Merge Records

Radar Bros.

Radar Bros.
The Radar Brothers died on January 29, 2008. The band was on stage at the Echo in Los Angeles playing the record release show for their new album, Auditorium. What should have been a joyful celebration of their new record turned into a wake. The audience already knew that the three members sharing the stage with singer/guitarist Jim Putnam had announced their plans to leave, so when the band invited their L.A. musician friends on stage for a final sing-along, it felt like the end.

Not so fast! Jim Putnam has been playing and recording music his entire life. After a brief hiatus, his passion prevailed. The past 18 months have seen the emergence of a newly energized Radar Brothers. In bass player Be Hussey and drummer Stevie Treichel, Putnam has found two partners who are equally passionate about the band. Like pretty much every band worth caring about, this new collaboration began with live performances. The guys built a tight bond while touring together in the U.S. and Europe, and writing together was the natural next step. March 23, 2010-the release date of their new album, The Illustrated Garden-represents the culmination of the Radar Brothers' rebirth.

The Illustrated Garden is the punchiest, most lyrically direct set of songs the band has released to date. The songs are unmistakably Radar Brothers, but the Treichel/Hussey rhythm section often pushes them in unexpected directions ('Rainbow' and 'Horses Warriors' are particularly surprising). Putnam's the same nature-loving guy, but on songs like 'Dear Headlights' and 'Xmas Lights,' there's a little less to read between the lines.

Putnam records through his Phase IV Intergalactic Recording Facility (a legacy he inherited from his father Bill Putnam, who was one of the innovators of modern recording technology with the founding of Universal Audio (www.uaudio.com), and bandmate Hussey's L.A.-based recording studio, comp ny (www.comp-ny.com).

As you might expect from a band featuring two engineers, the songs were meticulously crafted. Using Putnam's vintage Sphere Eclipse C console and lots of analog tape, the songs have a warm and layered sound while incorporating the spontaneity of a live performance. It's a refreshing balance not easily accomplished by most bands.

Radar Brothers are Jim Putnam, Be Hussey, and Stevie Treichel. Keyboard player Brian Cleary (The Movies) and guitarist Dan Iead (The Broken West) will join the new Radar Brothers touring band and play on future recordings.

www.radarbros.com
08/24/10
To celebrate the upcoming joint tour dates featuring Teenage Fanclub and Radar Brothers, we are having a sale! For a limited-time, get a bundle of Teenage Fanclub’s Shadows and Radar Brothers’ The Illustrated Garden on CD for only $21.98 with free domestic shipping!

While most bands are lucky to have one great songwriter, Teenage Fanclub are blessed with three, hence Shadows is overflowing with the kind of gorgeous, harmony-driven classics you’d expect to find on a greatest hits album.

The Illustrated Garden is the punchiest, most lyrically direct set of songs Radar Brothers’ has released to date. The songs are unmistakably Radar Brothers, but the Treichel/Hussey rhythm section often pushes them in unexpected directions.

Teenage Fanclub & Radar Brothers on tour:
9/24 Montreal, QC Le National
9/25 Boston, MA Royale
9/27 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
9/28 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
10/01 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
10/02 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
10/03 Millvale, PA Mr. Small’s Theater
10/05 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
10/06 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
10/07 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue
10/11 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theater
10/12 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore

08/23/10
Teenage Fanclub’s long-awaited North American tour in support of Shadows will begin September 22 in Toronto! Radar Brothers will join Teenage Fanclub on several dates in support of their latest release The Illustrated Garden.

Tickets are going fast for Teenage Fanclub’s previously announced September 27 Bowery Ballroom show, so they have added a second show at the Bowery Ballroom on September 28 (tickets on sale 8/25 at noon)! Radar Brothers will join Teenage Fanclub on both NYC dates and more that are listed below.

Don’t miss your chance to see this very special tour!

