Concert Review: Porridge Radio with Sean Henry at Parish

By Ashley Farnie
Assistant Music Director

After my first listen to Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky, I knew I wanted to see the creative aesthetic album visually. Traveling from the U.K., Porridge Radio was accompanied by Sean Henry & The Valley Social Club of New York at Austin’s Parish.

Sean Henry and band maintain a consistently indie rock sound of catchy rhyme schemes appealing to a young and introspective audience. Henry’s sometimes silly lyrics make you smirk while swaying along in the crowd, creating a warm and open environment for Porridge Radio to step onstage to.

I had never been to Parish before, so I walked the venue to find the best angles for photos. The black iron stairways and balcony drowned the venue in darkness, and the high ceilings created a hollowness. The sounds of Porridge Radio began to fill up the emptiness as the band performed an assumed ritual of the macarena.

Porridge Radio is fronted by guitarist and vocalist Dana Margolin who creates a sonic environment with her post-punk vocals and British accent. Keyboardist Georgie Stott and bassist Maddie Ryall sing backup vocals for Margolin, layering harmonies atop synth-y keyboard melodies.

Underneath the mirror ball, purple reflections gleam across Margolin and Parish is transformed into a dreamy disco. The keyboard lays the foundation for Margolin’s vocals to stand out. Thoughtful lyricism through prideful shouting is most well-received through their live performance. Post-punk roots blend with groovy keys over an indie rock base.

Many of Porridge Radio’s tracks include repetitive lyricism, either through hooks or choruses. In “U Can Be Happy If U Want To” Margolin hops off the stage and into the crowd while singing “back and back” with increasing passion in each restatement. Making direct eye contact with audience members and creating an immersive and intimate experience, Margolin pulls us into the world of Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky.

Porridge Radio returns onstage to perform an encore including title track “Waterslide, Diving Board, Ladder To The Sky,” serenading the audience beneath red lights. Margolin maintains an intimate connection with the audience throughout the show, encouraging audience members to meet them at the merch table. As the last stop on their US tour, Porridge Radio bid farewell to the states to head back to Europe and requests that the audience purchase merchandise to lighten their load for the flight.

I highly suggest seeing an artist perform if you are vaguely familiar with their discography. Porridge Radio acquired new fans with myself and my +1’s attendance! If you want to check out Porridge Radio, get “Back To The Radio” and tune in to KTSW 89.9 to hear “Birthday Party” on-air, or call in during Other Side Drive to request the track!

Featured Image by Ashley Farnie.