Pop Music Reviews : Despite Party Spirit, Radiators Serve Up a Watered-Down Set

The Grateful Dead has its Deadheads and Jimmy Buffett has his Parrot Heads. At the Palomino on Friday was a phenomenon that falls somewhere in between: the New Orleans band the Radiators and its loyal following, the Fish Heads (the name refers to the ichthyologic orientation of the group’s album cover art).

Musically and culturally, a Radiators concert is a cross between the Dead’s jamming communal ethos and Buffett’s Margaritaville frat party. The Palomino was packed with a dancing mix of latter-day hippies and Yuppies letting their guard down for the weekend.

In truth, though, the Radiators seem to be musically descended from Little Feat. So what we have is an oddity--a New Orleans band (the Radiators) influenced by a Los Angeles group (Little Feat) that was influenced by New Orleans music. It’s somewhat like all those ‘60s American garage bands who were influenced by British rockers who were themselves emulating American blues and soul.

As such, the Radiators’ style seemed watered-down in Friday’s show. The band, which has been at this for some 13 years, showed neither the rhythmic intricacies nor lyrical twists of Little Feat. Undercutting the Radiators’ undeniable good-time spirit and instrumental flights was the knowledge that there are dozens of bands in the Crescent City that offer more.