Latvian Radio

Latvian Radio will play Mercury Lounge in New York July 26th. With their upcoming 10th album “Let Go” (due out in September) the band has set out to make a career statement and their most ambitious album to date. New songs will be premiered at this gig!

The latest Latvian Radio album “Off we go” was released in 2024 and was quickly getting plenty of appreciation such as lots of airtime on US college radio. It was among the top 10 most added new albums in its first week of release, and number 8 on the alternative/SubModern north American college chart Submodernreport. The first single and the song to kick off the album was the hard driving “Tan Lines” (watch the video below).

One of the last few great rock magazines still standing in print form, the Big Takeover Magazine, gave it an early rave review:
“A red herring mixing Lyres/Fleshtones garage rock with traces of Blur Britpop. Jangly/punky Flying Nun-inspired and rustic Replacements-like. Equally savory pleasures!” “Tell Pam with the tan lines to stop giving me the runaround already. I’ve had a crush on her ever since I saw them.”

— Jack Rabid, The Big Takeover Magazine (US)

With that release, their first ever on vinyl, Latvian Radio relished once again in their own brand of lyrically charged indie-powerpop and hard driving melodic hooks reminiscent of Buzzcocks, The Replacements and Big Star. 

Latvian Radio is led by Swedish singer, guitarist and songwriter Patric Westöö. The production and plenty of the playing was done by Mark Poole in West Virginia and Jon Gordon (now sadly gone) in New York.
The other band members are Kim Monday (keys and back up vocals), Dilip Chandran (bass) and Adam Jones (drums).

Records are available for purchase from Belpid Records (just mail us) and in person at Gerosa Records in Brookfield, CT and Bruised Apple books & records in Peekskill, NY in the States, and at Pet Sounds in Stockholm. 

Here’s an interview Patric Westöö did with Spanish Careta Radio in December 2022:

About the previous album ‘Phooey’ (2021):

“Patric Westoo sure isn’t losing his power-pop touch. Nor has the band lost its flair on Phooey’s many mid-temp rockers. That’s why it’s fun/striking, and not unwelcome, that they begin on such a different tack. As if to throw us off their regular scent. Westoo punches out a faster punk/Flying Nun blend on “Sliding Down A Ladder” then “Make Believe”, with equal success. Turns out any Latvian Radio is good radio.”
– Jack Rabid, the Big Takeover Magazine

“Patric Westoo returned to his power-pop roots with his latest effort Phooey! as it recalls Chris Stamey, R.E.M., and The Plimsouls with its catchy jangle on the opening gems “Sliding Down A Ladder” and “Make Believe.” The echoing beat of “Waiting On A Letter” is another winner with its bluesy guitar flourishes over the dense jangling rhythm. The late 60s psyche-pop influences are still there with the catchy “Out This Door,” but the best song here is the bouncy gem “Bloody Mary Me Marie” about meeting a girl at a chance encounter. The chorus echoes out the lyrics and the instrumentation is top-notch here.
The album’s second half doesn’t match that effort, but it still contains great songs like “Not Anymore” and “Genie In Bottle Alright.” The songwriting here is another strength under the surface, as the lone ballad “The Simple Kind” shows a maturity to Westoo’s storytelling ability. This album is a grower that requires a few spins before it sinks in, and it’s worth the effort. Highly Recommended.”
– Powerpopoholic

Latvian Radio has spent almost two decades now crafting their own brand of melodic, boisterous indie/power-pop to critical acclaim. Amplifier Magazine labeled their songs as “Music as both entertainment and art. Truly the best variety.”

After releasing three solo albums, NY based singer/songwriter Patric Westöö, teamed up with longtime Morgantown, WV friends Kim Monday (multi instrumentalist and director of Frozen Sound recording studio), Mark Poole (63 Eyes and Phantom Six) and Brian Porterfield (Cheap Truckers Speed) to form The B-sides in 2002. Their songs were short, raw, uncompromising and delivered with a great pop-sensibility. They released “Troubleshooting” in 2003. The opening track, “Letter To the National Enquirer”, was nominated for best rock song at the independent “Just Plain Folks Music Awards” in Santa Ana, CA.

When the time came to release their second record it was apparent that their name, the B-Sides, was taken many times over. They decided a change was necessary and went with Latvian Radio. Same raw energy, armed with stronger songs and a bigger more elaborate sound. Their ever evolving lineup also included Jason Victor (Dream Syndicate) on guitar, Alex Baker (Skull Practitioners) on drums and Patrick Derivaz (Tom Verlaine) on bass. 

Latvian Radio has been a mainstay on college radio since their independent 2006 release “Happiness Above A Hardwood Floor”. San Francisco based “Bagel Radio” had them in the top 5 for three straight weeks and “Saturday Left Her On The Floor” made their list of top 50 songs of 2006. Their second album “Seven Layers Of Self Defense” in 2009 made the CMJ top 200 chart for five straight weeks. Absolute Power Pop had it on their best records of the year list in 2009, “For love & spite” made it into the top 10, and listed again in 2016 for “Until tomorrow gets in the way”. Powerpopaholic wrote: “Overall a terrific album without a wasted track”.

With the release of “Give In To The Night” they made their most prolific and ambitous album to date. It blends their signature melodic hooks with angular, abrasive guitars and at times a stark post-punk ambiance.
It has the endless melodic hooks you have come to expect but is equally fueled by a dark and weary undercurrent in the wake of a world that can’t get out of its own way. It explores even deeper into the psyche of prolific songwriter Patric Westöö, and his sonically dense, yet impossibly melodic backing band. 

The press has also linked Latvian Radio to the likes of Elvis Costello & the Attractions, the Replacements, the Shins, the Decemberists, New Pornographers, Big Star and early REM.

PRESS:

“Heartfelt, clever lyrics and sonically intelligent, the boisterous LATVIAN RADIO relishes an underground garage sound with the feel of sunshine pop.”
– Amplifier Magazine

“Six prior LPs established pedigree, Give In To The Night steps up their game.”
“2017’s gem Pick Your Poison, Pick Your Blues revealed their maturation, but
perfecting that craft is in order here.”
“There’s something glorious about these big chorus hooks, multidimensional new wave flecks, 1965 Kinks bounce, plus crafty, welcome political distaste.” “Smart, mellifluously melodic candy”

– Jack Rabid, Big Takeover Magazine

“If you are Into early REM or the Replacements, give these guys a shot.”
– Alan Cross, A Journal Of Musical Things

“One of my favorites.”
– Absolute Powerpop

“The type of underground college radio phenomenon that we all came for.”
-WLUR 91.5 Music Review

“A stellar take on the power-Pop style. Lyrics have a unique substance to them
that maintain a slight catchiness while riding a groove.”
– MoAf Magazine

Discography