Familiarize Yourself

I just touched down in Syracuse, New York (my parents are late to pick me up for our week long vacation in the boondocks of NY and thankfully there’s coffee and wi-fi). However, this is an excellent opportunity to write about one of my upstate New York favorites.

I was first introduced to Ra Ra Riot when some friends and talented musicians, Mason Proper, played a few shows with them some years back on an east coast tour. Though I’ve known about them for a while, it wasn’t until this spring that I really started listening to them and I’m glad I finally got into them.

The music is intense and beautiful. Their live performances caught them almost immediate attention (after their 2006 formation they played SXSW in 2007 and again in 2008, several prominent NYC venues and local festivals, and this year the headlining stage midday at Lollapalooza) from the music world for being absolutely captivating and entertaining. I have yet to see them live, but judging from the few live performance videos I’ve seen, I’d have to agree.

Many indie rock bands are branching out into strings or ambient electronic noises to make their sound their own, and Ra Ra Rio pulls it off very elegantly using a cello and violin. Their sound is full and pleasant. It sticks with me on these hot humid days creating some lightness in the weight of the air, especially Dying Is Fine, perhaps their most catchy and addicting song.

I’d recommend checking them out live when the come back to Chicago (they recently played Lollapalooza) but their September 16 show at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago, IL is already sold out. As most of their shows they’ve played in Chicago the past few months have been.