Built on camaraderie and a shared love of great music, Memphis Radio Kings is one of Seattle’s most beloved indie-pop bands.

Inspired by equal parts 80s college radio, classic Britpop and contemporary indie rock, MRK has grown its loyal fan base over nearly 20 years with a unique and ever-evolving sound, delivering sweaty, heartfelt performances everywhere from Bumbershoot in Seattle to SXSW in Austin.
 
The beginning

After playing in the Seattle rock band The Dead Letters, MRK drummer/keyboardist/vocalist Tony Leamer, guitarist/vocalist Tim Jones and bassist Charlie Beck broke off to try something new. With early success composing songs together in the studio, the trio struck out on their own as Memphis Radio Kings in 2000, recording their first self-titled EP in 2001. This collection of bass-less, acoustic-driven songs was soon followed by the full-length album No Band in the Happy Place (2002), which received widespread national and international radio play.

MRK then expanded to include the sounds of multi-instrumentalist Jon Goff, recording the full-length albums Devil’s Dutchman (2004), Four (2006), and the EP Another Punch from a So-Called Friend (2009). The band worked with different producers, including Gregg Williams (Dandy Warhols), and Martin Feveyear (Sweetwater, Duff McKagan’s Loaded), experimenting along the way by integrating bass guitar, synthesizers, harp and even the kazoo, among other sounds.

An evolving sound

MRK became well known for its skillful combination of a full, rich acoustic guitar and the bluesy twang of Tim’s masterfully played Telecaster, Charlie’s powerful vocals, and Tony’s driving, dynamic drums. The mix of soulful rock and pop has been compared to the early Stones, The Replacements and The White Stripes. 

Taking a break

After nearly a decade performing and recording, Charlie and Tony formed the duo Hondo II while MRK went on a brief consensual hiatus in 2010, releasing a five-song EP and a single. Songs ranged from classic guitar-driven pop with literary underpinnings to wistful piano ballads exploring the fleeting nature of relationships and identity in a modern age. The traditional pop song structures and melodies, as well as electronic textures and beats, explored in Hondo II would subsequently shape the fresh sound of MRK, moving the band from alt-country solidly into indie-pop.
 

Reunited & Re-energized.

In 2015, the original trio of Charlie, Tony and Tim reunited for a re-energized MRK tour, as nostalgia soon gave way to a realization of the undeniable songwriting chemistry among the three. In 2017 the band released the singles “Bullet Train” and “Run Silent”, while regularly performing throughout the Western U.S. In 2019, the band welcomed renowned Seattle keyboardist Tony Mann.

The story continues.

After a pandemic spent writing new songs and playing a few well received lifestreams, since 2021 has been continuing to play live shows throughout the Seattle area, growing their fanbase and expanding their sound. In 2023 the band will head back into the studio, with plans for a release and and touring schedule later in the year.