In Review: Radio Free Alice at Schubas Tavern

Photos by Meriah Fearon

This past Tuesday, I went to see Melbourne based band, Radio Free Alice, at Schubas Tavern. While the show was stop number forty-one on their tour, it was their first ever show played in Chicago. 

Dressed in their signature navy blue button-up shirts, Radio Free Alice walked out with a strong attitude of confidence that set the stage for a fantastic performance. The group has been on the road touring the US, UK, and Canada since July, but still performed like it was their first stop. 

It's always interesting to see what kind of crowd a band draws in and how they set the mood for audience behavior. In our digital age, it can be nerve-wracking to let loose in a crowd without the constant feeling of being perceived. This crowd, however, strayed pretty far from the usual stiff head nodding in place. It was like the music unlocked a space where people were comfortable to act in whatever way they wanted, dancing, singing, and feeling free to be themselves.

The group just put out their third EP called Empty Words; the main emphasis of this tour. The songs from the EP held their own throughout the set, but I found the highlights to be in the performance of two of their older songs: Spain and I Gotta (Fall in Love). Both songs felt like tonal shifts that kept the crowd on their toes. Spain being more slow and moody, and I Gotta (Fall in Love) being fast and hard hitting, remnant in sound to classic punk acts like Richard Hell. While the band has a clear cohesive sound, their songs all stand alone as memorable in one way or another, which made for a set that kept me feeling engaged from start to finish. 

Days later I am still left thinking about my experience at the show. It’s clear that Radio Free Alice will be making a big impact on the post punk scene. I hope to see the band again the next time they play in Chicago, and the next time, and the next time. 

Radio Free Alice has a few dates left on their US/Canada tour. Click the link here to see if they are making a stop near you.