Radar Bros.
Radar Bros. are an American indie rock band from Los Angeles formed in 1993 by Jim Putnam, Senon Williams, and Steve Goodfriend. They released their self-titled EP in 1995 on Fingerpaint Records. In 1996, they signed to Restless Records releasing Radar Bros. in early 1997.
Jim Putnam is the son of Bill Putnam, founder of Universal Audio. He founded both Universal Recorders and United Western Recorders. Jim Putnam was a former guitarist for Medicine and Maids of Gravity before starting the Radar Bros. Putnam has recorded most of the Radar Bros. albums and the Mt. Wilson Repeater release in his studio, the Phase 4 Intergalactic Recording Facility.
Radar Bros. sixth album, The Illustrated Garden, was released in March 2010 on Merge Records, and the Chemikal Underground label. He was the first to include new members Be Hussey and Stevie Treichel, who joined in 2008 to tour with the Auditorium album release in the U.S. and Europe. Original member Senon Williams left the band to play bass in Dengue Fever. An LP version of The Illustrated Garden was released September 2010 on the Squid vs. Whale label. Radar Bros. have headlined many tours in the United States, Canada, and Europe as well as supporting the bands Modest Mouse and Teenage Fanclub on their 2010 U.S. tours. They supported the Breeders on their 2002 European tour and played with bands including Low, Cat Power, The Decemberists, Bardo Pond, The [Black Heart Procession], and My Morning Jacket. Radar Bros. recorded with John Peel for his "Peel sessions" and also played at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival at UK 2000 and UK 2006.
The music video for "Brother Rabbit" from the album Auditorium was shot in Oklahoma in Healdton, Noble, and Norman in June 2008 and directed by The [General Assembly (directors)|The General Assembly]. Putnam's side project Mt. Wilson Repeater released their debut self-titled album in the U.S. in April 2008 on the Eastern Fiction label and in the U.K. in October 2008 on the Chemikal Underground record label. The latest album, Eight, was released in the U.S. on January 29, 2013, on Merge Records. The line-up expanded to include Ethan Walter, Brian Cleary, and Dan Iead, who have all toured with the band since 2010. Most recently, guitarist Jim Bowers joined the band as a touring member.
Discography
Albums
- Radar Bros.
- The Singing Hatchet / Chemikal Underground ))
- And The Surrounding Mountains / Chemikal Underground ))
- The Fallen Leaf Pages / Chemikal Underground ))
- Auditorium / Chemikal Underground )
- The Illustrated Garden / Chemikal Underground )
- ''Eight''
EPs and singles
- Radar Bros. – 10″ EP
- Radio Edits- EP CD
- Stay - EP
- Open Ocean Sailing- 7″
- Shoveling Sons - 7"
- Singles + B-Sides CD EP
- Papillon - Promo Single
Compilations
- Survive And Advance Vol.1 - “Silver Shoes”
- Old Enough To Know Better – 15 Years of Merge: “Painted Forest Fire”
- The Old Lonesome Sound - “Moonshiner”
- RAM On L.A.- “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey”
- SCORE! 20 Years of Merge Records Vol.11 : Kara Walker - "Show Yourself"
- SCORE! 20 Years of Merge Records Vol.12 : Amy Poehler - "Pomona"
- Score! 20 Years of Merge Records Vol.12 : Amy Poehler - “We Got The Beat”
- MERGE Digital Sampler- “Horses Warriors”
Line-up
;Current- Jim Putnam - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard
- Be Hussey - Bass, Background Vocals
- Stevie Treichel - Drums
- Ethan Walter - Piano, Keyboards
- Brian Cleary - Piano, Keyboards
- Jim Bowers - Guitars
- Dan Iead - Guitar, Pedal Steel
- Steve Goodfriend - Drums
- Senon Williams - Bass
- Jeff Palmer - Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Aaron Burtch - Drums
- Eric Morgan - Drums
- Aaron Kyle - Guitar
- Eddie Ruscha - Keyboards
- Sean Fallon - Keyboards
- Mark Lightcap - Guitar
- Brian Thornell - Keyboards
- Mark Wooten - Keyboards
- Matt Sevareid - Guitar