Yeah drummer is from Woodhands -- one of the most underrated electronic bands out there. These guys are super awesome.

quote:

Originally posted by crob3888:

quote:

Originally posted by The Fall of Troy

If they ever come out here to L.A., you and I are there my friend. I'll introduce you to my friend Amy. I promise not to tell her that you only put the RAA at #20 on your list.

Totally missed this comment to me first time through...

That was a total mistake on my part. I hadn't listened to the album much back when I made my final list, but if I had, it would have made top 10. I frequently keep my lists updated simply for the interest of keeping them updated, and I currently have it sitting in at number 5.

So thanks for pointing out the flagrant travesty that was my best of 08 list. :P


But I agree, if they ever make it to LA, we shall have to meet up there and meet this "Amy" you speak of.

I've gotten a bunch of my friends into this album as well, so hopefully it'll be half of the UCLA music department that shows up to the show. If it ever happens.

Well, good news my fellow Bruin. I was at the show in D.C. over the weekend (which was amazing and I'll tell all about it in another post). I got to talk to the band for about 45 minutes before the show. They are the most down-to-earth guys you can imagine - very friendly and gracious.

Anyway, they said that they are planning a trip to LA this Summer. So, you need to deliver on getting half of the music department at UCLA there, because they put on one hell of a show!

I didn't think it was possible for me to become more obsessed with the RAA - but the show on Saturday at the Rock and Roll Hotel in Washington D.C. was spectacular.

I flew into Washington D.C. on Friday morning with my 9 year old son. Luckily, it was an all ages show, so I was able to take Cade to his first concert and I didn't have to pay the hotel for a baby sitter.

We arrived for the show early - before the band, who was driving from Washington, PA. Since we were so early, we went to a hamburger joint for a milk shake. While walking back, I ran into Nils wandering the streets looking for how to get into the place.

The staff at the Rock and Roll Hotel was not too friendly at first, and they wouldn't allow my son and me to come in for the sound check. But, when the doors opened we went up stairs and ordered dinner. After the band finished with their sound check, they came upstairs and talked to us for about 45 minutes.

They are clearly having the time of their lives touring. They were very thankful for what us Metacritters have done for them.

My favorite part of the conversation was when Nils went to get some more tea and Paul went to check on his drums, leaving us alone with Amy. My son (who has quite a sense of humor) was listening to music on my phone when "The Deadroads" came on. With a completely straight face, he asks Amy "Do you know what I'm listening to?" She said "No." My son said "The Deadroads. You ever heard it?" I think she thought that was pretty funny.

To make a very long story slightly less long, it was a great experience to meet the band. We talked about their plans and how things are snowballing for them now. We talked about balancing their touring with their day jobs. As I said in my earlier post, we talked about them playing a show in LA this Summer - you can bet I'll be there! With everything that they had going on, they did not have to spend that much time with us. But, I am really glad they did.

I'll post my thoughts on the show later.

Here's a new in-studio performance and interview with the band:

The RAA on WOXY

quote:

Originally Posted by The Fall of Troy

I didn't think it was possible for me to become more obsessed with the RAA - but the show on Saturday at the Rock and Roll Hotel in Washington D.C. was spectacular.

Alright, Troy, the gig is up. You've been hired as the RAA's promoter, haven't you?

Glad to hear the show was awesome.

I really hope they come out to LA in the near future.

It seems like they are almost on the breaking point of becoming the newest "it" thing in the indie music scene. Once the reviews start pouring in, I expect Bon Iver levels of praise and popularity.

quote:

As I said in my earlier post, we talked about them playing a show in LA this Summer - you can bet I'll be there!

I should have kept reading before prematurely throwing out my wish that they would play in LA. Woohoo! You can expect to see me there, Troy.

I got to see them again last night at Brooklyn's The Bell House opening for The Spinto Band. Fantastic yet again. As great as "Hometowns" is, I really think this band is going to make it on the strength of their live shows--so much energy, great banter (we learned that "Four Night Rider" is a true story about a group of little kids trying to bicycle to a big city) and Amy plays the indie-cute card very well (blue jean cutoffs over black stockings). I went with the same group of people that saw them play at Pianos and the band called us out in the middle of the show--something that was simultaneously very cool while making me feel like a male version of Mel from FotC (a band, coincidentally, I have tickets to see next week). Was assured they would be back in New York over the summer, and I'm sure I will try to be there.

I suppose it's a bit like preaching to the choir in this thread, but I would highly recommend to make an effort to see this band while the crowds are still small if they tour anywhere near you.

quote:

Originally posted by theelfpat:
I suppose it's a bit like preaching to the choir in this thread, but I would highly recommend to make an effort to see this band while the crowds are still small if they tour anywhere near you.

I second this comment. They will be touring again this Summer, including a swing to LA, so get to a show before they become a bigger deal. You'll probably never be able to see them in this intimate setting and have this sort of access to the band again. One blogger I read today said that Paul told him they would be re-releasing Hometowns on a label this summer. They did not say this to me on Saturday, but Amy hinted at it.

