By DCist contributor Valerie Paschall

The members of Syracuse chamber pop act Ra Ra Riot are no strangers to high profile performances. In fact, it was their impressive showings at the two music industry behemoth festivals, CMJ and SXSW, which put them on the map as a band to watch. They have since opened for Bow Wow Wow, Art Brut and actually came through D.C. last month with Tokyo Police Club. They should be well-prepared for their first time at 9:30 Club tonight, as an opener for The Editors (who we reviewed here.

Saying that Ra Ra Riot has been through a whirlwind over the past year and a half would be one of those understatements that would put me up for nomination for a Captain Obvious Award. Ra Ra Riot has only had that long to generate hype as they just formed in January of 2006. Since then, they’ve released their self-titled EP twice, once on their own and again in July through The Rebel Group. In between these two releases, Ra Ra Riot drummer John Pike was found dead in Buzzard’s Bay, Mass., yet, at the wishes of Pike’s family, Ra Ra Riot has continued their relentless touring schedule.

Part of Ra Ra Riot’s live appeal has been their overall onstage magnetism. Although singer Wesley Miles stage presence has garnered comparisons to Jim Morrison, bassist Mathieu Santos and guitarist Milo Bonacci have gained notice for moves like resting their heads on each others’ shoulders while shredding their respective instruments.

Their self-titled EP shows that pretty tracks can still pack a punch. Miles sings with the lightness of Belle & Sebastian’s Stuart Murdoch and the strings of cellist Alexandra Lawn and violinist Rebecca Zeller also recall the precious Scottish act. However, those strings seem to suffer a thrashing usually reserved for Explosions in the Sky’s guitars, while the guitar melodies keep the songs full of listener-friendly hooks. Tonight’s show starts at 7:30 p.m. Biffy Clyro also opens.

Photo by Elliot Black from the band's MySpace page