Ra Ra Riot + Givers, One Eyed Jacks, New Orleans

As one of the headliners of Foburg Music Festival, Ra Ra Riot give a wonderful performance; the venue is packed with folks from every walk of life. The Luyas, an ethereal outfit from Canada, and Givers, a semi-local powerful quintet, open for them.

Givers are possibly the best balance to Ra Ra Riot. The two sounds, different and similar all at once, give a sense of fullness; both bands exude a sense of sun and frivolity. They make good use of Carribbean beats and have a crazy amount of energy. Their lead singer is a charismatic girl who used to wear face paint and headbands, but has since moved on to long hair that falls in her face as she moves to the music. They could be a sensation with their catchy, sunny songs that are also musically pretty challenging.

Now, Ra Ra Riot are a different story; instead of projecting the youthful, all over the place exuberance of Givers, they come off seasoned and focused. They know exactly how they want each song, each beat and each moment. It’s an incredibly fun night, and an interesting experience to hear the two bands playing in juxtaposition.