The story of each song and the people in it has always been paramount for Radiator King, joined by an established lineup featuring Brian Viglione, a memeber of Dresden Dolls, on drums, and Alexander Burke on keys. Adam Silvestri on guitar and vocals soars with his new single "Dream," an audacious new chapter that's striking and deeply personal.
Produced by Grammy-winning producer Ted Hutt, "The Gaslight Anthem, Violent Femmes, and Old Crow Medicine Show," "Dream" is a propulsive alt-rocker propelled by pounding drums, a glistening bed of organ, and a guitar hook that refuses to clear long after the song concludes. And Silvestri's impassioned vocal cuts through it all, bearing both the story's heavy truth and the flicker of hope it brings.
"Dream" is a story plucked from the streets of Hollywood, inspired by the flesh peddlers who are staples near the band's rehearsal space. But rather than tipping into exploitation or despair, the song locates dignity on the margins, acknowledging difficulty yet also holding open the possibility of redemption, second chances, and fresh starts. It's the sort of storytelling rock has always been best at, unafraid to stare into the darkness, but determined to find some light within it.
A song that feels like more than just a song, "Dream" rings out as a statement of a band that's fully finding its form. Radiator King has outgrown the solo project skin and evolved into something larger, something communal, and something urgent. In an age of throwaway song assemblage, "Dream" stands out as something that counts as an anthem, both musically and humanly.