Ra Ra Riot at Lee’s Palace – March 6, 2013

Written and Photographed by Sarah Rix

Ra Ra Riot was at Lee’s Palace on Wendnesday night, stopping in Toronto to play an intimate show in support of 2013’s Beta Love. Their third studio album is a follow up to 2008’s critically acclaimed debut, The Rhumb Line, and their quieter 2010 release, The Orchard. In the three years between albums, the Syracuse-based indie rock band also underwent a lineup change with cellist Alexandra Lawn departing the group. The album itself is a departure from Ra Ra Riot’s usual brand of baroque-style music, which tended to rely on orchestral elements. They’ve instead embraced the snythpop genre – something the audience at Lee’s seemed to relish in.

Opener Pacific Air was a strong indicator of the night’s shift toward pop rock. They’ve only been around as a band for about a year, but have a surprisingly cohesive sound given their relatively late start.

They write catchy music and, as their band name might suggest, offer up a fairly convincing summer soundtrack care of catchy guitar riffs and whistled choruses. Ending their set with new single “Lose My Mind,” their first show in Canada was met with bopping heads and appreciative cheers. Pacific Air’s first album is due out in May and it’s a safe bet we can expect to hear and see more from the band.

The night’s main attraction – the Arts & Crafts signed Ra Ra Riot – are due back here in June to play the label’s 10th anniversary Field Trip. I’m confident their older material will fair well in a festival setting, but I’m less sure about Beta Love’s outdoor appeal. In a dark nightclub, synthpop makes sense. Outdoors, likely under a bright sun? Less so.

There are merits to the new Beta Love songs, to be sure. “For Once” showed off vocalist Wes Miles’ impressive range, while “Dance With Me” and its repetitive chorus had the crowd bouncing. The synth heavy, R&B influenced “Wilderness” was an interesting departure – a slow jam that’s markedly different their other tunes.

But it was the older material and its deep melodic lines that truly shone in a set that lasted just over an hour. “Too Too Too Fast” was a strong set opener while “Oh, La” floated easily through the crowd. Rhumb Line opener “Ghost Under Rocks” received a huge ovation and “Can You Tell” remains one of those perfectly penned pop songs all bands should try to achieve.

Despite their instrumental impressiveness however, there’s a sense of predictability for Ra Ra Riot. It’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it is noticeable. That’s the problem with having such clean song – and so many of them. So even with new synth elements added in and a valiant attempt to branch out in musical style, it remains all very unsurprising and extremely rehearsed. Unfortunately, this is going to be something the band will find difficult to break away from.