Who? Syracuse, NY’s indie rock wunderkinds Ra Ra Riot. After culling fans with 2007’s well-received self-titled EP, the band’s much-anticipated debut full-length, entitled The Rhumb Line, will finally arrive Aug. 19 via Barsuk.
What? A lengthy 32-date outing, set to kick off Sept. 3 in Montreal. From there, the quintet will hit cities across America’s heartland with pop experimentalist Walter Meego opening all dates. After a trek down the West Coast, Berkley, CA’s the Morning Benders will join Ra Ra Riot for a jaunt through the Southwest and a run up the East Coast from Orlando, FL to Cambridge, MA.
More on SPIN.com: >> Video: SXSW ’08: Ra Ra Riot, “Dying is Fine” >> Video: SXSW ’08 interview >> MP3: “Each Year” >> Ra Ra Riot Sign to Barsuk, Drop Debut Aug. 19
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Should I Go? Absolutely. Ra Ra Riot are no stranger to the road, having honed their craft on marathon outings. And the band’s sound has only benefited, as the quintet proved with an acoustic rendition of “Dying is Fine” at the SPIN and MySpace San Jacinto Saloon at SXSW ’08. Plus, the tour may be fans’ last chance to catch Ra Ra Riot in small clubs, as the band — with The Rhumb Line‘s catchy tunes plowing the way — are certainly bound for larger venues.
Ra Ra Riot tour dates:
9/3, Montreal, Quebec (TBA)9/4, Toronto, Ontario (Horseshoe Tavern)9/5, Jamestown, NY (Mojo’s)9/6, Rochester, NY (Bug Jar)9/7, Syracuse, NY (Syracuse University)9/9, Columbus, OH (The Basement)9/10, Cleveland, OH (Case Western)9/11, Chicago, IL (Subterranean)9/12, Minneapolis, MN (7th Street Entry)9/14, Lawrence, KS (Jackpot Saloon)9/16, Denver, CO (Hi Dive)9/17, Salt Lake City, UT (Kilby Court)9/18, Boise, ID (Neurolux)9/20, Seattle, WA (King Cobra)9/21, Vancouver, British Columbia (TBA)9/22, Portland, OR (Doug Fir Lounge)9/24, San Francisco, CA (Rickshaw Stop)9/25, Los Angeles, CA (The Echo)9/28, San Diego, CA (The Casbah) * 9/29, Phoenix, AZ (Modified) *9/30, Tucson, AZ (Plush) * 10/2, Dallas, TX (TBA) * 10/3, Austin, TX (Stubb’s) * 10/4, Houston, TX (Rudyards) * 10/7, Orlando, FL (The Social) * 10/8, Tallahassee, FL (Club Downunder) * 10/10, Atlanta, GA (Drunken Unicorn) * 10/11, Chapel Hill, NC (Local 506) * 10/12, Washington, DC (Black Cat Backstage) * 10/14, Baltimore, MD (Ottobar) * 10/15, Philadelphia, PA (Johnny Brenda’s) * 10/18, Cambridge, MA (Middle East Downstairs) *
(* w/ the Morning Benders)
