If you are going here for MUSIC, listen up.
Radio has an upstairs and a downstairs to listen to bands. I went to see a band at Radio and they were playing downstairs.
Couldn't find a parking spot so I parked at the big supermarket right across the street. Paid my $5 cover charge and went downstairs to see my band. There were 3 other bands on the bill, too. As I went downstairs I started to smell something. I then bumped into the kitchen, pretty much wide open. Walked past a ladies room and around the corner. Then, there it was. The band area. Maybe a 15 x 15 foot area, total. Right next to the men's room. No chairs, no stage lights. Dropped ceiling with fluorescent lights and linoleum floor. And I was still trying to figure out that smell.
Someone from Radio dragged in a table/bar thing and started serving beer. There was a tiny PA system thing that the band was trying to figure out. No sound person, but it looked like this was a Radio house PA. The band started playing to an empty room (except for the other band members!!) and it was very loud because it was such a small empty room with horrible acoustics.
Went into the ladies room and read a sign posted in there that said "don't park in the supermarket lot because you will be towed". Then I realized what that smell was. Sewage.
This place has to be the worst place to see a band on the whole East Coast.
Really great place. The beer was reasonably priced and the owner was a sweetheart.
The crowd is very young and yes, even hipstery. That being said, all of the bartenders were very nice. Seems like a good place to come lounge when it's a little quiet and also rage when the band plays.
Bands were good.
I would definitely come back again.
Tuck away here and listen to some good local bands. Â I am a fan of any place supporting the local music scene.
I would, however, like to make a suggestion. Â I would like there to be a hipster claw machine somewhere in the city and I feel like this place would be perfect. Â Fill it up with cheap hipster inspired glasses, 90's cds and horrible bumper stickers. Â That would be so fun.
I digress. Â A lot. Â
The spot for the stage is, indeed, right at the entrance. Â The bar is tucked away in the back. Â There is a platform area to watch the bands and hang out. Â It was spacious enough and I thought the drinks were priced fine. Â I will be rocking out here a bit more often. Â WAY more often if they do a hipster claw machine.
Wow. Talk about a terrible experience. When you go to a place that stresses how much they want to support the local music scene and then get there and learn that they want to do the exact opposite it's pretty disheartening.
I can't tell if the owners are just trying to rip people off or if they just have no idea how to run a proper business. Either way I will definitely NEVER be going back and be sure to tell all my friends the same.
Besides the fact that the entire operation is horribly managed/potentially a scam - Â there were a few other reasons I'll never give them my business:
The sound guy was horrible and couldn't manage to keep the feedback under control. I've heard better sound in a basement.
The drinks were ridiculously overpriced, especially considering your surroundings, and every drink I got tasted like water. So I basically was overpaid for a cranberry flavored water.
The show was supposed to start at 8 but no live music was played until 9:30. Not sure if that was a ruse to get people to drink more or if they are just that incompetent.
The overall atmosphere is horrible and made especially so by the melancholy staff who seems to be pissed to have customers to deal with.
Also I recently found out they are pay to play which totally contradicts their message of supporting local small musicians. Clearly they just want to take advantage of smaller bands instead of helping to promote them.
If you want to support the local music scene go to a venue that knows how to do that like T.T.'s, Yes.Oui.Si or Great Scott. Stay away from the money hungry people at Radio.
This place is awesome. The atmosphere is fantastic. One of the few places in Boston where you can chill out and watch some awesome live music in a friendly atmosphere that isn't too stuffy or full of a bunch of drunk college kids.
The bar prices are totally reasonable. This may just be my new favorite bar.
I loved this bar! Â Really a welcome addition to the generally subpar Boston music scene. Â There's a mixed crowd, good acoustics, places to sit and lounge, and a large open space to dance. Â
Also do a good job of booking diverse acts:  everything from Hey Marseilles  (a fantastic band out of Seattle), local acts, tributes, etc...
They need to do something about the layout of this space - it's just... awkward. The stage is right next to the entrance, so when you come in, you have this narrow little walkway next to the band & their equipment. It's distracting for the people watching the show, & I'm sure it's distracting for the band. The lighting is terrible, & really needs to be adjusted when there's a performance going on (at which point, it's no longer a bar with a stage, it's a venue, & adjustments to lighting should be made.) There's also an odd mix of lounge-y type seating, tables, & space for standing - & it's all haphazardly placed. They need to take it all out, think about how people are going to actually use the space, & then put it back.
