Scene Showcase: The Little Ones & Ra Ra Riot

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Scene Showcase: The Little Ones & Ra Ra Riot

Written by Rob van Alstyne

Sunday, May 4, 2008 at 07:32 PM

The Little Ones

The recent release of Los Angelino pop group The Little Ones from their recording contract with Astralwerks/EMI before their full-length debut Morning Tide could even hit the streets provides yet another stunning example of major label incompetence judging by the quality of the songs the Little Ones instead ended up releasing themselves last month on a new EP, Terry Tales & Fallen Gates. The Little Ones’ giddy sugar-rush pop is so fizzy and buoyant it can be a bit overwhelming on first listen, particularly on Terry Tales’ busier tropical inflect tracks, but in the end a band with so many ringing guitar hooks and sing along choruses is pretty much impossible to resist. One assumes they’ve saved the best for the still forthcoming full length due later this summer, in which case someone at EMI will really have egg all over their face shortly.

Watch the music video for “Ordinary Song” from the forthcoming Morning Tide

The Little Ones’ Official Website

The Little Ones’ MySpace

Ra Ra Riot

Also on the bill are Syracuse’s Ra Ra Riot. I’ll cop to being predisposed to like this band by virtue of being an Upstate New York native - it’s not like there’s a whole lot of bands north of NYC making a national splash - but regardless of where your geographical loyalties lay Ra Ra are worth cheering for. Specializing in archly dramatic pop dressed up in snappy symphonic clothing courtesy of violinist Rebecca Zellar and cellist Alexandra Lawn the sextet’s still in the midst of marathon touring behind their highly buzzed about debut EP from last year. They first caught my attention this March amidst the teeming throngs at SXSW when frontman Wesley Mile’s clear as a bell tenor literally froze me right there on the sidewalk and hooked me to take in the rest of their outdoor mid afternoon set and forego my meticulously planned schedule – not a small achievement.

Watch the music video for “Dying is Fine” from the Ra Ra Riot EP

Ra Ra Riot’s Official Website

Ra Ra Riot’s MySpace

COMING UP: The Little Ones and Ra Ra Riot perform on Monday, May 5^th, at the 7^th St. Entry with local openers Ready Goes . 9 p.m. $10. 18+.

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