Bronze Radio Return at Bowery Ballroom

Chris Henderson

Bronze Radio Return's vocalist/guitarist Chris Henderson started his first band in elementary school in Belfast, Maine. While in high school, he toured New England on weekends in Ben Block’s Big Bad Blues Band. During his junior year of college, he was in a blues band that needed a singer, so he stepped forward. He formed the indie-roots band Bronze Radio Return in 2007 with fellow music school students in Hartford, Connecticut, recruiting lead guitarist Patrick "Packy" Fetkowitz, keyboardist Matt Warner, bassist Bob Tanen, and drummer Rob Griffith. The name Bronze Radio Return was inspired by an old bronze-colored radio Henderson enjoyed listening to as a child in his father's art studio in Maine. Although the band's name is not commonly recognized, the band's music has been placed more than 100 times in commercials, sports campaigns and television and film soundtracks, permitting the band to live off of licensing rather than product sales. Furthering its marketing potential, Bronze Radio Return will release its fifth studio album, Entertain You, tomorrow, February 22, 2019.

After a three-year absence, Bronze Radio Return returned to the Bowery Ballroom tonight to introduce songs that would be available for purchase the following day. Perhaps enthused by this prospect, the musicians remained energized and cheerful throughout the set. Bronze Radio Return embraced roots rock, but labeling the band as Americana would be a stretch. The throwback folk-rock elements were still evident, but the band's traditional backdrop bowed before a heaping load of polished pop sensibility. As such, many of the songs galloped to bombastic levels as choruses strutted into sing-along anthems, while the few softer songs in contrast were laced with rolling cinematic textures. The music's upbeat rhythms and positive charisma turned the evening into a lively dance party somewhere between a country hoedown and an urban basement bash.