Finally got to actually see a show at the Loft last night (Rheinborg and I couldn’t wait long enough for MSTRKRFT earlier this year) and it was an incredibly solid show from two up and coming indie bands that I am a pretty big supporter of, Chicago’s own Walter Meego and Syracuse’s Ra Ra Riot. Both have had new albums out this year, and while stylistically they may operate in different arenas, they came together for some good tunage last night.

First up when we arrived was The Morning Benders. Didn’t really know much about these guys, and kind of still don’t. We listened a little bit to them, but they had the sound mixed really fucking loud for them so to save our ears for the later sets we chilled on the patio for most of their set. Big fan of the patio btw.

Anyway, after they finished and they turned the stage over, Walter Meego came on to a rather sparse crowd. I think these guys are still not that well known, despite having a song in a Heineken commercial, so although the crowd was maybe a little thin, they still put on a good show. I first caught these guys opening for VHS or Beta last year at the good ole Subterranean, and they were good there, and good here as well. They launched through most of the new album, bringing the jams with “Girls” and “Forever”. They really are a neat combination of rock and dance music, with some cool little solos and guitar parts layered with dance beats. They put on a solid show and I would really recommend checking them out if you get a chance, plus they are from Chicago so there’s nothing wrong with that.

After Walter Meego hit it, then Ra Ra Riot came to the stage. As I said, they are fairly different sounding bands, with Ra Ra Riot not really being a dance rock kind of band at all, although they have great stage energy and certainly rock out to the maximum possible extent for any band having a cellist and a violin player (btw, I think I am sort of in love with the cellist, Alexandra Dawn, call me, seriously). Whereas Meego rocked it with just 3 guys, Ra Ra Riot crowded 6 people onto the Loft’s stage and still managed to jump around and go crazy without anyone getting seriously injured.

I first caught these guys at Double Door last year with The Cribs, and was one of those situations where you show up early, not really knowing/expecting much out of the opener, and then they really surprise and impress you. I thought they were really good when I saw them last time, and they didn’t disappoint me this time either. They have a cool high energy show that really fleshes out the more subdued nature of the album, where the strings are maybe highlighted a bit more, but they bring it to the stage with a lot more rocking out involved, but the strings never really get drowned out or overshadowed, so it works extremely well. The strings add a great element to the songs and really interact very well with the rest of the band, with the guitars and strings flowing together through each song, building off one another.

These guys are also up and coming, and are certainly doing very well so far, with a great live show building off of their recently release album “The Rhumb Line”, which I reviewed a little while ago. It is sometimes rare to get a tour like this with two very solid bands that could really stand on their own, and I would really recommend checking them out on the rest of this tour if you can. Plus, how many rock bands have you seen that have a smokin’ hot cellist? Probably not too many. My point is made. See the show.

Check out all my photogs from the show here.

Ra Ra Riot – Dying Is Fine – From The Rhumb Line
Walter Meego – Girls – From Voyager