I'm an idiot
A brief interlude before we begin this entry: We just blew by blog entry 200! If you're keeping count (and please don't), this is no. 202.
Ok, here's why I'm an idiot. I didn't go to the Ra Ra Riot show this weekend, because I was too lazy. It was free and at the Seaport — both things I like. I even went as far as getting some friends pumped about the show, and then ... I just blew it off. Poor form.
I'm listening to their s/t EP right now, and, yeah, I should have gone to the show.
Backing up, their drummer recently died in what sounds like a horribly sad accident. The band made the decision to continue the tour in his memory. Knowing this, listening to the album is terribly poignant. The tone is on the somber side anyway, but keeping in mind their recent tragedy only enhances the effect.
But this is by no means a pity review. The band holds their own with darkly poppy indie rock. I'm slowly deciphering the lyrics — lead singer Wesley Miles' voice is a little mumbly, and my own tendency is to absorb the actual music before tackling the words (which, I was recently surprised to discover, is not universally the way that people listen to music) — and they're powerfully simple. They also employ profanity pretty effectively. Some say that using four-letter words is a sign of a lack of imagination, but sometimes an f-bomb is just appropriate.
These are energetic ditties telling tales of loves lost and hearts broken. Miles' deadpan laments have a sense of inevitable sadness about them. He's supported by a solid backbone of indie guitar and a driving rhythm section, and accented by a delightful string section. Violinist Rebecca Zeller and cellist Alexandra Lawn have classical traning, and it shows. Their careful melodies waft in and out of the compositions adding an extra layer of depth.
The band is coming back to town later this summer. Aug. 10 at Bowery Ballroom with Tokyo Police Club (and then the following day at Maxwell's) and Sept. 7 at Webster Hall with Editors. I'm hard pressed to say which show will be harder to get tickets to, but if I get my act together, I'm hitting the TCP show. That one will be awesome.
eh, www.amNY.com
