(photo credit)
Despite gas costing over $3.50 a gallon, I made the two-hour drive to see Ra Ra Riot perform at The Basement in Columbus last Tuesday.  I first heard Ra Ra Riot in the WOXY lounge back in January, and I was blown away.  After hearing their full-length debut, The Rhumb Line, and with Pomegranates as the opening act, there was no way I could miss the show.

Cincinnati’s own Pomegranates made their debut as a quintet with the addition of Nate McClements, also known under the folk moniker, Nathan Edwin.

As usual, Pomegranates put on an excellent show. Most of the set featured songs off their debut full-length, Everything Is Alive, though a few of the tunes were reworked to include their new member. In particular, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the addition of trumpet during “Thunder Meadow”, and a new acoustic intro to “The Children’s Progress.” Pomegranates also played a few new songs that will appear on their upcoming album, Everybody Come Outside, due for release in February 2009.

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Ra Ra Riot took the stage next.  While their album, The Rhumb Line is all about texture – beautiful string arrangements by cellist Alexandra Lawn and violinist Rebecca Zeller, and powerful yet delicate vocals by singer Wes Miles – their live show revolves around the energy of its young members.  Watching the band dance around on the stage, it looked like they were having just as much fun as the crowd, who were eagerly bobbing their heads and moving to the music.

The highlight of the show was their performance of “Too Too Too Fast”, a stand out track off The Rhumb Line. The band closed an amazing set with “Dying Is Fine”, one of my favorites from the EP that was re-recorded for the full length.

As much as I love Ra Ra Riot’s new album, it pales in comparison to their live show.  The performance is guaranteed to be spot on, and has an energy that the studio simply can’t duplicate.

Ra Ra Riot Tour Dates
09.18.08: Boise, ID // Neurolux #
09.20.08: Seattle, WA // King Cobra #
09.21.08: Vancouver, BC // Media Club #
09.22.08: Portland, OR // Doug Fir Lounge
09.24.08: San Francisco, CA // Rickshaw Stop #
09.25.08: Los Angeles, CA // The Echo #
09.28.08: San Diego, CA // The Casbah # *
09.29.08: Phoenix, AZ // Modified # *
09.30.08: Tucson, AZ // Plush # *
10.02.08: Dallas, TX // The Loft # *
10.03.08: Austin, TX // Stubb’s # *
10.04.08: Houston, TX // Rudyards # *
10.07.08: Orlando, FL // The Social # *
10.08.08: Tallahassee, FL // Club Downunder # *
10.10.08: Atlanta, GA // Drunken Unicorn #
10.11.08: Chapel Hill, NC // Local 506 # *
10.12.08: Washington, DC // Black Cat Backstage # *
10.14.08: Baltimore, MD // Ottobar # *
10.15.08: Philadelphia, PA // Johnny Brenda’s # *
10.16.08: New York, NY // Bowery Ballroom
10.17.08: Brooklyn, NY // Music Hall of Williamsburg
10.18.08: Cambridge, MA // The Middle East Downstairs # *
# with Walter Meego

* with the morning benders

Ra Ra Riot – Oh, La

Ra Ra Riot – Run My Mouth Off (Live On WOXY.com)

Ra Ra Riot – Oh, La (Live On WOXY.com)