They gave a fantastic show in D.C. on Saturday. Here's the set-list with my comments:

1. TBD - This is a new song that I heard them play on the fireside clip on Paste Magazine's website and during the WOXY in-studio performance that I posted a link to this morning. This song is not yet named. It is a more Americana tune with Nils on guitar and Paul not playing at his drum kit, but on Amy's single drum. A nice melodic start to the show.

2. Rush Apart - this one is fun to see live. The song starts off with Paul and Amy taking turns on Amy's drum. Then, half way through the song, Paul moves to his drum kit for the percussive ending.

3. The Ballad of the RAA - when I was talking to Amy before the show, she said that they don't open with this song anymore, because it is some of Nils' strongest, most nasally vocals. Nils really threw himself into the vocals, and it was really powerful. I saw people starting to creep forward towards the stage as they were getting more into the performance.

4. Don't Haunt this Place - The RAA was the middle act in a three act show. The 1st and 3rd act were using the same drum kit, but Paul wanted to use his own. So, his drums were put off to the side instead of in the back like most concerts. I don't know if the band does this all the time, but they should. Paul is a lot of fun to watch on the drums, and this is some of his best drum work. And, of course Nils' and Amy's harmony was incredible.

5. In the Summertime - I did not expect them to play this, because I had read somewhere of people being disappointed when they didn't play it. It was a nice spot in the show to play this, because the rest of the show was balls to the wall rocking.

6. Deathbridge in Lethbridge - By the end of this song, they completely had the crowd. Nils really worked the crowd into a frenzy with this one.

7. Frank AB - I read somewhere that this song did not translate well live, because the "woo hoo a hoo" harmonies between Nils and Amy are hard to do. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, hearing the song live really fleshes out Nils' and Amy's voices, making the "woo hoo a hoo" parts even more haunting.

8. Drain the Blood - I believe Nils introduced this song by saying they were going to rock somemore - and they did. About this time, I noticed a bunch of guys push forward from the back of the hall to the front and really get into the show.

9. Luciana - Amazing live. I still can't make out the lyrics.

10. Four Night Rider - like elf said, Nils explained that the inspiration for this song was a group of kids who tried to escape their small town for the big city on their bicycles. I understand that eMusic almost made them leave out this, Edmonton, and The Deadroads from the eMusic Selects release. I'm glad the band stuck to their guns, because this and Edmonton are awesome songs to end a show with.

11. Edmonton - Terrific closer. The crowd cheered for more, but unfortunately there was another band afterwords, so there was no encore. Apparently, they couldn't do "Goodnight" because of the three acts on the bill. Hopefully they will do that in LA, because I think that is something you really need to witness.

Favorable review of the song "Don't Haunt This Place" on Cokemachineglow. Nice to see at least one of the semi-popular indie review sites giving them some attention.

Here's a cool feature on the RAA on Radioexile, which include an interview, and four songs from their performance at the Presbyterian Church at SXSW - "Drain the Blood", "Four Night Ridder", "Frank AB", and "Edmonton".

RAA on Radioexile

Great story. I long thought Hometowns to be the second best album of last year, but now I'm not so sure. The album is fantastic and is probably worthy of replacing Deerhunter's number one spot on that list.

Current highlight is Frank, AB.

There is a live session at Hear Ya, where you can download the MP3s, including the new untitled songs that they have been playing at their shows. Here's the link:

The RAA Hear Ya Live Session

quote:

Originally posted by The Fall of Troy:
There is a live session at Hear Ya, where you can download the MP3s, including the new untitled songs that they have been playing at their shows. Here's the link:

The RAA Hear Ya Live Session

That was a nice track, bro. It'll sound even better out of the studio.

We did it!!!!!!

The RAA is no longer the best unsigned band in Canada . . . because they've signed to a label.

This announcement went up on Saddle Creek's website today:

The RAA on Saddle Creek

Yea us!!!

So, new bands sign to record labels all the time. It's interesting that RAA's signing to Saddle Creek actually made Pitchfork's front page news reel.

quote:

Originally posted by Shadrach:
So, new bands sign to record labels all the time. It's interesting that RAA's signing to Saddle Creek actually made Pitchfork's front page news reel.

That was the shocker for me. I was expecting a site like Cokemachineglow (a site that has actually mentioned them in the past) to post the news. Congrats nonetheless.

Certainly, a glowing P4K review will be in short order once the album is re-released. They are on their way.

Here's to avoiding the sophomore slump.

Pretty happy for them as well. They deserve lots and lots of love.

Who wants to start a betting pool for what p4k will award the RAA with when they finally review Hometowns?

I'll go out on a limb and say something between 8.7 and 9.0, along with a BNM.

The metacritic rating will probably land at something between an 8.5 and 8.7, around where most great albums seem to be landing these days (does anything get 9.0 + anymore?).

quote:

Originally posted by crob3888:
I'll go out on a limb and say something between 8.7 and 9.0, along with a BNM.

I hate to bust a lot of the bubbles around here, but its not that good. Its not bad, just not as spectacular as you would believe from reading this thread. Anyways, I'll guess low 8's, probably around 8.1. That may still get them Best New Music.