Live Review: Ragdoll, Dellacoma Rio & The Dark Horses

Support act Dellacoma Rio & The Dark Horses is essentially an all-star jam with Ragdoll's Leon Todd on guitar, Troy Navidan (Ragdoll's producer) on bass and Matt Ferguson behind the drum kit. Together, they created something a little bit special.

The band (who had only rehearsed once, the night before) put on a killer set of '80s inspired hard rock, much to the delight of the punters. Helped along by frontman Rio, who regularly tore through the crowd (and at one point even leaving the venue to venture out in the streets of Northbridge during a guitar solo) they provided a great lead-in to the main act. 

But everyone was in The Boston to hear headliners Ragdoll launch their debut album Back To Zero. Double duty didn't slow down hyperactive guitarist Todd in the slightest, as the riff master not only showed off his mad fretboard skills but his rock star poses as well. 

Rock star moves aside, Ragdoll are a seriously talented trio, and their strength is in the music. Taking tracks from Back To Zero, including The World You Gave Us and Save Me, were enough to get the crowd surging towards the front of the stage. New tracks sounded heavier played live, both raw and polished at the time. Barefoot bass player/vocalist Ryan Rafferty's voice was almost flawless and from the smile on his face it was clear he was having a great time. Rafferty’s smile was only eclipsed by Todd’s whose smile was permanent plastered on his face. It was hard to see whether Cam Barrett was grinning or not hidden behind his drum kit but with sweat, hair and arms flying everywhere it certainly looked and sounded like he was having a ball. If the new tracks weren't enough (and they were) Ragdoll's cover of the Dio classic Holy Diver just about brought the house down. The biggest cheer was saved for the final song (and new single) of the night, Playing God. 

Ragdoll play hard rock the way it should be played: raw, loud and with bucketloads of passion. The band's energy is infectious with headbanging, fist pumping and horns up. Rafferty thanked the punters for coming out to support them and live music in general. After a show like that it would be hard to think of a better way to spend a Friday night in the city.