The Daily OrangeRa Ra Riot's success comes full circle with intimate homecoming show
By Nathan Mattise
Posted: 3/4/08, 12:16 AM EST Section: Feature
Don't judge, but I was talking about concerts with a friend via Facebook message the other day. I mentioned how pumped I was Ra Ra Riot was sneaking into town for a show before Spring Break. This is a selected portion of her response:
"I don't really know Ra Ra Riot, but I think I heard of them?"
She may be aware of her local music, but if you're a sophomore or younger, chances are you don't know the tale of Syracuse's own Ra Ra Riot. Go buy your ticket now, then consider this story time.
I'll see Ra Ra Riot for the sixth time tonight. This particular homecoming show will be at Funk 'N Waffles. They've been a band for all of four and a half of my college semesters. They've toured all over the country and played the right festivals but still teeter on the brink of success.
"You have to see them," said Andrew Maury, a senior music industry major and guitarist for local band Magic Hour. "Their energy is a captivating spectacle. I'm highly anticipating the album, and hope it conveys the tenacity of their live show."
I'd say they reached this point back in Spring '07. However, shortly after they were almost derailed for good by tragedy when drummer John Pike was found dead after he went missing during one weekend last June. It was all too surreal - a band in the middle of its biggest tour to date, closing its sets with what was becoming its hit single entitled "Dying is Fine." This probably should've been the end of the road.
But back to where it all started - I first encountered Ra Ra Riot at 2 a.m. on a Friday night. They were seven students on stage wearing K-mart track suits like it was elementary school gym class. They were playing the late night set at the 2006 Syracuse University Relay for Life and just formed at the beginning of the semester.
Ra Ra Riot had keyboards, strings, high male vocals and a tight drummer with a liking for back beats. Watching them, they looked like their necks would get whiplash and their knees would pop out of their sockets with all the rocking on stage.
"I don't really know Ra Ra Riot, but I think I heard of them?"
She may be aware of her local music, but if you're a sophomore or younger, chances are you don't know the tale of Syracuse's own Ra Ra Riot. Go buy your ticket now, then consider this story time.
I'll see Ra Ra Riot for the sixth time tonight. This particular homecoming show will be at Funk 'N Waffles. They've been a band for all of four and a half of my college semesters. They've toured all over the country and played the right festivals but still teeter on the brink of success.
"You have to see them," said Andrew Maury, a senior music industry major and guitarist for local band Magic Hour. "Their energy is a captivating spectacle. I'm highly anticipating the album, and hope it conveys the tenacity of their live show."
I'd say they reached this point back in Spring '07. However, shortly after they were almost derailed for good by tragedy when drummer John Pike was found dead after he went missing during one weekend last June. It was all too surreal - a band in the middle of its biggest tour to date, closing its sets with what was becoming its hit single entitled "Dying is Fine." This probably should've been the end of the road.
But back to where it all started - I first encountered Ra Ra Riot at 2 a.m. on a Friday night. They were seven students on stage wearing K-mart track suits like it was elementary school gym class. They were playing the late night set at the 2006 Syracuse University Relay for Life and just formed at the beginning of the semester.
Ra Ra Riot had keyboards, strings, high male vocals and a tight drummer with a liking for back beats. Watching them, they looked like their necks would get whiplash and their knees would pop out of their sockets with all the rocking on stage.
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