_{By Ava Stone}

Sometimes I walk alone

Haunted by what I know

Expectations take control

Now I’m powdered gold

RALLY, “Pretender”

These were the opening lines the night of April 29th, 2023, as I stood tucked in the crowd at Velour, with about a hundred others hanging on every word. Right behind that first row, I watched RALLY’s frontman Alec Whitaker shout his story and saw his fellow bandmates answer these emotional cries with their own. For me, Songs From A Hotel Room (Night Side) will always be connected to the impact of this incredible release concert — so let’s dig into these gems.

The five-track EP opens with “Dusk.” It’s an ambient, almost liminal bridge between this release and its sister work, Songs From A Hotel Room (Day Side). It evokes a new kind of blue-hour heartache we haven’t seen before from RALLY. “Pretender” is the perfect follow-up track for that sunset scene; Alec’s signature beachy guitar tone demands your attention, even over the nocturnal sounds of the synths. Let’s also take a moment to appreciate the bass work; Duncan Mckay, the band’s appointed low-frequency man, is such a fun personality to watch on stage. His solid, sweet tone, in tandem with Sean Rostrom’s confident drum work, provides the foundation of this release. There often can be discrepancy between a band’s live sound and their studio sound, but as far as the rhythm section goes, the energy of these players is communicated loud and clear. 

Though “Pretender” embodies the main sound RALLY is after with this release, I think the true highlight for me is the next track, “Long Hair.” In this song, Duncan relieves Alec of his frontman duties to deliver the somewhat rebellious vocals on this upbeat track. “When I was only seventeen / ‘I swear, young man,’ he said to me, / ‘keep your hair trimmed short and your shirt tucked in / and this town is sure to take you in.’” This, delivered smilingly from an untucked, untrimmed young man, is some cheeky writing. I know I’m not the only one who resonates with this song’s theme of self-expression in the face of family and cultural pressures. From the “like-it-is” lyrics, to the plaintive guitar solo in halftime (we’re all suckers for halftime breakdowns, aren’t we?), this song continues to be one of my favorites from RALLY. 

In their final tracks, RALLY goes back to a more familiar pop-rock sound with “Notice Me.” It’s like something straight off a Two Door Cinema Club record. Ringing with synth and washed-out tremolo guitar but delivered with a bit of an edge, the real whiplash in this song was the lyrics. They explore what it feels like to gain security in one’s own skin, but they also seem to point a finger at those who notice this change in you — with the line “You heard what you deserve” holding a bit of a scathing undertone.

Their last track softens in tone as we near the end of the Night Side journey; “Hotel Girl” brings a somber and stirring tone. It’s a clever echo of the Day Side’s finale, “Hotel Room.” Fittingly, the sound reminds me of the transition time between late night and early morning. 

In the seas of indie-style rock, RALLY stands out with a distinct aesthetic and undeniable songwriting chops. I’ve followed RALLY since first stepping foot into the Provo-side scene, and this release is a reminder of why. Songs From A Hotel Room (Night Side) and (Day Side) came out over a year ago, and while it’s given us a beautiful storyline to ingest, I can’t help but feel it’s not enough of RALLY’s summer tones to chew on. We wait on pins and needles for the next installment of their soundscape! 

Make sure you follow RALLY on Instagram! You can listen to “Long Hair” below!