Ra Ra Riot, Cayucas, and The Ridges at 20th Century Theater

A full night of Indie Rock/Pop can be a treacherous thing, as it can go the way of somber and quiet, or bubbly and saccharine. A good night should consist of a clever mixture of the two. It stands to reason, then, that Friday August 23^rd at The 20th Century Theater is going to be a great night.

Fresh off of separate runs with Indie darlings/juggernauts The Postal Service and The Shins, dance and smile inducing Ra Ra Riot is embarking on a U.S headlining run with ethereal , sunny Cayucas and will be making a stop in Cincinnati. Bringing their individual takes on Indie Pop to bear on a group of fans no doubt ready for some fun, the band will be joined by Athens, Ohio’s The Ridges. Each band offers the listener something different, while all swimming happily in the same sonic pool. Where Ra Ra Riot is rambunctious and synth-driven, Cayucas relies on dreamy reverb and reminiscing melodies, both showing off the best aspects of what today’s modern Indie Pop bands have to share. The Ridges own style of Indie Folk will start things off, easing fans in to what’s sure to be one of the most memorable Friday nights they’ll have this year.

Adding to the proceedings, both Ra Ra Riot and Cayucas will be playing a wide selection of tracks from their new albums, both released earlier this year. Ra Ra Riot’s Beta Love is a celebration of brash and sophisticated electronica/synth pop, danceable but not overbearing, technical, yet accessible. Cayucas’ debut, Bigfoot, bristles with 50’s/60’s era melodies and arrangements, never sounding trite or derivative, and with enough modern flourishes and callbacks to keep things interesting. With a new album in the works, The Ridges, too, will have both new and old tracks to share with the audience, offering some exciting sneak peeks in to what they’ve been working on these last few months.

This will absolutely be one of the best ways to start out the weekend, especially for those of you heading back to school in the coming weeks. Show up ready to dance, though, and be prepared to leave exhausted. It’s going to be a great night in Cincinnati.

Ra Ra Riot
w/ Cayucas & The Ridges
Friday August 23^rd
20th Century Theatre
7p Doors / 8p Show

Jared Bowers

A former DIY booking dude with a love for under-heard bands and an appreciation for live music (when he can get to a show), Jared's a father of 2 super weird kids, married to an even weirder woman... and he wouldn't have it any other way. Writing about music since high school, he' evangelistic when it comes to the music he loves, friendly with everyone who cares to chat and always looking for the next noodly, off-time and mathy guitar driven band that nobody's ever hear of. He writes about local music and reviews albums as often as he's able.