I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: December 7, 2024] Rocket

I’ve known of (and enjoyed some of) Ride’s music for decades.  I was never a huge fan, but there were a few songs that I liked a lot.

Last year, Ride played a show with the Charlatans, but a snowstorm kept me away.  So here was another chance to see them.

I hadn’t heard of the opening band (there are a few different bands called Rocket).  And it’s not lost one me that the marquee would read Rocket Ride.

This band is from LA and holy cow, they scratched just about every musical itch I had.

Soft female vocals, shoegaze to heavy crunchy guitars.  It was all there.  I loved every second of their set.

When the first chord change of Portrait Show was exactly what I hoped it would be, I knew this band was for me.

I wished that Alithea Tuttle’s vocals were a little louder (it’s probably because I was standing s close to the stage) although the quieter mix worked well with the overall sound.  Her bass was great though, understated and used perfectly to emphasize some of the songs. 

I was in front of one of the guitarists Baron Rinzler or Desi Scaglione.  The other guitarist did most of the solos, but my guitarist did play some too.  My guitarist was more responsible for the loud/soft dynamics of the chords.   Drummer Cooper Ladomade hit hard but didn’t overwhelm.

Since I didn’t know them at all, it wasn’t always clear if the songs were long or were two songs that segued into each other.

Although the deliberate opening of the crazy catchy On Your Heels set it apart (and it was great).

I had really wanted to get a setlist for them just so I knew what they played, but sadly I didn’t see one.  After that I loved the quiet/loud bursts in Normal to Me.

They played one quieter song, Pipe Dream that did build to a screaming guitar solo in the middle (which was pretty awesome).  The last couple of songs were longer jams that pushed their set to about 40 minutes.

I would have liked to have got some merch from them, but the line was pretty long.  I did get to tell Alithea that I loved their band.  I would certainly see them again if they came back to Philly.

1. Portrait Show
2. Sugarcoated
3. Gator
4. On Your Heels
5. Normal to Me
6. Pipe Dream
7. Hot Air Balloon
8. Long Song