Post-Punk Band Radio Free Alice on the Rise
words + photography by NADINE GOETZRadio Free Alice, consisting of Maayan Barnatan (synth), Michael Philips (bass/saxophone), Jules Paradiso (guitar), Lochie Dowd (drums), and Noah Learmonth (vocals), is an Australian post-punk band from Melbourne. The young band has been making waves recently, supporting acts such as The Killers, Royel Otis, Inhaler and Sorry. In February 2026, they will also support Geese on their Australian tour. Formed in 2020, they are known for their music, which clearly shows influences from `80s bands like Talking Heads and The Cure. Another major influence are The Strokes.
On November 26th, they played the Scala in London – a sold-out show. They were supported by Sex Mask, a three-piece alternative rock band from Melbourne consisting of Vicente Moncada (drums), Ry Gray (vocals) and Kaya Martin (guitar). Sex Mask formed in 2022 as a duo when Gray and Moncada, who attended high school together, started the band. Martin, originally from Canada, joined later. Gray began the set lying on the stage floor with a beer bottle in hand. Their set was pure rock – no frills. Gray appeared almost nonchalant on stage, even requesting, „Cut the lights. Cut the fucking lights. I don‘t wanna see shit.“ He told the audience that their EP had just dropped – „Body Broker,“ an EP with four songs released on November 26th. The song „Blisters“ even features Noah Learmonth, Radio Free Alice’s lead singer, who joined them on stage for the track. „The end times are near. The minutes run. They’re none left. They’re dripping away,“ Gray declared before finishing their set.
Shortly after, Radio Free Alice took the stage – the moment all the eager fans in the front row had been waiting for all night. Instantly, the energy shifted – people singing along and jumping around. Learmonth told the crowd they’d been touring for four months and that tonight marked the end: „This is the last show. We’re so happy to be ending it in the greatest city on planet earth.“ Their song „Rule 31“, released just the day before the show, already had fans singing along loudly. „What happened?“ Learmonth asked, noting this was only their second London show and that last time, according to him, just a friend and their manager were in the audience.
The crowd was totally engaged throughout the show, jumping and moshing all night. Radio Free Alice‘s set was energetic and raw, with the addition of the saxophone giving some songs a distinctive edge. Throughout the night, crowd-goers praised the lyrics, responded with loud applause and excited shouts whenever a certain song was played. The audience was so engaged that Radio Free Alice even returned to the stage for one more song after ending their set. Especially „Paris Is Gone,“ from their 2023 EP „Radio Free Alice,“ had the crowd jumping and dancing, while „Look What You’ve Done,“ their most streamed song from that same EP, had everyone singing along loudly. Another crowd favorite was their 2024 released song „Johnny“. Overall, with their infectious energy, sharp lyrics, and catchy guitar riffs, Radio Free Alice have definitely proven that they’re a force to watch out for.
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Nadine Goetz.
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