Rae and The Ragdolls
If I had to choose one word to describe Rae and the Ragdolls it would be electric. But you cannot sum them up in just one word. Passionate, commanding, charismatic, and most of all, magical, are all words that come to mind while watching them perform. Their unmatched stage presence coupled with an impressive catalogue of original songs and killer covers is something you just have to see for yourself. They are the kind of band that sends people who have never heard of them running to the merch table after the show because 40 minutes was not enough. In an industry where rock music is often overlooked, Rae and the Ragdolls are harnessing the energy and soul of the classic sounds of the 70’s and breathing a new life into the world of rock n roll.
Around two years ago I was scrolling through TikTok looking for new music to check out and Rae and the Ragdolls rolled across my For You page. The name alone caught my eye and their eclectic style got me to follow them and immediately check out their music. I was instantly hooked. After checking out some videos from their live shows around the Atlanta area, I knew I had to see this band live; and that finally happened at The Bash Music Festival the weekend of November 5th and 6th.
The Bash is a two day blues and americana festival in Gainesville, FL, hometown of Tom Petty, created to honor his legacy. Rae and the Ragdolls were scheduled to play Saturday night, but with a last minute opening in Sundays’ lineup, they were an obvious choice. I had the pleasure of attending both sets and when I say they were made to play on the big stage, I mean it. Their first set was on a makeshift stage and the way they worked it and got everyone in the crowd up and dancing blew me away. For their second set the played the main stage and absolutely killed it. The longer they played, the bigger the crowd grew, and everyone was in to it.
It’s not often you see such a young band with the level of musicality and stage presence as Rae and the Ragdolls. Their confidence and energy on stage rivals that of a band that has been doing this for years and it is so fun to watch. Lead singer and frontman Natasha “Rae” Wermers pulls you in the second she takes the stage with her dreamy and whimsical yet powerful voice. It is almost impossible to take your eyes off of her while she is jumping and dancing all over the stage. Doubling up on guitar, William Bennett Jr. and Spencer Lingle create a dynamic and powerful sound with the seamless blending of their music. Not to mention the paisley guitar and playing behind the head were pretty cool too. Bass is often overlooked but that is impossible to do with a bassist like Olivia Towe. Her bass pulls the songs together and she is effortlessly cool while doing it. Booming, thunderous drums that you feel in your chest are a must for rock n roll, and drummer Devon Hirsch played hard and held everything together.
I would say my favorite thing about this band is their effortless chemistry.It does not look like they are playing a part, they are just being themselves.They play like best friends who were made to do this and you feel their energy and passion radiating from the stage. I was excited to finally see this band play live after years of waiting, and after seeing them twice I cannot wait to see them again. If you are a fan of rock n roll I urge you to check out Rae and the Ragdolls and if you can catch one of their shows you would be a fool to miss it.