San Francisco's Tea Leaf Green are newfangled Lost Boys, a traveling
gang dedicated to seeking wisdom and experience in places both
glorious and seedy. In many ways, this quintet is the essence of
rock's adventurous, playfully outlaw spirit, all of which ultimately
fuels songs that resonate with classic vibrations, open-ended
possibilities and radio-ready charm. TLG are bruised romantics with
heavy minds and a lighthearted way with experimentation, as likely to
jam out a number as they are to nail a primo verse-verse-chorus pop
gem. All the steadily growing promise, evident since they began in the
late 1990s, comes to fruition on their seventh studio album, Radio
Tragedy!. With the aid of producer Jeremy Black (Apollo Sunshine), the
band has crafted a powerhouse work with the oomph of their stellar
live performances melded to a truly impressive array of vocal nuance,
rib-sticking song craft and smart studio flourishes. From the Bee
Gees-esque bite of 'Easy To Be Your Lover' to the bouncing modern rock
of 'You're My Star', Radio Tragedy showcases a contemporary American
rock monster fully emerging from the shadows, ready to take on any
comers with a sound that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with skilled
contemporaries like My Morning Jacket and The Strokes. Together,
Trevor Garrod (keys, vocals), Josh Clark (guitar, vocals), Scott Rager
(drums), Reed Mathis (bass, vocals) and newest member Cochrane
McMillan (drums) have made a record that's both timely and timeless -
a strange, beautiful space that Tea Leaf Green inhabits naturally and
gracefully.