Radio Moscow

Radio Mascow may hail from the endless plains of Iowa, but something tells me these youngsters aren’t growing maize. “Brain Cycles,” the band’s sophomore recording displays the kind of heavy psychedelic, blues jams their parents or possibly their parents’ parents would have smoked grass and jammed out to in the late 60s or early 70s. At a mere twenty-three-years old, guitarist/vocalist Parker Griggs is the oldest member of the band, so these guy’s only connection to the early years of heavy blues jam would be through recordings. However, Radio Moscow does not sound like a Johnny-come-lately to this scene.

Radio Moscow is primarily the creation of Parker Griggs. Griggs handles guitar, vocals, drums and percussion, and does it with exceptional skill. Zach Anderson provides groovin’ bass lines. Each track on “Brain Cycles” features mellow Griggs mellow vocals, heavy-yet-bluesy riffs, jazzy drum fills and hazy psychedelics.

Right from the first track “I Just Don’t Know,” Griggs unloads with wild guitar flair. Just like the classic bands Radio Moscow emulates - Blue Cheer, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath — “I Just Don’t Know” and the mellow, tambourine centered “250 Miles” have great sing along qualities. “No Jane” and “No Good Woman” include dexterous jazz drumming in the tradition of Keith Moon (check the drum solo near the middle of the later track). Justin Apple adds a layer of smoke to the hard jams and rocking guitar solos on the title track and “Broke Down.” The band doesn’t always stick to the heavy-and-blues format, though, “Black Boot” and “City Lights” sound as if the band spent a few days in Mississippi licking up the Delta Blues.

“Brain Cycles” may not share the low fi production of a 1972 vinyl recording, but their equipment and style brings to mind pictures of free-loving San Francisco, circa 1970. Radio Moscow has a lot going for them, which hasn’t been lost upon the masses. The group has played a festival in Europe, performed at SXSW as part of the High Times Awards, and is set to tour Europe very soon. If you like your rock heavy, in a traditional heavy metal—blues way, burn a fat one and check out “Brain Cycles.”

http://www.myspace.com/radiomoscow