Radio Moscow continues trek through U.S.

Psychedelic rock trio Radio Moscow is touring in support of its latest album, “The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz.” The band is going to head into the studio later this year to record a new album.

“The shows have been really amazing,” he says after a concert in Richmond, Va. “Having great shows keeps us in good spirits and makes us want to be on the road.”

Griggs is the founder/singer of the psychedelic rock band Radio Moscow. The band formed in 2003 in Story City, Iowa. Despite numerous lineup changes, the band garnered praise from Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, who produced the band’s debut album.

“We’ve been very lucky in that people get what we do,” Griggs says. “Our music is a throwback to some of the bands in the ’70s.”

Radio Moscow is touring in support of its latest album, “The Great Escape of Leslie Magnafuzz,” which was released in 2011.

Griggs says while the band is on tour, he continues to work on songs for the next album.

“It’s been nearly a year since the last album and I’m ready for some new music,” he says. “We’ve been working on a couple of tracks and trying them out on this tour to see how the audience likes them.”

Griggs says there aren’t very many opportunities he can take to write on the road, though.

“We are never in a place long enough to where we can actually practice and break down a song,” he says. “So the most that we can get done are some lyrics and a few riffs. But we’re doing well.”

Griggs is the primary lyricist for the band and says that’s important because of the constant band changes. (There have been seven changes since 2003.) Although the lineup rotates, Griggs says he’s able to keep a good attitude about it.

“It’s a difficult thing to keep training band members on all of the songs,” he explains. “Usually, there’s not a lot of time to practice, but I’ve been lucky in finding musicians that are great at their craft and catch on early. It is disheartening sometimes that I have to work so hard at getting musicians caught up on our music, but it comes with the territory.”

In fact, his current lineup, which includes Billy Ellsworth and Lonnie Blanton, is so strong that the trio took the stage an hour before a show in Chicago.

“It was a crazy time,” he says. “The guys literally got off the plane and we headed for the show. They only had about an hour to learn the songs and they pulled it off. After that show, I realized that these were guys I wanted to keep around and hope that they stay with the band for awhile. It’s been nice to have had a solid lineup for this tour. It’s definitely helped in what we are doing.”

Radio Moscow
With Dirty Streets, The Rip Torn
WHEN: 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2
WHERE: Launchpad, 618 W. Central
HOW MUCH: $7, available at www.holdmyticket.com or 886-1251