Teenage Fanclub North American tour:
* = w/ Radar Brothers
9/22 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
9/23 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
9/24 Montreal, QC Le National*
9/25 Boston, MA Royale*
9/27 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom*
9/28 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom*
9/28 New York, NY Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
9/30 Brooklyn, NY Williamsburg Waterfront w/ Belle and Sebastian
10/01 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero*
10/02 Washington, DC 9:30 Club*
10/03 Millvale, PA Mr. Small’s Theater*
10/05 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall*
10/06 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall*
10/07 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue*
10/11 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theater*
10/12 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore*
10/14 Seattle, WA Showbox w/ Superchunk & Telekinesis
10/15 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom w/ Superchunk & Telekinesis
10/16 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret

05/04/10
Spring has sprung and it is time for a new free Merge sampler! Featuring hit songs from the latest albums of Radar Brothers, Spoon, Let’s Wrestle, She & Him and more, visit amazon.com now to download all fourteen free songs with special cover art by Let’s Wrestle’s Wesley Patrick Gonzalez!

As always, you can find new albums from all of these artists and more in our handy Merge store.

Free Merge 2010 digital sampler track listing:
1. Radar Brothers – Horses Warriors (from The Illustrated Garden)
2. Let’s Wrestle – I Won’t Lie to You (from In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s)
3. Destroyer – The Very Modern Dance (from Streethawk: A Seduction)
4. Shout Out Louds – Fall Hard (from Work)
5. Spoon – Written in Reverse (from Transference)
6. Lou Barlow – Don’t Apologize (from Goodnight Unknown)
7. She & Him – Thieves (from Volume Two)
8. Superchunk – Learned to Surf (from Leaves in the Gutter)
9. Alec Bathgate – Glide (from Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox)
10. The Clientele – I Wonder Who We Are (from Bonfires on the Heath)
11. Caribou – Odessa (from Swim)
12. The Clean – In the Dreamlife U Need a Rubber Soul (from Mister Pop)
13. Wye Oak – I Hope You Die (from My Neighbor / My Creator)
14. Lambchop – Give It (from Live at XX Merge)

05/04/10
Radar Brothers have added some new tour dates including the Silverlake Jubilee and several shows opening for Modest Mouse to their summer show calendar! Don’t miss your chance to experience in person what The AV Club described as “that feeling of being happily sunbaked and mildly delirious, subsisting on pure sensory intake.”

The Illustrated Garden is available now in the Merge store!

Radar Brothers on tour (new dates in bold):
^ = w/ Modest Mouse
5/23 Los Angeles, CA Silverlake Jubilee
6/17 San Diego, CA  Soda Bar
6/18 Santa Cruz, CA  The Crepe Place
6/21 Portland, OR  Mississippi Studios
6/22 Seattle, WA  Sunset Tavern
6/24 San Francisco, CA  Rickshaw Stop
7/07 Tempe, AZ Yucca Tap Room
7/09 Santa Fe, NM Paolo Soleri Amphitheatre ^
7/10 Broomfield, CO First Bank Center ^
7/12 Sioux Falls, SD Ramkota Exhibit Hall ^
7/13 Fargo, ND Hub at the Venue ^
7/14 Minneapolis, MN Orpheum Theatre ^


04/06/10
Radar Brothers’ new album, The Illustrated Garden was released late last month to fabulous reviews, and now we have more opportunities for you to see them live!

As Spin described, the audience at our SXSW showcase was “smitten” as Radar Brothers played to a packed house. “The bros” have added new shows in southern California, and we are expecting more soon! Get your copy of The Illustrated Garden on CD and digital download now in the Merge store!

Radar Brothers on tour
4/17 Los Angeles, CA  Echo Curio
4/26 Los Angeles, CA  Echo
6/17 San Diego, CA  Soda Bar
6/18 Santa Cruz, CA  The Crepe Place
6/21 Portland, OR  Mississippi Studios
6/22 Seattle, WA  Sunset Tavern
6/24 San Francisco, CA  Rickshaw Stop

“Each track glows like a golden hour snapshot capturing a certain sunset idealism.” ~Pitchfork

“The record spins the mood that Radar Brothers fans have come to expect: that feeling of being happily sunbaked and mildly delirious, subsisting on pure sensory intake.” ~The Onion AV Club

“Singer/guitarist Putnam’s languid, dreamy songs are melodic, moody, and always a treat to listen to.” ~Tape Op

03/15/10
Merge will be well-represented at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin this year with eight bands and two special Our Noise events. Our bands will be playing all over the city during the festival, so if you will be in Austin, keep your eyes peeled for all of the cool daytime parties being announced daily.

