Local band records for popular live music website

A local band recently had the honor of joining an elite list of indie-rock bands – those who are featured on the increasingly popular Daytrotter.com website.

The Ridges, led by Victor Rasgaitis on vocals and guitar, performed a Daytrotter session on Dec. 29, 2011. The live session, featuring the standard welcome message and five tunes, is currently featured on the site's home-page with other recent Daytrotter sessions.

The Ridges, playing around Athens since 2010, proudly shares its name with the outdoor urban preserve, the 740-acre Ridges, just across the Hocking River from Ohio University's West Green.

About a year ago, the band recorded its first EP at the Ridges.

The band's founders include Rasgaitis (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Johnny Barton (vocals, drums, glockenspiel) and Taylor Smith (cello, vocals, dulcimer), joined by several other off-and-on members playing anything from accordion to upright bass.

The Ridges managed to snag a coveted spot at the Daytrotter studio in Rock Island, Ill., to record the live session in their "Horseshack."

Daytrotter is a website (and music and video streaming service) for emerging bands, as well as established bands playing all types of music. Though seemingly focused on the indie-rock scene, Daytrotter has featured heavy metal and rap as well.

The site has been a favorite stopping place for hundreds of bands on tour, who showcase live versions of studio and concert tunes, recorded live, in analog.

"It (Daytrotter) is an incredible site and has always been a favorite of ours," said Rasgaitis. "We feel it is a rite of passage as a band to get to record at Daytrotter; it adds a certain status to any band almost saying, 'Oh, you're a real band' to the world."

Daytrotter is a way for new bands to have their music showcased alongside big-name bands, including Iron and Wine, Wilco, Caitlin Rose, Death Cab for Cutie and Vampire Weekend, and give them the momentum they need to progress musically, according to Rasgaitis.

"It's (Daytrotter) great because the site has new music added everyday and has a lot of traffic," he said. "You get to listen to some bands you know and love, while coming across new ones you will enjoy."

The songs that The Ridges recorded during the Daytrotter session have a common thread – of coping. Due to the fluctuating band membership, each person brings something different to the band. Any song is written to say something, whether it's to someone else or yourself, according to Rasgaitis.

"We (The Ridges) have gotten really positive feedback since our recording session was released," he said. "There aren't any tricks, and since it's recorded straight to analog tape, (that) gives the music an amazing sound conducive to the live element, and the imperfections add character."

The Ridges will be playing at Donkey Coffee in Athens on Friday, Jan. 13, and all proceeds will go toward the Walk for the Homeless in Athens, which takes place the next day.

"We (The Ridges) can't wait to come back and play in Athens," said Rasgaitis. "There is nothing better than playing in our hometown where we always have the best performing experiences."