Hurray for the Riff Raff “It Don’t Mean I Don’t Love You” Review
Unfortunately for the band Hurray for the Riff Raff their name brings to mind images of a rock band comprised entirely of children (or worse, just Richard O’Brien). In reality though, the band’s sound is much more refined than the moniker would suggest. The Louisianan four-piece plays old-timey banjo and accordion folk music in a similar vein to Minneapolis’ own Dark Dark Dark, Lucy Michele, or Roma Di Luna. While they don’t really detour widely from the genre’s tried and true orthodoxy, their music doesn’t suffer for lack of originality. Their dusty melodies evoke images of a bygone era, one when Appalachia-bound immigrants brought over the folk tunes of their native lands and melted them into the pot that would become American folk.
Hurray recently self-released their debut record It Don’t Mean I Don’t Love You, an enchanting collection of low-fi folksiness. The band exhibits ample musicianship on the accordion, banjo, violin and even singing saw, but it is Alynda Lee Segarra’s vocals that are the real star of the show. Her alto is earthy and haunting all at once—evincing a pastoral and deeply naturalistic yearning. Though Segarra’s manner is melancholy, for the most part the tunes affect a good natured sweetness rather than downright depression. Tracks like “Here it Comes,” “Baby Blue,” and “Junebug Waltz” contain lilts that—if not danceable—are somewhat upbeat. “Fly Away” and “Amelia’s Song” and “Daniella” are a little less buoyant, but Segarra’s pipes sound just as good floating over spare banjo plucking than they do with a fuller backing sound. “Daniella” is particularly notable for its delicate touch with the pedal steel that is just present enough to not overwhelm the song with a country and western feel. Lastly there is a slow-paced dirge-like quality to tunes like “Skin and Bones” and “Dance of Death,” due to a somewhat sinister sounding accordion.
Though the band remains rooted south of the Mason Dixon for the time being, it seems to have a rambling nature that has led it all over the country. They have even played Minneapolis once or twice in the past year, stopping by the Bedlam Theatre as well as Radio K last summer. It shouldn’t be too long until they return, but for now the full album can be purchased via Amazon.