Ra Ra Riot Keeps on Striking

Fresh off a tour with Death Cab for Cutie, life is looking good for the six members of Ra Ra Riot. Last time they played the Grog Shop, they were opening for Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin. Now they return to the venue as headliners, a position they have earned rightfully. Touring behind The Rhumb Line, the Syracuse-based band’s 2008 debut, the indie poppers continue wowing audiences with a unique take on rock – one injected with the blooming flourishes of cello and violin. The last time fancy string instruments sounded this good was in pop-punk band Yellowcard, and these New Yorkers figuratively have years and years of maturity on those SoCal punks. After this summer’s collaboration with Vampire Weekend’s Rostam Batmanglij in a side project they dubbed Discovery, RRR’s Wes Miles has probably stolen a few of VW’s fans. They two bands are of the same breed, bringing fans sheer happiness through a rush of choppy drums, bubblegum pop, and simple vocal incantations. RRR’s pals Princeton open with Chicago’s Maps & Atlases at 8 p.m. at the Grog Shop.