Review: RAA @ Bowery Ballroom
Words By: Jonathan “Kos” Kosakow
Nils Edenloff, Amy Cole and Paul Banwatt, who together comprise The Rural Alberta Advantage, occupied many nights of their 2005 lives at an open mic night in Cabbagetown, outside of Toronto. Three years later, the trio released their first album, Hometowns
It was apparent that they were still getting used to this success on Wednesday night, when a near capacity crowd at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom played host to one of their last scheduled shows of the year. Between songs, Cole and Banwatt shuffled back and forth between instruments (they both switched between percussion and synthesizer, though Banwatt favored the full drum-kit). Edenloff nervously stopped to remark on their thankfulness for playing in front of such dedicated fans. Though when the music started, it was clear that they were in their element. READ ON for more of Jonathan’s experience seeing RAA…
Each song in their repertoire could play host to a solitary drive or an inebriated living room gathering. Edenloff’s nostalgic yet painful acoustic songs of living in rural Alberta are driven forward by Banwatt’s fast, almost dubstep, drumming. The juxtaposition of the two leaves you somewhere between dancing and nodding your head at the poignant lyrics. Joined by Cole’s smooth vocals and synth work, the trio welds into a single solid sonic state. Above all though, Edenloff’s nasal voice rings throughout the room on softer tunes like The Ballad of the RAA and In the Summertime, and grabs hold of the audience on the louder, percussion driven Drain the Blood and The Deadroads.
The set wrapped up quickly, after only forty-five minutes, but the RAA made sure to go out on a high note. Edenloff returned to the stage on his own to a play an impressive acoustic version of Eye of the Tiger, making sure to omit any fist-pumping Sylvester Stallone references. He was then joined by his band mates for two final songs, including the rocking tribute to a lost love in a Canadian town, Dethbridge in Lethbridge.
The RAA wraps up their tour this weekend with shows at Burlington’s Higher Ground; Northampton, MA’s Iron Horse; and Buffalo’s Soundlab.
[...] In our continuing effort to keep tabs on the coming and goings of past Blips artists, we’re pleased to see Boston electro-rockers Passion Pit – who are currently in the midst of lengthy world tour – will be graduating from the club circuit with their first scheduled dates for 2010. When the band returns stateside, they will play their highest profile headlining show to date at NYC’s cavernous airplane hanger of a venue, Terminal 5, on January 8. They will be joined by The Rural Alberta Advantage – who we reviewed last week. [...]
[...] by admin on Oct.14, 2009, under General In our continuing effort to keep tabs on the coming and goings of past Blips artists, we’re pleased to see Boston electro-rockers Passion Pit – who are currently in the midst of lengthy world tour – will be graduating from the club circuit with their first scheduled dates for 2010. When the band returns stateside, they will play their highest profile headlining show to date at NYC’s cavernous airplane hanger of a venue, Terminal 5, on January 8. They will be joined by The Rural Alberta Advantage – who we reviewed last week. [...]