“The Rhumb Line reminds us why we cared about this band in the first place. Its mournful cellos and haunting violins are dissonantly if pleasingly matched with triumphant rhythms and exultant melodies, resulting in a record that is at once grand and intimate.”–PITCHFORK
RA RA RIOT’s debut album The Rhumb Line (Barsuk) has entered the Nielsen Soundscan Top 200 U.S. album chart at #109, selling nearly 6000 units in its first week of release. The Rhumb Line’s first week sales also have also landed it at #1 and #2 respectively on the Alternative New Artist and Heatseekers charts.
The Rhumb Line will also be available in a limited edition orange vinyl edition with an exclusive fold out poster beginning September 2nd. The Syracuse NY-born band’s first full length has already generated some of the most universally positive response to any indie debut of recent years, with ROLLING STONE currently featuring the band in a full page Artists To Watch spread and recently awarding the record a 4- star review, hailing it as “a blissful chamber-pop breakthrough” and “ultimately life-affirming,” while ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY compared “the quintet’s assured performances” to “Unforgettable Fire-era U2” In other debut-related news, RA RA RIOT will make their first ever network television appearance September 2nd on LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN, while the video for album opener “Ghost Under Rocks” premiered on MTV’s Subterranean August 23rd and “Dying Is Fine” (Live in Syracuse NY) became the first in a series of live renditions of tracks from The Rhumb Line recorded live in an attic in the band’s hometown to stream on PITCHFORK (Three more live tracks from that session are now up at STEREOGUM, BROOKLYN VEGAN and MY OLD KENTUCKY BLOG). “Ghost Under Rocks” was directed by Brian Savelson (Band of Horses’ “Is There A Ghost” and “The Funeral”), while the Syracuse clips were captured 100% live by directors Taryn Gould and Emily Kowalcyzk.
See below for a full North American itinerary. For further information, contact Steve Martin or Laura Eldeiry at nasty little man 212 343 0740 or laura@nastylittleman.com
Ra Ra Riot Fall 2008 Tour Dates
09/03/08 – Montreal, QC – Lambi
09/04/08 – Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
09/05/08 – Jamestown, NY – Mojo’s
09/06/08 – Rochester, NY – Bug Jar
09/07/08 – Syracuse, NY – Syracuse University
09/08/08 – Columbus, OH – The Basement
09/10/08 – Cleveland, OH – Case Western
09/11/08 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean
09/12/08 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry
09/14/08 – Lawrence, KS – Jackpot Saloon
09/16/08 – Denver, CO – Hi Dive
09/17/08 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
09/18/08 – Boise, ID – Neurolux
09/20/08 – Seattle, WA – King Cobra
09/21/08 – Vancouver, BC – Media Club
09/22/08 – Portland, OR – Doug Fir Lounge
09/24/08 – San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Stop
09/25/08 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
09/28/08 – San Diego, CA – The Casbah
09/29/08 – Phoenix, AZ – Modified
09/30/08 – Tucson, AZ – Plush
10/02/08 – Dallas, TX – The Loft
10/03/08 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s
10/04/08 – Houston, TX – Rudyards
10/07/08 – Orlando, FL – The Social
10/08/08 – Tallahassee, FL – Club Downunder
10/10/08 – Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn
10/11/08 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
10/12/08 – Washington, DC – Black Cat Backstage
10/14/08 – Baltimore, MD – Ottobar
10/15/08 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brenda’s
10/16/08 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
10/17/08 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/18/08 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East Downstairs