RA RA RIOT @ Bowery Ballroom - Fri 3/7 and @ Living Room - 3/9

Syracuse, NY's Ra Ra Riot will be playing a couple of shows in the city this weekend, both of which should be very cool. Following the untimely death of John Pike, the original drummer this summer, the band has regrouped and are creating some refreshing and heartfelt music. SPIN magazine claimed they are "one of the best young bands we've heard in a really long time." Big words from a very powerful publication, but it would be hard to argue otherwise. They fit the indie rock bill quite nicely (save for some beautiful cello/violin work), but they have some other intangible quality that most bands do not have. It's a wonder why they are still unsigned. It would be worth your time to check these guys out, the Ballroom Show is sold out, but you can still snag a ticket for the Living Room show.

RIYL: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Cursive, Spinto Band, Yo La Tengo, ZOX

Ra Ra Riot performing "Dying is Fine" live in Chicago:

DJ STEVE SHELLEY @ Googie’s – Thursday 1/11

The Lower East Side’s hotspot The Living Room has a newly renovated upstairs stage where faithful scenesters can see the occasional live show in a very intimate setting. This Thursday, you will be able to catch Sonic Youth’s very own Steve Shelley on the decks. When not drumming for the seminal New York noise pioneers, Steve has been known to DJ at various clubs in and around Manhattan, but don’t expect and insane scratching, as he has a much more laid back approach to the turntables. He has made a career out of adding ambiance for people in the know and Thursday should be no different. You should be able to expect some good tunes such as Suicide and Kraftwerk.


RIYL: Sonic Youth

BE GOOD TANYAS w/ Katy Pfaffl @ Living Room – Thu 10/26 - $15

Blending country and folk music, the Be Good Tanyas, continue the female singer/songwriter genre, channeling such predecessors as Joni Mitchell and Emmylou Harris. With gentle guitars and reflective lyrics, this trio deserves to be in a class with contemporaries such as Neko Case and Laura Cantrell. They will be playing the Living Room this Thursday with the up-and-coming Katy Pfaffl, so for a relaxing night of good folk music, check them out.

Here is their website.