Be Here Now: Ra Ra Riot @ the Factory Eatery, 6/23/11

It came from Syracuse…

Ra Ra Riot rolls into Wiswall Park the Factory Eatery at 6pm tonight, kicking off the Ballston Spa free concert series like a summer thunder storm. (UPDATE: Apparently, that thunder storm metaphor was a bit too appropriate: tonight’s concert has been moved to the rain site – the second floor of the Factory Eatery.) The band traces its origins to the hill that is Syracuse University, but its reach extends as far as the radio airwaves that they’ve captured through out the world. Albany has not escaped their mastery of frequencies, as the band is in rotation on at least two commercial stations with-in earshot of Nipper.

Ra Ra Riot comes armed with some serious street cred. Last year, they released their second album “The Orchard,” which was produced by the band and Andrew Maury. Nine of the ten tracks were mixed by Death Cab For Cutie’s Chris Walla, while the remaining one was mixed by Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend.

The six-piece former major-now-indie group is comprised of four dudes who handle the guitar, bass, drums and vocal duties as well as two women who bow a mean violin and cello. Their music is powerful but always anchored in a strong sense of melody.

With live gigs from Reykjavík to Austin, why question the fortuitous routing. Check ‘em out. Local duo Sirsy is slated to open the show at 6pm tonight. Admission is, of course, free.

Story by Matt Mac Haffie

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Review and video of Ra Ra Riot’s concert at Jillian’s in Albany, 12/6/10