Radiation City

Last updated
Radiation City
Radiation City.jpg
Radiation City in March 2013 at Treefort Music Festival in Boise, Idaho
Background information
Origin Portland, Oregon, United States
Genres Indie rock
Years active2010 (2010)-2016
Labels Tender Loving Empire, Apes Tapes, Polyvinyl Record Co.
MembersCameron Spies
Elisabeth Ellison
Randy Bemrose
Matt Rafferty
Patti King
Website www.radiationcity.net

Radiation City was an American indie rock band that began in Portland, Oregon, in 2010. [1] [2] The band consisted of Cameron Spies (guitar, vocals), Elisabeth Ellison (vocals, keyboards), Randy Bemrose (drums, vocals), Matt Rafferty (bass, vocals), and Patti King (vocals, keys, bass). There were two couples in the band. [1] [3] [4] The band released four albums: Cool Nightmare, The Hands That Take You, Animals in the Median, and Synesthetica. [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] The band was signed to the Polyvinyl Record Co. label. [15] [16] [17] [18]

Contents

History

Radiation City was initially composed of Lizzy Ellison and her boyfriend Cameron Spies, adding drummer Randy Bemrose for their second show, and bassist Matt Rafferty for their third. [6] Their debut album The Hands That Take You was originally released in February 2011 on Ellison and Spies own cassette-only label Apes Tapes. After garnering interest through their live shows, they were picked up by the record label Tender Loving Empire and the album was re-released nationally on September 27, 2011. [16] Time called this debut release "charmingly evocative". [2] After the addition of multi-instrumentalist Patti King they followed their debut up with the Cool Nightmare EP released on April 10, 2012. [19] A music video was recorded for the song "Find it of Use" from this release. [19] Their second full-length album, Animals in the Median was released on May 21, 2013 to positive reviews. [7] [8] [11] [12] [13] In 2015, Radiation City signed to Polyvinyl Record Co. and announced their third full-length album, Synesthetica. The album was released on February 12, 2016. [20]

The band broke up in November 2016. [21]

On June 22, 2018, the band released a final 6-track EP titled Coda. [21]

A post to the band's Instagram page on January 23, 2024 announced a reunion show, to be played at Mississippi Studios on June 21, 2024. [22]

Discography

Studio albums

YearTitleLabel
2011 The Hands That Take You Tender Loving Empire
2013 Animals In the Median
2016 Synesthetica Polyvinyl Record Co.

Extended plays

YearTitleLabel
2012 Cool Nightmare Tender Loving Empire
2018 Coda Polyvinyl Record Co.

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References

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  2. 1 2 Locker, Melissa (7 August 2012). "11 Great Bands You Don't Know (But Should)". Time. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  3. "RADIATION CITY : PORTLAND BAND BIO". The Rainy Day Show. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
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  10. "'Foreign Bodies' by Radiation City - Free MP3". Rolling Stone. 26 March 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
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  13. 1 2 Graham, William. "Animals in the Median Radiation City, your past, present & future – on cassette!". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  14. "Synesthetica by Radiation City". Metacritic .
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  20. Roberts, Christopher. "Radiation City Sign to Polyvinyl, Announce New Album, and Share "Juicy"". Under the Radar . Retrieved 3 March 2016.
  21. 1 2 "Radiation City / Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved 2018-06-29. Radiation City formed in 2010 and ended in November of 2016...
  22. @radiationcity (2024-01-23). "We'll be playing at our favorite spot in town @mississippistudios with other guests TBA, on June 21st" via Instagram.