Rah Rah (band)
Encyclopedia
Rah Rah is an indie rock band from Regina, Saskatchewan. They have toured cross-Canada and have released two albums.
(trumpet/guitar/vocals) and Marshall Burns (guitar/vocals). In 2006 they released the "Songs for Pasquale EP" independently and performed at the Regina Folk Festival
as well as Pop Montreal..
By 2007 Joel Passmore, formerly of Despistado
and currently in Sylvie
had joined the band on bass along with Samra Sahlu on keyboards and Kristina Hedlund on violin. The new five piece recorded their debut full length "Going Steady" which was released in November 2008 on Young Soul Records. Shortly thereafter Leif Thorseth, also formerly of Despistado
, joined the band on guitar.
In 2009 the band toured Canada extensively behind the album. The group also began work on their next record with producer Kees Dekker (Plants and Animals
) in Montreal.
In late May 2009 Rah Rah's song "Duet for Emmylou and the Grievous Angel" was available for free download on iTunes for a week. Also, the song "Tentacles" was available in Starbucks coffeeshops as the free download card of the week.
The band underwent another line-up change in the Fall of 2009 when Vanessa Benson (keyboards/vocals/bass) joined the group. Rah Rah was named "Best Alternative New Artist" and "Best New Canadiana Artist" in iTunes Best of 2009 list.
Rah Rah headlined the Whistler Live! stage one night during the 2010 Paralympic Games and performed at the Saskatchewan Pavilion.
The group has been noted for their energetic live shows which often feature Pop Rocks candy and confetti.
The band has performed with such notable acts as Wintersleep
, Mother Mother
, Malajube
, Said the Whale
, Bedouin Soundclash
, Library Voices
, Minus The Bear
and DD/MM/YYYY
.
History
Funded by Amelie G, a famous singer, the group formed as a three piece in 2005 made up of Erin Passmore (drums/vocals), Kyrie KristmansonKyrie Kristmanson
Kyrie Kristmanson is a Canadian singer/songwriter, guitarist and trumpeter. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, she has lived in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and in France. Since appearing at the 2006 Winnipeg Folk Festival at the age of fifteen, Kristmanson has performed widely in Canada and...
(trumpet/guitar/vocals) and Marshall Burns (guitar/vocals). In 2006 they released the "Songs for Pasquale EP" independently and performed at the Regina Folk Festival
Regina Folk Festival
The Regina Folk Festival is an annual folk music festival held in Victoria Park in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Occurring the second weekend in August, the festival is a three-day annual event that attracts around 20,000 people and over 500 volunteers. It is Western Canada's longest-running music...
as well as Pop Montreal..
By 2007 Joel Passmore, formerly of Despistado
Despistado
-History:Despistado was active from 2001 to 2004. The band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Dagan Harding, guitarist Leif Thorseth, bassist Joel Passmore and drummer Brenan Schwartz....
and currently in Sylvie
Sylvie
Sylvie is a Canadian musical group from Regina, Saskatchewan. It features singer/guitarist Joel Passmore, formerly of the now-disbanded Despistado, alongside bass player Riva Farrell Racette, guitarist Chris Notenboom, keyboardist Erin Passmore and drummer Jeff Romanyk...
had joined the band on bass along with Samra Sahlu on keyboards and Kristina Hedlund on violin. The new five piece recorded their debut full length "Going Steady" which was released in November 2008 on Young Soul Records. Shortly thereafter Leif Thorseth, also formerly of Despistado
Despistado
-History:Despistado was active from 2001 to 2004. The band consisted of vocalist and guitarist Dagan Harding, guitarist Leif Thorseth, bassist Joel Passmore and drummer Brenan Schwartz....
, joined the band on guitar.
In 2009 the band toured Canada extensively behind the album. The group also began work on their next record with producer Kees Dekker (Plants and Animals
Plants and Animals
Plants and Animals are a Canadian indie-rock band from Montreal which comprises guitarist-vocalists Warren Spicer and Nic Basque and drummer-vocalist Matthew Woody Woodley. They often describe their music as post-classic rock. They are signed to Secret City Records...
) in Montreal.
In late May 2009 Rah Rah's song "Duet for Emmylou and the Grievous Angel" was available for free download on iTunes for a week. Also, the song "Tentacles" was available in Starbucks coffeeshops as the free download card of the week.
The band underwent another line-up change in the Fall of 2009 when Vanessa Benson (keyboards/vocals/bass) joined the group. Rah Rah was named "Best Alternative New Artist" and "Best New Canadiana Artist" in iTunes Best of 2009 list.
Rah Rah headlined the Whistler Live! stage one night during the 2010 Paralympic Games and performed at the Saskatchewan Pavilion.
The group has been noted for their energetic live shows which often feature Pop Rocks candy and confetti.
The band has performed with such notable acts as Wintersleep
Wintersleep
Wintersleep is a Canadian indie rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia.-Background:Wintersleep formed in 2001 and released two albums with Dependent Music, a music label and artists' collective that began in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1994....
, Mother Mother
Mother Mother
Mother Mother is a five-piece Canadian indie rock band originally from Quadra Island, now based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Mother Mother consists of Ryan Guldemond on guitar and vocals, Molly Guldemond on vocals and keyboard, Jasmin Parkin on keyboard and vocals, Ali Siadat on drums, and...
, Malajube
Malajube
Malajube is a francophone indie rock band based in Montreal. The band has three albums out on Dare to Care Records.-History:Formed by a group of friends in Montreal, the band made itself known in 2004 with the release of its first album, Le Compte complet. Critics welcomed the disc with positive...
, Said the Whale
Said The Whale
Said the Whale is a Vancouver-based indie rock band started by Ben Worcester and Tyler Bancroft.Their debut EP Taking Abalonia was released in 2007. It was re-released with seven new songs on June 3, 2008 in Canada as a full-length LP under the name Howe Sounds/Taking Abalonia...
, Bedouin Soundclash
Bedouin Soundclash
Bedouin Soundclash is a Canadian band currently based in Toronto. Their sound can be described as reggae and ska.-History:The band's current lineup consists of vocalist and guitarist Jay Malinowski, and bassist Eon Sinclair with Sekou Lumumba on drums. Their debut album, Root Fire, released in 2001...
, Library Voices
Library Voices
Library Voices are a Canadian indie pop band from Regina, Saskatchewan. Formed in 2008 as a ten-piece group of musician friends, they have released two EPs and two full-length albums...
, Minus The Bear
Minus the Bear
Minus the Bear is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington. Founded in 2001, the group features current and former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving...
and DD/MM/YYYY
DD/MM/YYYY
DD/MM/YYYY was a Canadian experimental indie band from Toronto, Canada. They were known for their abstract music, which involves the use of unconventional instruments and combinations thereof, steadily changing time signatures and rotating member roles. They played their final show on 11/11/2011...
.
Current Members
- Erin Passmore - Vocals/Drums/Keyboard/Bass
- Marshall Burns - Vocals/Guitar/Bass
- Joel Passmore - Vocals/Bass/Drums
- Kristina Hedlund - Vocals/Violin/Accordian/Keyboard
- Leif Thorseth - Vocals/Guitar
- Vanessa Benson - Vocals/Keyboard/Bass
- Dan Crozier - Guitar
External links
- Rah Rah at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Rah Rah at CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3CBC Radio 3 is a radio station that consists of two parts devoted to Canadian arts and music: a radio service which is available on Sirius Satellite Radio and streaming audio, and several daily and weekly podcasts from the CBC Radio 3 website...