The bar needs some work. Wildly overpriced drinks - I ordered a "dirty water," which was rye & lemonade, & got what was pretty much lemonade with a dash of rye. For $9. If I wanted a lemonade, I'd walk to a bodega, buy one for $2, & drink that. I gave it a second try, this time asking for more rye in it - & it wasn't much of an improvement over the first. But they do serve drinks in nice glasses, so, um... there's that.
That said, it's not a terrible performance space. Sound is decent & it's easy to see the band. I saw the Wooden Sky here the other night, & it was a nice place for it. I don't know what sort of sound ordinances are in place for Somerville on a Tuesday night, but at about 11, they had to stop using the PA & went acoustic.
When I first moved here I searched and searched for a club that would somehow compare to one of the many you'd find in San Francisco. But after a year I was dishearted by the bad music, typical college folk, segregation, and drunken bar fights. Last Friday I was invited to Radio for a Prince Tribute and I almost thought I was back in the Bay.
The best music I've heard come out of a club since living in Boston. Though the arrangement could have been better, you can't beat the badass 80's band footages and an amazing collection of Prince and New Wave comps.
It's the first time in a long time I walked into a place where folks just didn't care. Everyone getting their dance on, queens feeling comortable, strangers making out, and everyone just having a good time enjoying the company.
Drinks are poured hard... Too hard. And $5 admission allowed me a pretty damn good time.
I was so excited for Radio to open in Union Square. Â It was going to be nice to have a place to see shows in the area!
I went there for the first time this week. I got there somewhat late as the last band was playing. I was charged $10.00 to get in and only stayed for about 10 minutes. Â $10 is too expensive. Â The Great Scott charges $12.00 for one of my favorite bands to play who is well-known across the country. (The Great Scott is the best!) Â So $10 for some shitty-ass band was not agreeing with me. Â Also, when you know the bands are a bunch of nobodies, you want the "local music scene" supported so that it makes your bar "hip", AND the person shows up toward the end (missing most of the other bands), why don't you give them a discounted rate? $3 or $5...and hope they spend money at your pathetic bar. Â Also, the bouncer should probably think to give someone a refund when they pay $1/minute in the place.
Lonestars $5. Give me a break. Â Weak mixed drinks $7. Â Too expensive when you are trying to give the whole cool, hip and ironic dive bar vibe. Â Not to mention the bar's selection, like I said, pathetic. Â
I will not be going to Radio again. Â I'm still figuring out what exactly they are trying to do. Â Mimic the Model? I never thought I'd say this, but they can't touch the Model!
The Ogre at the door......
"Who dares enter my establishment and spends good money so that my owner might be able to keep the doors open!!!". Â This was the general feelings of patrons on Thursday night 2/9/12. Â The most obnoxious, rude, self-centered, useless door-man that's ever been and ever will be. Â I mean, what is someone like this doing in a position where they are the first person you encounter at a club? Â He had an obvious disdain for all those who entered; cursing at people who didn't have their ID's out and ready, physically threatening bodily harm. Â This illegitimate son of King Kong meets Mrs. Butterworth would be better off working alone at a salt mine on Mars.
Other than that, the music sounded great and we managed to have a good time despite the door stop.
I was definitely less than impressed with my first trip to Radio. The club itself is pretty nice, but the staff were, honestly, terrible. The seemed extremely sullen over the fact that a bunch of people wanted to come to their business and give them a bunch of money. I was sitting at the bar finishing a drink and the two people working were openly making fun of the band playing. It's like...I obviously like the band, I paid money to see them and I'm sitting right here looking at you, a--holes. Clearly we can't all be as cool as the bartender rocking the Target-bought 'Rolling Stones' distressed t-shirt but show a little respect to the people paying your bills. They also served what was literally the worst Whiskey Sour I've ever had.
Review Source:This place is promising. Â The question is will enough cool people filter in to make it worthwhile. Â Regardless, it's 10x cooler than the moribund PA's Lounge or Paddy O'whatevers down the street. Â This place only charges a $5 cover and seems to have good bands. Â Union Square is "not there yet," but if it ever arrives, Radio will help lead the charge.
Review Source:Thrilled that this place opened in the Boston area. Â Top floor is a small indie venue, and the only one I've been to in the area with great drinks to boot. Â There are $3 PBRs and a cocktail menu that includes several great original drinks, or a beer+whisky shot for $10. Â Decor shows a focus on music and drinks more than anything else- there are vestiges of the former Club Choices including pillars with mirrors from floor to ceiling, though now the walls are exposed brick. Â The only art is a giant painting of Rocky punching frozen meat.
In summary- great local bar, even better venue. Â Looking forward to seeing the sports bar that is supposed to open in the basement by sometime in November.
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