On The Verge

Rah Rah

Regina, Saskatchewan
Mutually Assured Inspiration
www.rahrahband.com

The high-energy Canadian sextet Rah Rah try to have fun with their often theatrical performances and engage their audience, whether it’s by “shooting off confetti, tossing out giant balloons or breaking heart-shaped piñatas,” says Marshall Burns (guitar, vocals). “I see the studio and the stage as two distinct art forms and our live show reinforces that idea.” Also known for their instrument swapping, Rah Rah have undergone several iterations since Burns first played music with high school friend Erin Passmore (drums/guitar/keyboards) circa 2004. The indie-rock group released their third album (and U.S. debut) The Poet’s Dead in October. “When we get together to start writing, it is a process of mutual inspiration cultivated from all of our diverse musical and non-musical experiences,” Burns offers. He says that the band plays tunes that sound “like a back-alley street fight between Steve Earle and the girls from Fleetwood Mac, [and] Karen O is taking bets on the side,” and notes the influence of Crazy Horse, ‘90s hip-hop, Björk and David Bowie among individual band members. As for what’s next: “Just touring to promote the new record,” Burns says. “Hopefully, we’ll be spending a good chunk of time in the U.S. over the next year where everything is cheap and maybe go back over to Europe where nothing is cheap but everything is awesome!”