Words and photo by Tom Price

Malcolm Sosa knows.
He knows change is coming.
The Rademacher frontman doesn’t fear it because he faces it with a memory callosed by a revolving door of bandmates and friends that have made their exit in recent years. Since the release of their first full-length album Stunts in 2007, Sosa is the only constant in the Fresno-based band.

“I think we never will have all the pieces,” says Sosa, who watched longtime partners guitarist Brad Basmajian and bassist Greer McGetterick move on. “You don’t wory about the logistics, if you have the will, you will make it happen somehow.”

Once a loud four-piece band, Rademacher is now a loud three-piece. Sosa is playing bass for the first time and newcomer Jonathan Hadden is on the guitar with on again-off-again drummer Eli Reyes.

And the trio have done more than make it work in the past year, Rademacher released a five-song EP titled Bellyflop and they are prepping for production of a second full length.

If their live shows at The Partisan or the cuts from Bellyflop are any indication, the band hasn’t lost its boot in gravel grittyness.
They manage to be loud and a bit chaotic while being poetic with Sosa’s clever lyricism.

Hadden, who has a background in folk music, has managed to step firmly into his role as the noisemaker in the band.

“I jumped right in the cockpit and went full force,” says Hadden, who joined the band in April of last year. “I’ve always listened to Rademacher, so I learned the stuff pretty quick.”

And Sosa’s transition to bass has been as smooth as could be expected.

“It takes a little bit more effort. I could play the guitar and sing without having to think. The bass takes more concious thought to make it sound good,” says Sosa. “I liked the way Greer played it, so I play it pretty much the same. But it still feels a little strange to me.”

A few new songs have already been written and Sosa calls the direction they are headed a little more “throwback” — think Talking Heads.

Others say they hear Gang of Four or Modest Mouse. Label it what you will, it’s clear that Rademacher is quickly tighting the ship with its new trio.

But he unknown is rapidly approaching yet again. Hadden is planning on moving to New York in this year, but not before they finish their studio project.

“I’ve been in this town (Fresno) a long time, I want to go out and explore the city,” says Hadden, 22. “I want to tie up the loose ends here.”

After that it’s more change, another puzzle for Sosa and Rademacher to put together.

He’s not complaining.

“I think in a way, change always shakes you,” says Sosa. “But it’s kind of exciting. It gets you excited about it again.”
Rademacher will be peforming at The Partisan on Jan. 23.

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