THE best live CD I have ever heard. I discovered the Radiators while floating down the Black river on a float trip with my old college buddies. The song was Cash's Ring of Fire played live by the Radiators. I hated to admit it, but it sounded better than Johnny Cash singing it. I have been hooked on the Rad's since. I thought LittleFeat's Waiting for Columbus was the best live CD. Nope, this CD is.

The Rads are just plain awesome. If you have never heard them you need to get this album.

I OWN ABOUT 150 DVD CONCERTS AND VERY FEW ROCK LIKE THIS ONE.I'VE SEEN THE RADIATORS ABOUT 5 TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY WERE BETTER THAN BEFORE. THIS DVD RAISES THE BAR EVEN HIGHER.THE RADIATORS ARE THE BEST KEPT SECRET IN MUSIC TODAY.DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND BUY THIS DVD NOW! YOU ALSO MAY WANT TO PUT YOUR HELMET ON CAUSE THIS DVD ROCKS...............

After a bit of confusion and delay (intially getting a region 0 DVD that didn't play, and thinking wrongly that all these region 0 issued releases weren't going to play on my player), I finally got my copy, and had the treat of seeing this complete show from their 1/31/05 26th anniversary gig in New Orleans.

This comes from the same set of shows as the 5 star CD of the same title, but of the 2 and a half hours of music on each of these releases only THREE songs are repeated (Waiting For The Rain, Lila and Lovely You). This is a great bonus! I repeat, all but three of these songs are different than on the CD,and thats from a total of 300 minutes (5 hrs!) of music. (While I was initially disappointed not to be able to see my favorites from the CD, I was delighted to find it to be mostly a whole set of different songs.) And can these guys play, and put on a great show!....They start off hot and keep cookin creating a wall of sound, playing original compositions with a great groove, tasty leads, wonderful interplay and excellent guest appearances on horns (trombone and sax), percussion, and bass and a lively appreciative Mardi gras audience, this little-known local legend puts the big-named arena rockers and later-day jambands to shame.

The 2 bonus tracks (with Greg Allman and Maceo Parker from a different night and venue respectively) are very good but not as well produced as the main show, and the group interview and backstage rehersal footage (amazing that's all Karl Denson needed to pull off such a tight performance) is fun, entertaining and educational.

If you like a good show (in the Little Feat/Maceo Parker/Allman Brothers/ Dead kind of way) get this DVD.

If you like the Radiators, then you don't even need this review!

This album captures the true New Orleans style rock and roll. Like a hot bowl of gumbo it make you smile and warms you up. The musicanship is first rate, the singing is powerful and soulful - in short, you feel like your at the party.

There is no way not to enjoy this album...just buy it already.

The CD and DVD versions are vastly different. I had the CD and loved it but was hesitant to get the DVD because it was an almost completely different setlist. I finally broke down and was pleasantly surprised. Both versions are brimming with awesome musicianship and great tunes. Highly recommended. If you're on the fence then get it and you won't be sorry.

This is the best album ever put out by one of the best bands ever ! Not only do the Rads sound great, but the special guests, like Gregg Allman, really are special for a change ! The addition of horns adds a lot to the Radiator sound too. Go get this and the DVD too. Get going !