Joe Lean & Ra Ra Riot...

I saw a number of bands last week with the most impressive of the unsigned type being an act called Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong  that I saw at Boogaloo for the second time in a fortnight. A bit of a buzz is starting to build up around this band because since I last saw them they have been in the NME radar pages and their demo was chosen by Zane Lowe to be his hottest record in the world last week. They impressed me again and after living with the demo for some time the songs have grown on me to the point that I'm singing them in my head all the time. I'm looking forwad to seeing them again in a few weeks now. 

    I have also been checking out a band from New York called Ra Ra Riot recently. They spent the back end of last week playing their first run of UK shows. I have known about them for a while as they were tipped after CMJ and SXSW by a number of people in the music business. I first saw them at the Proud Gallery in Camden last Thursday and despite their best effort the dodgy sound system all but ruined their show. However, I was lucky enough to see them the following night at Koko (a much larger venue with top sound) and this gig was far superior. Playing a handful of songs the band were definitely on form with a track called 'A Manner to Act,' standing out as my favourite. I would recommend this band to anyone who likes their US alt rock / indie and they can be found on myspace etc.