[Exclusive Interview]: Sub-Radio’s Exuberant Live Show at DC’s Songbyrd

Cupe · August 22, 2018

On August 12th, Sub-Radio took on their home district with a killer show at the DC venue Songbyrd in Adams Morgan

Hailing from Northen Virginia in the suburbs of bustling Washington DC, this alt-rock sextet has re-affirmed that there really is strength in numbers. Consisting of Adam Bradley (lead vocals), Michael Chinen (guitar/keys/backing vocals), Matt Prodanovich (guitar/backing vocals), John Fengya (keys/guitar/backing vocals ), Michael Pereira (drums/backing vocals), and Barry Siford (bass), their upbeat sound and powerful dynamic lends to a captivating live show experience.

After a summer of Virginia touring, Sub-Radio was able to secure a slot at Songbyrd, a trendy venue in DC’s hip neighborhood Adam’s Morgan, last Sunday night. The venue screams good vibes, a momentum Sub-Radio was able to capitalize on during their set. Part venue, part bar, part coffee and vinyl shop, Songbyrd was far from lacking in atmosphere, which made it easy for me to get comfy with the Sub-Radio guys and chat before their set. Their energy was contagious as my excitement almost began to match their’s throughout our conversation. It was hard to ignore how friendly and easy they were to talk to. It was clear they were all very close, and they made it very easy for me to feel comfortable. It was my most conversational, relaxed yet interesting interview to date. There is an amazing personality behind their music, and it is a privilege to serve as a medium and voice to share that.

The most important thing to know about this band is that their relationship is everything. After gradually forming in high school, ten years later they have become the show stoppers they are today. They were friends who became colleagues, maintaining a level of professionalism and a strong work ethic by sharing a collective goal in making music (a goal they have truly achieved). On their friendship, vocalist Adam Bradley said it simply “I don’t know how people do it other ways.” He elaborated that in terms of their creative process, their basis of a strong friendship has allowed for a mutual respect that can withstand any disagreement or argument. Drummer Michael Pereira added that “it allows us to be more safely creative and honest” and guitarist Matt Prodanovich added that it’s just so much easier being able to really know his bandmate’s tendencies and perceptions on that deeper level that a friendship allows when it comes to making music. Their focus on that strong bond is so integral to their band that after the release of their EP Headfirst they took personality assessments (administered by Pereira’s mother!) to learn more about what kind of individuals they were in order to increase their productivity and really understand how each member works with each other. The key to a really successful band dynamic, though, is to “treat it like a job” said Bradley.

Songbyrd was LIT thanks sm for coming out @songbyrddc Shoutout to the massive pillow-chair backstage . . . . . #music #indie #indiemusic #band #dc #pop #indiepop #dance #rock #indierock #indiepoprock #alternative #altrock #tunes #vibes #feels #mood #musician #drums #guitar #synth #keys #bass #songbyrd #show #pillow #mmm

A post shared by Sub-Radio (@subradioband) on Aug 13, 2018 at 9:32am PDT

Yes, Sub-Radio is a job first, but it is an honest reflection of their friendship in a close second place. Their presence as a band is a clear indication of that, evoking that friendly and welcoming energy in every moment of their live show. Guitarist Mike Chinen put it plainly that his favorite thing about performing was “playing the music you love with the people you love.” Their comradery on stage quickly creates a fun environment for their audience, something they strive for. “[The live show] is a party atmosphere, but there are lots of parties, so we want it to be fun and exuberant but also welcoming,” said Bradley on the overall experience of their performance. “Its a party without a list at the door,” he added, and their Songbyrd performance was no exception.

They kicked off the show with a high energy that maintained throughout the night, playing fan favorites from their first album and their recent EP Headfirst. It was amazing to see a crowd so engaged from the very start, singing along to each song. Being in that audience I felt instantly connected, there was a mutual love in the air and we were all riding the same musical high. Their stage presence was unmatched, as they all played together in a way that made you feel like you were up on stage with them in the most engaging and alluring sense. You could really tell they were having the time of their lives up on stage, and it was a great energy that everyone could feed off of. Spirits were high and plenty, as Bradley transitioned from his usual setlist to some unexpected but pleasantly surprising covers including Fall Out Boy’s “Sugar We’re Going Down,” Panic! at the Disco’s “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” and Earth Wind and Fire’s “September.” Great choices to keep the vibes better than ever.

All in all, Sub-Radio put on one of my favorite shows to date. They created such a positive and memorable space by simply being themselves and putting forward great energy that their audience was more than willing to project back. It was an unforgettable experience, to say the least. After ten years of long hard work, this is just the start of Sub-Radio and they seem to have a very promising future ahead of them. Constantly working on new stuff, it’s safe to say we can be expecting new music real soon. Their goals for the upcoming year include more live shows (yay!), more festivals, and definitely (certainly) a ton of more music.

Some parting words from the band to our readers include some advice for anyone young and trying to make it big in the music world:

“Sometimes this takes a long time so just be patient, start early and work hard, if you don’t see the return immediately man keep working – Because if you’re good, and you believe in it and you set your self to a high standard then people are gonna recognize that and appreciate that and you’re gonna find success” – Michael Pereira