We fell in love with Ra Ra Riot‘s The Orchard last year, so we were really excited that they stopped by Ardent Studios this afternoon to record a few songs for us before their big Halloween show tonight at The Hi-tone Cafe with Delicate Steve and Yellow Ostrich. Of course, we tried to play it cool while we hung out with them this afternoon at Stax – you know, like it was no big deal.
The band seemed to have a good time playing three stripped down versions of “Oh, La,” “The Orchard,” and “Too Dramatic.” Then we sent them on their way back to the Hi-Tone with Jody Stephens in tow to help them carry their equipment. That’s how we do it in Memphis.
Happy Halloween and enjoy the show!
Ra Ra Riot formed in January 2006, playing at houses and venues around the Syracuse University campus. They recorded a demo in February 2006. The band started to attract attention due to their energetic live shows, enough to gain an appearance at the CMJ Music Marathon, fewer than six months after their formation. Following this appearance, their live show received the first of several favorable reviews from SPIN.com, who called them “one of the best young bands we’ve heard in a really long time.”
They went on to open for Art Brut and Bow Wow Wow in New York City, toured the UK twice on their own, then returned, opening for the Editors (footage of which can be found on Crackle); they also toured North America supporting Tokyo Police Club. Their first solo headlining tour of the U.S. was completed in 2007, and in early 2008, they embarked on a second. The band was also invited to play the Iceland Airwaves Festival, in Reykjavík, Iceland. They have recorded three sessions on the national online radio station WOXY and three for the acclaimedDaytrotter sessions at Futureappletree studio 1 in Rock Island, Illinois.
Connect