A trip into the World of AM RADIO by: Joey Niji

AM RADIO @ Sacred Grounds on Friday-February 15, 2002

The SET LIST:

1. The Sentiment

2. Blown Off (check it out) HERE>>

3. Time Of My Life

4. End Of The World

5. 1,000 Suns (check it out) HERE>>

6. Take Time

7. Final Destination

8. So Far

9. In Between Days (really cool Cure cover)

10. Oh Oh Oh

11. Holiday With You

12. You Saved My Life

 

I recently took a road trip (about a 2 and a 1/2 hour
ride away) to a place called San Pedro, CA. There I
met up with the famous Joe from Redondo. We went to
pay a visit to an old friend, Rowan Robertson. Rowan
is now in a band out of the LA area called "AM RADIO"
(cool name, I think). We had a great time (thanks to
the great Rowan for his hospitality).

The venue was running about an hour behind schedule.
That was a good thing though, because it gave us a
chance to hang out and reminisce with Rowan, and get
to know the band and all their beautiful groupies. All
the guys were extremely nice and well behaved.
Seriously, they were all gentleman (thank you to each
and every one of you for your warm welcome and
kindness)!

Finally, AM RADIO was about to go on, so Joe and I
geared up and got settled in our seats. We had our
transistor radio in hand hoisted our *soda-pop bottles
for a toast.....and away we went to the world where AM
RADIO is King and there is no such thing as FM.

Their set was very tight and calculated. The band
plays well together and they seemed to get along great
and enjoy each others company. The songs they chose
were mostly upbeat and positive (except "Blown Off",
it's never cool to blow someone off). They have good
stage presence and their front man (Kevin) is
hilarious! Kevin really gets the audience involved
(not to mention he really woos the ladies in the
crowd).

Despite their heavy and aggressive guitar sound the
songs don't seem to make you want to go out and hurt
someone or run a person off the highway. The songs are
actually somehow danceable and uplifting. They have
that very popular punk-popish sound and very catchy
lyrics and melodies. The rhythm section is solid and
of course the guitars are what they're all about. They
are much better than many of the bands you would hear
on the alternative radio stations.

They have been getting a lot of attention in the press
lately, and after having seen them, I think we will be
hearing and seeing a lot more of them in the very near
future. For all of these reasons, I see no reason why
AM RADIO is not already inundating our FM airwaves.

Peace, Good Health & Magic,

 

Joey Niji

 

 

 

For more on AM RADIO and for touring and album info
please visit them at www.amradioonline.com

 

 

Here are a couple songs that were recorded that
night.......

"1,000 Suns"- featuring some really cool slide guitar
by Rowan ( I found myself inadvertently humming this
tune on they way out).

"Blown Off"- I just thought that everyone could
identify with the premise off this cool song.

 

AM RADIO is:

Rowan Robertson - guitar

Jason Moore - guitar

Kevin Ridel - vocals

Joe Higgins - drums

Danny Dunlap - bass/vocals

Many thanks goes to Rowan,  Joe, Kevin, Danny, Jason, and
Joe from Redondo for making this article possible.
Thank you guys!!!!

*Oh and by the way I wasn't kidding about the pop
bottles!

All photos by Joe from redondo