– NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER –
Radkey are three brothers from Missouri who have so far released two EPs, both in the second half of last year. They come to Night & Day Cafe as part of their first ever headline tour and are already building a solid reputation for putting on a good show.
There are two support acts before Radkey take to the stage. Both Lyger and Turbogeist succeed in making a lot of noise and the crowd enjoy their sets. The most enthusiastic crowd members for both support bands are the brothers of Radkey themselves, who set themselves up right in front of the stage to rock along.
When time comes for the headline set, the band are so eager to start, bass player Isaiah starts to address the crowd before the sound from the stage is even turned up. It’s on just in time for the band to launch into ‘Out Here In My Head’ and then straight into ‘Little Man’. The crowd gets going from the first chord and doesn’t stop at any point throughout the night.
Next up is new track ‘Le Song’, not having heard it before doesn’t stop the crowd continuing to bounce along. The “Na Na Na Na” introduction does offer an easy route in and we take it. That’s followed by ‘Pretty Things’, which we’re assured is “a song about loving the pretty things”.
During the next track ‘Feed My Brain’, described as “an ode to education”, there comes a first for me. It is the first time I have ever seen someone attempt to crowd surf at Night & Day. It almost worked too, though it was more jumping from one person’s back to another than a surfing action.
There is a second attempt at surfing the crowd a few songs later during ‘Cat & Mouse’. ‘Red Letter’ follows that, which someone down the front has called for and it proves to be my favourite song of the performance. ‘N.I.G.G.A. (Not Okay)’ is next and brings with it some shouting along. When the song finishes the crowd chants the band’s name until they start playing the last song of the set, this causes the room to go even crazier and reach its highest energy level of the night so far.
After briefly hiding behind an amp at the back of the stage, the band return to play a single song encore. ‘Romance Dawn’ signals the mosh pit to resume and expel the last little bit of energy left unused. Before the night can end it’s the band’s turn to try and crowd surf. It quickly becomes clear it isn’t going to work, so the people at the front instead carry the band one by one to the back of the room.
I have never seen Night & Day as energetic as it is tonight. It is a lot of fun and Radkey were excellent throughout. I could not recommend them highly enough. If you get a chance, go and see them.
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Silent Radio Editor-in-chief. Watching excellently crafted live music is one of the great pleasures I get to enjoy. Having too often seen excellent bands fail to garner the attention I believe they deserve, I'm here to spread the good word of the under-appreciated musical performer. I encourage everyone who is reading this to do the same. Get in touch if you'd like to do that here.
