Days of Radio releases 'Broadcast' EP

Former 19 Wheels members keep on rollin’

Posted

Friday, Feb. 21 — Days of Radio, a four-piece Lansing/Grand Rapids-based power-pop outfit, releases its second LP, “Broadcast,” tonight at The Loft in downtown Lansing. The band, which plays a ‘90s-tinged brand of alt-rock, debuted in 2008 with the “Keep It Down” EP. Locals may remember band member Scott Owens as a member of the Michigan-based rock band 19 Wheels; here’s what he had to say.


City Pulse: How did the band get together?

Scott Owens: “Days Of Radio began as The Last Pop Band in 2006. Our drummer Rob Dickey, whom I played with in my last band 19 Wheels, formed it with our current lead vocalist Dave Marean and bass player Joe Lebioda.”


How would you describe the new “Broadcast” EP?

“It’s power pop played primarily with traditional rock ‘n’ roll instrumentation. We've always been interested in the challenges presented b y attempting to create something engaging while working within pop parameters. We strive to play hooky melodies and arrangements, big choruses, lots of vocal harmonies and meaningful lyrics. We definitely don’t stray far from convention although there are, hopefully, a few quirky twists and turns enough to keep things interesting.”


When did you first start playing in area bands?

“I started playing in the late '80s. My first real band was called The Front. I formed that band with (Tom Taylor and Blair Darling) who morphed into The dt's, (who) are playing with us for our release show at The Loft. I left The dt's in 1993-ish to join a band called The Hannibals playing bass. The Hannibals had been around for a while and had released a couple of records before I joined. We released a record called ‘This Midwestern’ then broke up about a year later.”


How did 19 Wheels get together?

“In around 1995, the lead vocalist in The Hannibals, Chris Johnston, and I formed 19 Wheels. We put out one EP and three full-length records between '95 and '05. That band also toured the country a few times, was signed, and then dropped, by AWARE/Columbia then courted by Warner Bros., Arista, RCA and a few other labels (but) fizzled out. 19 Wheels played its last show in November 2005. We got very, very close to living our dream of writing, recording and performing music for a living. But it was a perfect case of wrong place, wrong time at almost every turn. We had a terrific run though, and I feel so fortunate for the experience. I wouldn't trade it for the world.”

 

How often does Days of Radio get out and play live shows?

“We don't play out often at all. I think this is maybe our sixth show since I joined. When you reach a certain age, family commitments and day jobs become priorities. We honestly get as much enjoyment from the process of writing, rehearsing and occasionally recording as anything else.”


Days of Radio EP release
w/ The dt’s, Pacifier and Gigantaur
7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 21 
The Loft
414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing
$5-$7, all ages


Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here




Connect with us