34th & Now

This past Saturday I got a chance to check out Ra Ra Riot perform live at Philadelphia’s Trocadero theater. While I had been to The Troc previously for its Movie Monday events—$3 gets you in to see a movie, a bag of popcorn, and a can of PBR—I had never actually been there for a concert. Now, after seeing Ra Ra Riot there on Saturday, I’m not sure if I can ever go back there for another concert as nothing will compare; they were literally that good.

Ra Ra Riot, currently touring in support of their sophomore album, The Orchard—an album that quickly and definitively laid to rest any possibility of a sophomore slump—put on one of the most energetic, crowd-revving, and musically flawless shows I have seen in quite some time. Led by lead singer Wes Miles’ effortless tenor the band worked their way through an impressive setlist of chamber-pop excellence; combining fan favorites like “Ghosts Under Rocks” and “Dying is Fine” from 2008’s The Rhumb Line mixed in with stellar new tracks like “Boy,” “Too Dramatic,” and “Kansai.”

To give Wes all the credit though is to do an injustice to the rest of the band who put on one hell of a performance, and without any of whom the sound would have fallen flat. Alexandra Lawn’s many talents shown through on her haunting cello as well as her backing vocals and keyboard work. Aiding Lawn in the strings section was violinist Rebecca Zeller who managed to deliver urgent violin playing all the while smiling and dancing along with the crowd. On bass, Matthieu Santos provided the bouncy, fun bass-lines that Ra Ra Riot has become known for while moving around the stage to play face to face with his band-mates. Guitarist Milo Bonacci blended powerful rhythm guitar sections and brilliant lead riffs—like the one at the heart of Boy, above—with the twang of a Fender Telecaster and made it look easy. On the drums, Gabriel Duquette was a sight to be seen as he effortlessly worked his away around the kit time and time again with technical prowess…in his boxer shorts.

While I love The Orchard and its predecessor, The Rhumb Line, what made the show truly fun and impressive, in my opinion, was the band’s very obvious and very apparent love of their music. Throughout the whole show the band members were smiling, laughing, and dancing as much as the raucous Philly crowd. In closing, all I can say is that whomever I see play live at The Troc from here on it had better bring their A-game, because Ra Ra Riot has set the bar extremely high.