Three Cheers for Ra Ra Riot!

Although their fans may have been covered in glitter left over from queercore opening act PWR BTTM, do not let the whimsy deceive you: Ra Ra Riot has done a lot of growing up since its founding 10 years ago at Syracuse University. The crowd that assembled at Paradise Rock Club on a frigid Boston night looked like it could well have grown up with the band, and indeed its members’ excitement was as palpable as that of a young child waiting to enter a Bouncy Castle.

Their 10th anniversary is clearly a time of reflection for Ra Ra Riot, and in an introspective Tumblr post this January they wondered internet-aloud: “Are we old? Are we young? Are we silvering warhorses galloping over-the-hill, our minds and bodies beginning to succumb to time’s ceaseless progression (likely), or are we just now on the verge of our band’s pubescence, ready to plow headlong into a decade of hormonal turmoil and regrettable experiments in fashion?” The twenty-somethings in the crowd could clearly relate to these questions as much as their something-teen selves related to an adolescent Ra Ra Riot’s lyrical themes of love in a time of uncertainty. The fact that this post was published on a medium most often frequented by angsty 16-year-old girls should in no way invalidate the sincerity of its content.

While its members no longer look like they have a 50/50 shot at getting carded at R-rated movies, Ra Ra Riot has clearly maintained the dynamic onstage presence that originally made it famous, trading manic for mature and self-conscious for self-aware without sacrificing authenticity. “We still got a lot of nervous energy up on the stage here tonight. This is only the second show of our first real tour in two and a half years,” lead singer Wes Miles said. Feeding off each other's’ enthusiasm, bandmates exchanged smiles throughout the performance that felt at once ironic and intimate.

Anybody with doubts about Miles’s vocal abilities needed to listen no further than the first few bars of opening song “Binary Mind.” The upbeat rendition showcased his pleading falsetto with a clarity that did not falter for the remainder of the performance. Bassist Mathieu Santos stood to his side sporting a Bruins jersey, which was the only thing distinguishing his onstage aesthetic from that of an early Rivers Cuomo. Flanking him on the other side was Rebecca Zeller, whose sparkly violin caught the physical spotlight as much as her impressive musical skills caught the metaphorical one. Fortunately, despite recently adding more synth and percussion to its sound, Ra Ra Riot has not altogether forsaken the creatively complex string-filled arrangements that characterized its earlier songs. Miles’s tambourine was a nice touch but didn’t overwhelm Zeller’s ability to play a dainty instrument while looking utterly badass.

About midway through the show, Miles said, “We’re gonna do something a little different here. Something we haven’t done before.” Donning glasses, an acoustic guitar, and an even more earnest expression (if that’s possible), he launched into an acoustic version of “Bad Times” that was poignant and delightful and served as a surprisingly pleasant change of pace. The subsequent transition from this song’s darker lyrics to the simple brightness of older hit “Dance With Me” kept the mood as positive as their blog post’s plea-promise to “just come, it’s going to be a blast.”

Although Ra Ra Riot was careful to intersperse its new material with several of its more well-known tracks, the audience’s dedication to the band was evident when they consistently and confidently sung the lyrics to songs released only days before on Feb. 19.

As the show came to a close, Miles once again waxed meditative. “It’s been quite a whirlwind,” he said, “but we’re feeling pretty amazing right now…. Thanks for singing along. It feels so good.” Despite getting temporarily confused and trying to walk off stage with two songs left to play, Miles made up for it with an agile kick-jump that punctuated his farewell wishes: “Hope you guys had as much fun as we did. Take it easy.”

Melodically imploring, “Don’t punish me for what I feel,” Miles ended the show with “Water,” the first song off of new album “Need Your Light.” This was a fitting end to a performance that demonstrated that Ra Ra Riot is proud of where it’s been, excited for where it’s going, and rightfully unapologetic for any musical changes its maturation has brought. Fans need not fear that this stage represents the end of the band’s graceful evolution, however. If their statement that “we’re just getting started, and we’ve still got a lot to learn,” is any indication of future developments, there are many more impassioned encores and songs about Bouncy Castles still to come.

—Staff writer Liza H. McPherson can be reached at liza.mcpherson@thecrimson.com.