Syracuse, New York’s Ra Ra Riot hold the unsettling position of breaking out because of tragedy. The body of drummer John Pike, 23, a long-time member and songwriter for the sextet since the group’s salad days as music students at Syracuse University, was found drowned in seven feet of water on the shores of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts on June 3, 2007 after being reported missing for 24 hours from a friend’s house party. The next day, NME and Pitchfork ran stories detailing the death, while the very young, very inexperienced and very pained band?— who were about to tour for the very first time with Tokyo Police Club on the strength of their six-song self-titled EP — tried to come to terms with their loss as well as their sudden popularity.

 “At first we weren’t sure what to do… it was such a shock,” says violinist Rebecca Zeller during the band’s sound check at a much-hyped stopover at the Bowery Ballroom, their first with a temporary drummer. “We thought about breaking up, and whether or not that was the right thing. It was really John’s family who helped us make it through the tragedy. We think now that it’s a nice way to honour his memory, to not stop the music he helped to create.”
 “We hope he’d be proud of us,” adds vocalist Wesley Miles.

This precarious fame isn’t an accident; it comes with an incredible product. Seeing Ra Ra Riot is like being on the brink of something deliciously inexplicable. The cutie-pie six-member band (whose instrumentation is comprised of keyboards, strings, guitars and drums) circle each other onstage like prize-fighters, changing places onstage to bring a sense of drama to their orchestral-tinged indie-rock, as though they’re sweating something out. This onstage catharsis has earned Ra Ra Riot accolades describing them as the definitive festival band. Invited on stage at SXSW ’07 when Architecture in Helsinki couldn’t make it to a performance, Ra Ra Riot dashed through the streets of Austin, Texas with 20 lb. cellos slung across their backs and arrived to major applause. (“We ended up eating a lot of barbeque,” notes Miles.) Another featured performance at CMJ earned them an equally unexpected reaction.

 “At CMJ, we pulled up in three cars to New York — our parents’ cars — feeling so insignificant,” says Miles.

 “We actually figured no one would show up, and it turned out that there was all this buzz,” says guitarist Milo Bonacci. “At the time we were just playing to have fun. And I think maybe that’s what people keep responding to because we really enjoy what we’re doing. People tuned into our happiness at being onstage, and I don’t think a lot of bands do that.”

And then there’s “Dying is Fine,” the band’s six-minute centrepiece penned by the late Pike, which prominently features a hooky, string-swelled chorus that urges “I wouldn’t like death if death were good.” The bouncing ballad “Can You Tell” is the sweetest come-on you’ll ever hear (Miles’ revelation “Oh baby do you know / I think about you nightly” will pretty much melt your heart) while “Everest” manages a feverish blend of gyrating bass, cowbell and violins that sway to-and-fro while buzzing like bees beneath the singer’s harmonious id. Melodious and masterful, their eclectic influences and classical training transcend the inevitable blogosphere-driven Arcade Fire comparisons.

 “Just because there are six of us and we play strings doesn’t mean we sound like the Arcade Fire. That’s just lazy,” says cellist Alexandra Lawn.

“If I had a band, I’d want it to sound like us,” says guitarist Milo Bonnaci.
 “Well, you do have a band,” points out violinist Rebecca Zeller.

 “Yeah, I know. I’m just saying that I’d like it to sound the way we do,” Bonnaci replies.
While the band still live with their parents, practicing in Zeller’s basement in Frenchtown, NJ when not on tour, their first headlining tour and forthcoming full-length in the spring on Rebel Group Records should help them get back on their feet. 

Notes Miles, “Our manager Josh always tries to rile us up before we play. He’ll say, ‘Are you ready, guys? Now go crazy!’ That’s our mantra now: have fun and/or go crazy.”

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