Born Ruffians at Bowery Ballroom

Born Ruffians is an indie rock band formed in 2004 in Ontario, Canada. The band’s first success outside Canada was in Great Britain, where the group appeared in the British teen drama Skins, performing in a Brooklyn night club. Born Ruffians was also featured in the comedic web series, Nirvana the Band the Show, with the musicians playing as themselves as they rehearsed with a new member of the band. Born Ruffians' third album, Birthmarks, was released today by Yep Roc Records.

Led by Luke Lalonde (guitar/vocals), with new member Andy Lloyd (guitar/keyboard), Mitch Derosier (bass) and Steven Hamelin (drums), Born Ruffians performed music that sounded familiar yet refreshingly new at the Bowery Ballroom tonight. Overall, the band performed light, slow pop music but with tricky, indie inventiveness. The result was a mix that has been exercised by many of the staples of college radio, but yet the slick, clever arrangements were imaginative enough to keep it fresh. Born Ruffians will headline Maxwell’s in Hoboken on April 18.