By Chris Brook

Brooklyn-based Radio 4 brought their politically-infused disco-punk to Boston on Friday at a half-full Paradise Rock Club. Their latest album, titled “Stealing Of A Nation,” was a stubtle jab at post-September 11 America and the election of 2000.

Taking the stage shortly after midnight and dressed completely in black, the quintet jettisoned through groove-centric songs from Nation and its predecessors, Gotham! and the Electrify EP. Following the bass-driven opener, “Party Crashers,” the band tore through older tracks produced by NYC production team DFA like “Calling All Enthusiasts” and “Our Town,” complete with timpani rolls, maraca shakes, tambourine crashes and the token ring of a cowbell, all courtesy of percussionist P.J. O’Connor. Elsewhere, the five-piece band made their political agenda clear with the mid-tempo “Nation,” a song where the band likens politics to cancer and advises listeners to “cut your losses” and “do your life justice” by voting. Further in the set, O’Connor pulled out an ’80s music staple, the Melodica, a cross between a keyboard and a flute, for the band’s single, “Dance to the Underground.” The song, best known for appearing in a Mitsubishi car commercial three years ago is recognizable by its snaking bass line and fractured guitar riffs. The song had no problem getting the more than 100 people in attendance onto the dance floor. The band capped their 45-minute set with an encore featuring “Save Your City,” a song lead singer and band founder Anthony Roman wrote in tribute of the New York City art community.

They have been recently announced as the openers for post-punk legends Gang of Four’s impending reunion tour.

Boston’s own Baby Strange, the opening band named after a song penned by ’70s rockers T. Rex, played their own brand of polished jerky pop-rock.

The group, dressed in crimson shirts and charcoal suit coats had countless girls in the front row cheering as they strutted on stage, running through tracks off their recently released album, “Put Out.”

After making the rounds at the Austin, Texas music festival South by Southwest two weeks ago, Diamond Nights opened the show shortly after 9 p.m. with a batch of high-octane classic rock akin to southern-fried rockers Kings of Leon. The band took Supersystem’s spot on the bill upon their leaving earlier in the tour.

– press photos are on their website: www.r4ny.com