Our helpful flyer is below – click to make it larger & to print it to take with you! Share the link on your twitter & Facebook, too!

Spoon are headlining the NPR show at Stubbs BBQ on Wednesday, March 17 (12:15 am) and She & Him are playing a free, open to the public show at Auditorium Shores on Saturday March 20 (8 pm).  Superchunk are playing a free Village Voice day party at La Zona Rosa on March 19 (3 pm).

Merge Showcase @ Cedar Street Courtyard
208 West 4th St b/t Colorado & Lavaca
Thursday, March 18th
7 PM
(from first to last)
Special Guest
Let’s Wrestle
Radar Brothers
She & Him
Wye Oak
Lou Barlow + the missingmen
The Love Language


Merge @ Homeslice Pizza’s “Music by the Slice” Party
1415 Congress Ave.
Free & Open to the public

Thursday, March 18:
1:30 pm The Love Language
2:15 pm Radar Brothers

Friday, March 19:
Noon Let’s Wrestle
3:45  Wye Oak
6:45  Lou Barlow

Also, book events!

Our Noise event @ Book People (603 N. Lamar Blvd)
Wednesday, March 17 at 6PM
Free & Open to the Public
Mac & Laura will read selections from their book, Our Noise, and will perform covers of songs from selected bands mentioned in the book. They’ll be available to sign books afterwards, too.

Our Noise panel @ SXSW Convention Center
Thursday, March 18 at 2PM
Open to convention registrants only
Michael Azerrad will moderate a Q&A-style event with Mac & Laura about Our Noise and 20 years of Merge Records.



01/07/10
On March 23, Radar Brothers will release The Illustrated Garden. Jim Putnam has found a new band of brothers in bass player Be Hussey and drummer Stevie Treichel, two partners who are equally passionate about the band.

The original line-up of Radar Brothers died on January 29th, 2008. The band was on stage at the Echo in Los Angeles playing the record release show for their new album, Auditorium. However, after a brief hiatus, the new configuration of Radar Brothers began with live performances.  Jim, Be and Stevie built a tight bond while touring together in the US and Europe. Writing together was the natural next step and March 23rd, 2010 represents the culmination of the Radar Brothers rebirth.

The Illustrated Garden is the punchiest, most lyrically direct set of songs the band has released to date. The songs are unmistakably Radar Brothers, but the Treichel/Hussey rhythm section often pushes them in unexpected directions.

Radar Brothers will perform at SXSW in March and a US tour is planned for early summer. Brian Cleary (The Movies), keyboard player and guitarist Dan Iead (The Broken West) will join Radar Brothers touring band and on future recordings.

Download a free MP3 of “Horses Warriors” from The Illustrated Garden now!

09.24.2010 Montreal, QC Le National w/ Teenage Fanclub
09.25.2010 Boston, MA Royale w/ Teenage Fanclub
09.27.2010 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom w/ Teenage Fanclub
09.28.2010 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom w/ Teenage Fanclub
10.01.2010 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre w/ Teenage Fanclub
10.02.2010 Washington, DC 9:30 Club w/ Teenage Fanclub
10.03.2010 Millvale, PA Mr. Small's Theater w/ Teenage Fanclub
10.05.2010 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall w/ Teenage Fanclub
10.06.2010 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall w/ Teenage Fanclub
10.07.2010 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue w/ Teenage Fanclub
10.11.2010 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theatre w/ Teenage Fanclub
10.12.2010 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore w/ Teenage Fanclub
And The Surrounding Mountains [cd] (Merge) 2002
Fallen Leaf Pages [cd] (Merge) 2005
Auditorium [cd] (Merge) 2008

Papillon (video)


Windows Media videofrom The Fallen Leaf Pages
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Papillon (video)


QuickTime videofrom The Fallen Leaf Pages
STREAM

When Cold Air Goes to Sleep (Video)


Quicktime Videofrom Auditorium
STREAM

Warm Rising Sun


from Auditorium
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On Tour

Arcade Fire [+]

