Off The Radar
Band Story
OFF THE RADAR: Chicago's Sonic Outliers with a Genre-Bending Pulse
The winter of 2007 may have brought icy winds and snow-covered sidewalks to Chicago, but for Matt Walsh and Leah Al-Uqdah, it also ushered in a storm of creative energy that couldn’t be frozen out. Amid frostbitten fingertips and jam sessions layered in wool, the seeds of OFF THE RADAR were planted—a band born not just from musical ambition, but from an alchemical collision of styles, personalities, and sheer sonic daring.
Matt, a bass player with a sound that rumbles like thunder beneath a cityscape, joined forces with Leah, a classically trained guitarist whose progressive rhythms swirl with complexity and nuance. Together, they began crafting a soundscape that blurred the lines between orchestral finesse and low-end power. But they knew they needed a third element to make the formula explode.
Enter Maccabee Kelem, a drummer they found as spring melted away the last traces of winter. But Mac wasn’t just another percussionist—his solo work revealed an untamed force of nature. With a vocal presence that could shift from soulful to unhinged in the space of a verse, and guitar chops that sent shockwaves through their rehearsals, it became clear: OFF THE RADAR was no longer a three-piece. It was evolving into something far more dangerous—and far more thrilling.
With the arrival of precision-timekeeper Ryan Miera on drums, the lineup was complete, and OFF THE RADAR hit the Chicago scene like a sonic meteor. Their sound—layered, chaotic, and often achingly beautiful—found a home in the city’s storied indie venues, from the gritty charm of Underground Lounge to the iconic stage of the Double Door. Each show, a controlled detonation of genre, emotion, and raw talent.
It’s little wonder that the band quickly began drawing comparisons to legends—Smashing Pumpkins for their brooding atmospherics, Mazzy Star for their dreamy introspection, No Doubt for their dynamic frontperson energy, and even The Beatles for their boundary-pushing versatility. But even those comparisons fall short of capturing the full scope of OFF THE RADAR’s musical identity.
They’re not just a band. They’re a contradiction, a movement, a mirror to the beautiful chaos that exists just beneath the surface of the everyday. And if you’ve been lucky enough to catch them live, you know one thing for sure: they may call themselves OFF THE RADAR, but with a sound this original, they won’t stay there for long.
The winter of 2007 may have brought icy winds and snow-covered sidewalks to Chicago, but for Matt Walsh and Leah Al-Uqdah, it also ushered in a storm of creative energy that couldn’t be frozen out. Amid frostbitten fingertips and jam sessions layered in wool, the seeds of OFF THE RADAR were planted—a band born not just from musical ambition, but from an alchemical collision of styles, personalities, and sheer sonic daring.
Matt, a bass player with a sound that rumbles like thunder beneath a cityscape, joined forces with Leah, a classically trained guitarist whose progressive rhythms swirl with complexity and nuance. Together, they began crafting a soundscape that blurred the lines between orchestral finesse and low-end power. But they knew they needed a third element to make the formula explode.
Enter Maccabee Kelem, a drummer they found as spring melted away the last traces of winter. But Mac wasn’t just another percussionist—his solo work revealed an untamed force of nature. With a vocal presence that could shift from soulful to unhinged in the space of a verse, and guitar chops that sent shockwaves through their rehearsals, it became clear: OFF THE RADAR was no longer a three-piece. It was evolving into something far more dangerous—and far more thrilling.
With the arrival of precision-timekeeper Ryan Miera on drums, the lineup was complete, and OFF THE RADAR hit the Chicago scene like a sonic meteor. Their sound—layered, chaotic, and often achingly beautiful—found a home in the city’s storied indie venues, from the gritty charm of Underground Lounge to the iconic stage of the Double Door. Each show, a controlled detonation of genre, emotion, and raw talent.
It’s little wonder that the band quickly began drawing comparisons to legends—Smashing Pumpkins for their brooding atmospherics, Mazzy Star for their dreamy introspection, No Doubt for their dynamic frontperson energy, and even The Beatles for their boundary-pushing versatility. But even those comparisons fall short of capturing the full scope of OFF THE RADAR’s musical identity.
They’re not just a band. They’re a contradiction, a movement, a mirror to the beautiful chaos that exists just beneath the surface of the everyday. And if you’ve been lucky enough to catch them live, you know one thing for sure: they may call themselves OFF THE RADAR, but with a sound this original, they won’t stay there for long.
Band Members
Leah Al-Uqdah (vox/guitar), Maccabee Kelem (vox/guitar) , Matt Walsh (bass), Ryan Miera (drums)
Leah Al-Uqdah (vox/guitar), Maccabee Kelem (vox/guitar) , Matt Walsh (bass), Ryan Miera (drums)
Location: AMERICA NORTH: USA: Illinois (IL)
Genre: Progressive Rock