In between songs, Muse Lambert reminisced over humorous stories involving the Mission Creek festival where she and her husband, Derek, met. Ramona and Katelin Brown, keyboardist, joked about their upbringing. “We’re both country girls, so we call Mission Creek ‘Mission Crik,’” she said.

RATS’s set-list featured songs from their upcoming album Did I Miss It? Is it Over? and other groups they performed in. The band played hits such as “Lung Sandwich” and “Where Ya Been” from the group’s debut album, Negative Space is a Positive Thing.  “Like a Tiger Lily,” one of Muse Lambert’s favorite songs, debuted in concert. 

Another song that reflected the group’s evolution was “Station Wagon,” a song Muse Lambert referred to as an example for her songwriting. She loves writing songs where on the “sixth [listen]… you’re like, wait, this song is about dying. I like subtleties in [my] music.”

The performance hinted at a more mature sound in their new album, filled with complex rhythm patterns and a variety of catchy choruses. This evolution has been facilitated during the five-year period between albums shined during the concert, especially evident in the drums. Derek Muse Lambert pounded complex, frenzied fills to give RATS’s songs a fresh sound. 

The concert concluded with “Where Ya Been,” a song that Muse Lambert cherishes. “[I’m] overwhelmed with emotion [when performing].” The song came from 2014, and she wrote it “when [she] was uncertain about where things were going… But like, I knew I was in love.” In fact, one of her favorite things is when people tell her that “Where Ya Been” is ‘their song’. In the concert, Ramona radiated passion as she poured herself into the song, belting the final chorus with vigor.

Ramona & the Sometimes’ next album, Did I Miss it? Is it Over? will release April 30^th. The album cover features Ramona’s two kids in vibrantly knitted flame hats created by Ramona’s mother. The next and final concert for a while by the group is their album debut performance at Des Moines’ xBk, located 1159 24th Street. Pre-order Ramona and the Sometimes’ upcoming album here.

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Their 2017 album, Negative Space is a Positive Thing, has playful elements usually heard in children’s songs, notably upbeat choruses, and instrumentation that ranges from the organ to the slide whistle. The album focuses on togetherness and creativity, notably in their song Where Ya Been. The song has punchy drums and a cheerful, refreshing acapella chorus that showcases the group’s melodic chemistry. It is one of the songs about their son who contributed vocals to this album. The music video, using a split screen effect that makes the video visually striking, features a choreographic dance by women with bright shirts and colorful hats, including Ramona in a series of vibrant outfits.

A dense drumbeat drives the song Lung Sandwich combined with Ramona’s bright, vibrant vocals about having a literal lung sandwich. The bass and guitars strum an energetic groove in Negative Space, an anthem about creativity’s positive influences. Plant Mom features a driving rhythm and its lyrics are intertwined with lush imagery of gardening. An organ track rings through Roll Me Over, a song about feeling overwhelmed.

Their next album Did I Miss it? Is it Over? releases April 30^th, 2022. Ramona & the Sometimes plays at 7:15 pm, Saturday, April 9^th, at the Riverside Theater. Mission Creek festival passes are available for purchase through their website.

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