September
02 Bologna Arena Parco Nord
10 Mexico City Palacio de los Deportes
22 St. Paul, MN Roy Wilkins Auditorium
23 Winnipeg, MB MTS Centre
25 Saskatoon Credit Union Centre
[see all]

Lou Barlow [+]

September
02 Cambridge, MA Middle East
03 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's
04 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's

Richard Buckner [+]

September
07 Charlottesville, VA The Southern
08 Asheville, NC The Grey Eagle
09 Columbia, SC Columbia Museum of Art
10 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Music Festival
11 Charlotte, NC Evening Muse
[see all]

Caribou [+]

September
14 Guelph, ON Ebar
15 Ottawa, ON Babylon
16 Montreal, QC Le National
17 Toronto, ON The Drake
17 Toronto, ON Phoenix Theatre
[see all]

The Clean [+]

September
28 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
29 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's
30 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
October
02 Lawrence, KS Granada Theater - SCION Festival
04 San Francisco, CA The Independent
[see all]

The Clientele [+]

September
06 Seattle, WA Bumbershoot
07 Portland, OR Doug Fir
09 Oakland, CA New Parish
10 San Francisco, CA Independent
11 Los Angeles, CA Echoplex
[see all]

Fucked Up [+]

September
05 Monticello, NY All Tomorrow's Parties
09 Washington, DC Rock n' Roll Hotel
10 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Festival
11 Atlanta, GA The Drunken Unicorn
12 Charlotte, NC Amos Southend
[see all]

Lambchop [+]

November
11 Berlin Admiralspalast - 20 Years of City Slang
22 Katowice Ars Cameralis Festival
24 Zagreb Kino SC
25 Munich Amerikahaus
27 Copenhagen DR Concert House
[see all]

Let's Wrestle [+]

September
04 Los Angeles, CA FYF Fest
05 Santa Barbara, CA Club Mercy Presents
06 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
08 Seattle, WA Neumo's
09 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre
[see all]

The Love Language [+]

September
03 Atlanta, GA The Earl
03 Atlanta, GA Criminal Records
04 Charlotte, NC Visulite Theatre
09 Winston Salem, NC Earshot Records
09 Winston Salem, NC Krankies
[see all]

Conor Oberst [+]

September
28 Pioneertown, CA Pappy & Harriets
30 Santa Barbara, CA Soho in SB
October
01 Big Sur, CA Fernwood
02 San Francisco, CA Hardly Strictly Bluegrass

Polvo [+]

November
05 Baton Rouge, LA Spanish Moon
06 Houston, TX Fitzgerald's Downstairs
07 Austin, TX Fun Fun Fun Fest at Waterloo

Radar Bros. [+]

September
24 Montreal, QC Le National
25 Boston, MA Royale
27 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
28 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
October
01 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre
[see all]

The Rosebuds [+]

September
10 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Festival

Shark Quest [+]

October
09 Carrboro, NC Carrboro ArtsCenter

She & Him [+]

September
05 Los Angeles, CA Paramount Studios
October
17 San Francisco, CA Treasure Island
22 Portland, OR Schnitzer Hall
23 Seattle, WA City Arts Music Festival - 5th Avenue Theatre
24 Vancouver, BC The Orpheum

Spoon [+]

September
11 Harrisburg, PA The Forum
12 Clark, NJ Oak Ridge Park
13 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
30 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium
October
01 San Diego, CA Soma
[see all]

Superchunk [+]

September
16 Durham, NC The Nasher Museum of Art
17 Washington 9:30 Club
18 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
19 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
21 Boston, MA Royale
[see all]

Teenage Fanclub [+]

September
22 Toronto, ON The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
23 Toronto, ON The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern
24 Montreal, QC Le National
25 Boston, MA Royale
27 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
[see all]

Telekinesis [+]

September
02 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
03 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
04 Toronto, ON El Mocambo
06 Montreal, QC Casa Del Popolo
07 Cambridge, MA TT The Bear's
[see all]

Versus [+]

September
21 Boston, MA Royale
22 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero Theatre

Wye Oak [+]

September
02 Cambridge, MA Middle East
03 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda's
04 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's
October
04 Lawrence, KS Bottleneck
05 Columbia, MO The Blue Note
[see all]
see all tour dates

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