Music
Press
"smart, tight melodies" and "superior production." - College Music Journal
"Tim Hort's band The Radio Hour's self-titled album is a mix of dreamlike musings and melancholy stories... Dynamaic guitars and masterful lyrics...While obviously holding the lyrical and musical talent to write complex melodies and lyrics, Hort keeps things delightfully sparse, leaving enough room for the listener to delve into each word and note." - Chicagogigs.com
"Hort is a strong, emotional singer, who along with his band, creates melodic tunes like "Except for a Dead-on Girl," and "Centrifugal." - Illinois Entertainer
"... an accomplished effort, ripe for WXRT airplay. Frontman Tim Hort's confessional songwriting style pairs earnest lyrics with strident guitar and a full-bodied backing sound to achieve a polished and professional end product." - Illinois Entertainer
"...Could really reach the Top of the Pops. Hort is a fine songwriter and the band grabs the material and runs with it." - Illinois Entertainer
"..The Radio Hour has a conviction all its own, still discovering the nature of pain and experience, measuring, years before judging." - Lollipop Magazine
"...confessional lyrics, melodic hooks and a dark and sometimes Psychedelic spin. That's Chicago's "The Radio Hour." - The Capitol Times
The theatre production of the "Yellow Wallpaper" capably "weaves together the suggestions of one woman's world unraveling in almost lyrical measures - aided by the unsettling music and sound design of (Radio Hour members) Tim Hort ande Joe Griffin." - Chicago Tribune
"...terrifically chilling." - Illinois Entertainer
"...reminiscent of Mitch Easter's (i.e. REM) best production work." - Chicago Tribune/Metromix
Discography
"The Radio Hour" 2007 EP
“The Radio Hour” Full-length CD (2003)
“World’s Worst Antenna” Full-length CD (1998)
Rollercoaster/ Frantic EP (1998)
2005 CD IMWS DiscMakers/Billboard Midwest Finalist (Comp)
“Here and Not Coming Back” Acoustic Single (2006)
“The Yellow Wallpaper” Soundtrack (2005)
Sample Reality (Comp)
Lollipop Issue #63 (Comp)
Lollipop Issue #64 (Comp)
Lollipop Issue #68 (Comp
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
A combination of southern gothic, surreal 70’s-prog, and folk-punk influences; a catalogue of stark, dark material with memorable hooks and dramatic swings in mood and presentation – “The Radio Hour” is a personal music experience that is unique and always seeking. Lollipop Magazine writes “The Radio Hour has a conviction all its own, still discovering the nature of pain and experience, measuring, years before judging.”
The Radio Hour is made of a veteran cast of studio and live pros. The band's live capabilties were recognized by 95.1FM as a feature of the"95.1 WIIL FM : YEAR'S BEST OF LIVE AND UNPLUGGED." Also, the band was selected as a finalist in the "2005 INDEPENDENT MUSIC WORLD SERIES - DISCMAKERS MIDWEST FINALIST,"when playing to a capacity crowd at Chicago's Elbo Room. Talent Buyers can expect intensity, musicality without pretense and a strong sense of theatre in every set.
Members of the band are vet players who have recently weekend venued at Chicago's Double Door (2006), Metro (2006), and well as long list including Schuba's, Aarogon Ballroom, Martyrs, Elbo Room, Empty Bottle, as well as Madison Art Fair on the Square, LA's "Whiskey-A-Go-Go." The Radio Hour line-up aims to continue in the tradition of its members during the 2006-2007 live performances in support of its new 2006 CD release.
Tim Hort has imposing frontperson presence in a live show, at times even reminiscent of Cash. Whether it is a full band gig in crowded bar or a solo acoustic performance in an early evening coffee shop, the music is revealing without the need for apology, with extremes from folk-punk to ctachy, yet biting, pop. The sound is Hort’s exposed search for redemption in music.
Hort’s first CD, a true-to-analog and somewhat pop effort, was selected by the College Music Journal: New Music Report as its A&R PICK. On the second full-length release, the self-titled The Radio Hour, Hort finds his own voice and takes his place as an original songwriter that’s worth exploring. On each track of The Radio Hour, Hort reaches for universal feelings usually kept private – his tools are surreal imagery, and confessional and at times, biting delivery. (The CD was engineered by Blaise Barton, whose credits include BOB DYLAN and LIZ PHAIR Phair). The CD is selling. Subsequent to the CD release, The Radio Hour was selected as a Midwest finalist in the 2005 DiscMakers/Billboard Independent Music World Series.
THE RADIO HOUR IS TOURING FOR 2006-2007 IN SUPPORT ITS FALL RELEASE EP. THE RADIO IS AVAILABLE NATIONALLY FOR BOOKINGS.
SOUNDS LIKE.....WHAT?
- "Cash as a folk-punk mix"
- "Pink Floyd joined by Paul Simon"
- "REM in an X-box"
- "edgier Mathew Sweet."
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