Ra Ra Riot

It wasn’t a surprise that the hottest spot for the first Friday night of the SU academic year was Marshall Street. Both Chuck’s and Faegan’s recently made a pretty heavily circulated list of the best college bars in the country after all. The real event to be at however was just below. That’s where hometown heroes Ra Ra Riot returned to perform an intimate, sold-out show at Funk N’ Waffles to kick-off their upcoming North American tour.

Despite the disappointment surrounding rumors of Kid Cudi falling through, there has been a surprisingly high amount of good shows announced around CNY in recent weeks.

Music probably isn't the first thing you think of when you hear Syracuse (it's probably not even one of the top five things you think of) That said, there's more going on than you'd imagine if you haven't been paying attention in 2009.  Presenting perhaps the first ever year-end music list specific to the 315...

"The Top Nine Syracuse Music Happenings of 2009"

9. Dust Off Your Page Readers

I was in Geneva, N.Y., last February solely to see Ra Ra Riot. It was a literal homecoming for CNY’s indie darlings, since guitarist Milo Bonacci is originally from Geneva.  And, as usual, their set didn’t disappoint. But yet another Ra Ra Riot triumph isn’t what I left raving about.

Instead, I was introduced that night to a duo from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., called Phantogram. They were the opener’s opener and, since it was held in the local opera house...