This week the Song of the Day takes a look at the artists playing KUTX’s stage at the X Games.
As far as first tours go, Little Radar’s was certainly memorable. The quartet set out from their Austin home base in 2012, only to arrive in New York two days after Hurricane Sandy had shut down nearly the entire eastern seaboard. Their first New York show ended up being a benefit for Sandy’s many victims, adding emotional heft to their tour itinerary. Their travels also took them to Nashville’s Sputnik Sound, where they met Grammy-award winning producer Mitch Dane and decided to turn the recording keys over to him.
Altogether, it was a pretty fruitful trip–the band’s third release, last year’s Souvenirs, reflects the whirlwind aspect of that initial tour. But Little Radar’s trajectory has been on the upward slope for a while now. Austin music fans have packed themselves into the group’s local shows since the band debuted in 2011, and their music has earned a ton of critical attention, including from our very own Laurie Gallardo. Little Radar has captured ears thanks to their ever-shifting sound: part-psychedelia, part-hard rock, maybe a dash of country thanks to singer Sean Hale’s slight twang. Souvenirs standout “Coming Clean” rushes headlong over a pounding rhythm section before screeching into a half-time chorus. The effect is similar to a runaway train, chugging away with power and momentum.
Catch Little Radar at the X Games on Sunday, June 8 at 3:15 pm.
