Moses Lake tunes into Radiolake

Three friends form Radiolake

MOSES LAKE — When Moses Lake band Radiolake formed, it was unexpected.

Before the indie rock band officially formed, Lee Lester, 21, Brandon Smith, 22 and Olga Moreno, 23, were celebrating together last New Year's Eve. Smith and Lester have experience playing music together and all three have known each other since they attended Moses Lake High School.

The music equipment was out.

Moreno, who had no music experience prior to that night, picked up the drumsticks and started to tap around on the drums.

To Lester and Smith's surprise, she was good.

So, in chimed the guitars and vocals, and they had a band.

Moreno recalled she decided to play on the drums because she felt bored. Since then, the three have performed three shows and recorded a CD entitled "After Ten."

One of the latest shows was during the Moses Lake Spring Festival at Sinkiuse Square.

The band belted out several songs they wrote themselves and their personal renditions of older songs, such as "Forever Young."

One of the first songs written and recorded by Radiolake is called "Manage Your Future."

It's about how sometimes people tend to pick the wrong crowd and the choices people make, Lester said.

Their newest song is "Fireworks."

It's about the recollection of memories of how life was when you were young as opposed to how it is now, he said.

Another song, "Never Walk Away," is about unconditional love for someone, Moreno said.

"That's about somebody you love to heart," Lester said. "You can't leave them."

All three members have musical inspirations.

Smith said he admires Radiohead. He grew up listening to the band.

Indie rock band Youth Group is an inspiration to Lester.

He had the opportunity to meet them and play music with them in March.

Moreno looks up to Wilco.

"It's simple but it's so intricate," she described. "It makes me want to be a better drummer."

Radiolake is working to gain Columbia Basin notoriety.

"We're getting out there," Moreno said.

The band's fan base is growing, people from all over the state compliment their musical talent on their MySpace homepage and download their songs.

They are unsure where the band may take them, but either way it is something they enjoy.

"We just love playing so much," Moreno said.

They practice every day for several hours in Lester's garage.

Eventually, Radiolake hopes to open for one of the bands they admire.

For more information on Radiolake, visit myspace.com/radiolake. Fans have already flooded the site with comments.

Their next show is in the Vista Village in Moses Lake on June 9 at 5 p.m.