Ra Ra Riot – The Fonda Theatre, Hollywood, CA 9/14/13

Not every show will be a sell-out, but how a band responds to a less-than-stellar turnout shows a true test of its character.

After taking the stage at The Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, the members of Ra Ra Riot seemed visibly disappointed by the low turnout, approximately a third of the venue’s 1,200 seat capacity. While they didn’t verbalize that disappointment, it seemed to come through in a rather slow start to the evening.

Sure, fans were swaying back and forth, bobbing their heads to the music, but there just seemed to be a sense of energy and excitement missing on the stage, and in the crowd. However, it’s not how a show starts that really matters, but how it finishes.

About two-thirds of the way through set, things picked up. Whether it be the crowd perking up after hearing the band play the popular “Beta Love” from the band’s third and recent album of the same name, or the band feeding off that energy, things seemed to click between performers and fans.

With pockets of group dancing breaking out sporadically across the floor, the band picked up its pace and began moving on stage with more enthusiasm and purpose.

Once warmed up, the members started to mesh and show their true strengths as performers: singer Wes Miles showcased his vocal range; guitarist Milo Bonacci grooved and moved across the stage; Kenny Bernard feverishly hammered away on drums; Mathieu Santos dropped bass bombs with percision; and violinist Rebecca Zweller passionately swept her bow across the strings. Collectively, everyone came together at the right time to create the feel-good dance-pop rock that the band has become known for.

By show’s end, the band seemed to put aside the low turnout and enjoyed the moment performing for the devoted fans in attendance. And while many fans today seem to expect an encore and don’t cheer enough to truly warrant a return performance, that was not the case with this crowd.

After concluding the set with “I Shut Off,” fans shouted and cheered for the band to return to the stage at a decibel worthy of a sell-out venue. In kind, they were rewarded with two additional songs, including the spirited show-closer “Ghost Under Rocks,” with each band member jamming intently on their respective instruments and ending the night on a high note.

Brooklyn’s Caveman kicked off the night with its unique blend of indie-rock. At first glance at the band’s setup, one might think the overload of percussions might dominate the sound created. However, Caveman melds together all instruments and showcases each at various times, creating a multi-layered sound that is every bit psychedelic as it is it tribal.