ra ra riot formed at syracuse university in 2006, six months later, they were asked to play the cmj music marathon.  soon after, spin called them "one of the best young bands we've heard in a really long time".  in early 2007 they made their first appearance at sxsw. 

tragically, in june 2007, the band's original drummer, 23 year old john ryan pike disappeared after a show in providence.  the body was discovered the next day and his death was determined an accidental drowning.  the band emerged more focused; their song "dying is fine" is a tribute to john.

their incredibly advanced debut album, the cello infused, the rhumb line (a nautical term for traveling in a constant direction), was released by barsuk records august 19, 2008.  according to lead vocalist wes miles, "it's about a course traveled by a group of individuals, and as a collective thing."

click here to listen to an in-studio interview/set recorded by wxpn for world café on october 13, 2008.  click here for in-studio interview/set recorded by wnyc soundcheck from august 29, 2008.  click here to listen to a set recorded at d.c.'s black cat by npr's all songs considered from october 12, 2008.  don't forget, the album cover image always links to sample songs and the band's image to their website.

ra ra riot has a few u.s. dates scheduled for your domestic viewing pleasure.  check here to see if they are coming to your town.

as always, please buy this album from your local independent music store by people who know and love music and not from retailers like wal-mart (soulless, globally-homogenizing, community-killers) or i-tunes (albums should be listened to as an entire composition with album cover and liner notes in hand).  incidentally, these two companies sell more music than any other retailer in the united states.  that my friend, bites.