When two people who are as talented as David Andrew Sitek and Tunde Adebimpe come together to make music, nothing less than an eclectic blend of influences and styles could ensue. Music producer Sitek and vocalist Adebimpe, are both visual artists, musicians, and painters; and they came together in 2001 to form TV on the Radio.
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The SEC recently announced that this semester’s Big Show would feature TV on the Radio with Austra as the opening act. Deemed “one of the most innovative bands of the 2000s” by Rolling Stone Magazine, TV on the Radio is a Brooklyn-based quintet that incorporates an assorted mix of elements into its music, ranging from electronics to free jazz to soul.
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In 2003, the band broke out into the music scene with the release of Young LiarsEP and the addition of three new members: guitarist Kyp Malone, drummer Jaleel Bunton, and bassist Gerard Smith. Young Liars, a mix of post-punk electronic sound with hints of traditional African musical influence, found critical acclaim. The band’s first full-length album, Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes hit stores in the spring of 2004.
David Bowie makes an appearance on the band’s third album, Return to Cookie Mountain, in the song “Province.” This time, TVR won “Album of the Year” by Spin Magazine. They also landed a spot on the Late Show with David Letterman, performing a rendition of arguably their most popular hit, “Wolf Like Me.”
Before taking a hiatus in 2009, TV on the Radio came out with Dear Science,an album filled with lyrics about death and dying, but considered by Pitchfork to be the band’s “slickest, catchiest, and potentially most popular LP.”
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The band ended their hiatus this year with the release of their newest album Nine Types of Light, in April.
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Mixing romance with politics, TV on the Radio continues to produce music that captivates its listeners with a unique sound and fusion of influences. Let us know if you think the concert will be hit or miss in the comments below!
TV on the Radio will perform in the Skidmore Gymnasium on Friday, Oct. 7 from 8-11 pm. Tickets will be available from Sept. 20 until the day of. Student price is $8; Public tickets are $25.