Motel Radio Brings Beach Rock to Boston
by Angelee Gonzalez
Upon walking into the Great Scott in Allston, you’d have no idea a concert was about to happen. The bar’s backstage was barely lit; a few plants, Tex-Mex blankets, and miniature light bulbs were placed against amps. The only sign of a band’s performance was a colorful splash on the bass drum, with Motel Radio faintly printed above it.
Motel Radio’s music is made for sunny days spent on the beach, but the group is actually based in New Orleans. Drawing from their city’s musical influences while adding their own style, Motel Radio blends surf rock, indie rock, and Americana to create their signature sound.
The band of five is led by two singing and guitar-playing frontmen, Ian Wellman and Winston Triolo, who frequently bounce off each other’s playful energy during performances. Wellman typically leads in singing, and his melodic and emotionally-driven voice makes this no surprise. Triolo’s had a few moments to show off his own singing abilities, and his tender voice, when it exists on its own, is unexpected and refreshing. The musical talents of Andrew Pancamo (bass), Eric Lloyd (drums), and David Hart (keys) are not overpowering, but not shy, either.
Once Motel Radio took the stage, Triolo asked the crowd if anyone had seen the group before, to which an almost unanimous cheer followed. Motel Radio gained exposure back in Summer 2019 when they opened for Austin-based beach rock band Summer Salt. Summer Salt’s tour was also my first time seeing Motel Radio perform, and they immediately appealed to me for their similar sound with added Americana flair.
This flair was especially strong in their performance at the Great Scott in Allston. There’s something about the richness of Wellman’s voice and the band’s multifaceted musicality that gives Motel Radio an undiscovered superstar quality.
Opening with “Ego Death” perfectly showcased Motel Radio’s versatility. With an unbelievable range, Wellman’s vocals soared above the rhythm’s twangs and ascending chords. “Star of the South” and Motel Radio’s most recent release “In My Blood” had a similar appeal, shocking the crowd with the musicians’ attention to detail and harmony.
From the very first note, “Midnight” made the room feel like a dream. As the song built up, Wellman encouraged audience members to “hug the person you came with, and tell them how much you love them.” Romantic acoustic melodies and soft snares melted with warm vocal harmonies, transporting listeners to a slow dance under the stars. It was at this moment that Motel Radio had won the hearts of the crowd.
Around their set’s halfway point, it was clear that Motel Radio had settled into the show’s loving atmosphere. They no longer paused in between songs but rather filled in the spaces with elaborate transitions, seamlessly switching gears with explosive guitar rhythms and percussion-based buildups. During their last song, “Liquor Dreams,” Wellman and Lloyd switched their instruments and Lloyd hopped off the stage and into the crowd, dancing along with fans while playing.
From their playful connections with audience members to shaking hands with fans at their merch booth, Motel Radio had the most genuine crowd engagement. They knew their audience well and they were excited to directly engage with some fans’ bold comments. One person shouted “I have an essay due in thirty minutes!” to which Wellman cheerfully responded, “Don’t worry, you’re gonna kill it.” Wellman asked the audience to let out their emotions through a scream, and on a count of three, these screams segued into a crowd favorite, “Streetlights.” They constantly kept listeners on the edge through this type of unexpected participation.
Motel Radio is certainly a hidden gem in the crowded indie rock landscape, and while their lower profile allows them to connect with their audiences, the band is definitely deserving of seeing their names in the brightest of lights.