Radio Free Alice Bring Their Live Energy to NYC and Philadelphia
- Emma Zoe Polyak
- Sep 19
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 27
Every once in a while, I stumble across a band I can’t remember discovering but feel as if I’ve been listening to forever. Lately, that band has been Radio Free Alice. The Australian four-piece, made up of Noah Learmonth (vocals, guitar), Jules Paradiso (guitar), Michael Phillips (bass, saxophone), and Lochie Dowd (drums), may be new to some, but their sound carries the familiarity of an instant favorite.
I was lucky enough to catch Radio Free Alice twice during their U.S. tour, with stops in both New York and Philadelphia. At Union Pool in Brooklyn, a packed room confirmed I wasn’t the only one who felt the band had something special.
Both nights began with sets from Zastava, a Detroit-based post-punk band who set the tone for a rocking night. While their songs leaned edgier than Radio Free Alice, the two sets complemented each other, warming up the crowd before kicking things loose.
Radio Free Alice’s set opened with “Empty Words,” the title track from their recent EP, before moving through other songs from the new project, including “Toyota Camry” and “Chinese Restaurant.” Older favorites like “Paris is Gone,” “Johnny,” and “Waste of Space” rounded out the night, giving a cohesive overview of the band’s discography. With only three EPs and a handful of singles released so far, the set was short, but it still captured the essence of what makes Radio Free Alice compelling live.
Their tour continues throughout North America, and with a string of sold-out UK shows behind them, plus recent support slots for Irish band Inhaler, it’s clear that Radio Free Alice are just getting started. After seeing them live twice, it’s easy to see why – their music already feels familiar, yet every performance has the spark of something new. One can only hope that more new music is on the way.
You can find more information about their upcoming dates here, and check out the full gallery from their Union Pool show here.
All Photos by Emma Zoe Polyak
