Ratboys in Portland

About Ratboys

Ratboys are a Chicago-based indie rock band that emerged from the city's DIY scene with a knack for turning everyday anxieties into surprisingly catchy songs. The band, anchored by Julia Steiner's direct vocals and introspective lyrics, builds their sound around tight guitar work and rhythms that burrow into your head whether you want them to or not. Their music doesn't try to transcend the mundane—instead, they mine it for honesty. Songs like "Photo ID" and "Sports" deal with small moments of social friction and self-doubt, the stuff that keeps you up at night but sounds almost funny when someone else sings about it. They've built a solid following by playing in basements, DIY venues, and gradually larger stages while keeping that scrappy, unpolished energy intact. Ratboys represent a particular strain of Midwest indie rock that feels less concerned with being impressive and more interested in being real.

Their shows feel like intimate conversations happening in front of a crowd. Steiner commands attention without trying, and the band locks in tight. You get a mix of people who arrived early and people who wandered in, all paying actual attention. The energy is focused rather than raucous.

Known for Photo ID, Sports, Curse, Here Come the Tubular Bells, Mosquito Repellent

Ratboys + Portland

Ratboys rolled through Portland last August at Pendarvis Farm, bringing their angular indie rock to the farm's outdoor setup. The band worked through their catalog with the kind of precision they're known for, letting songs like "Shark Smile" breathe in the open air. There's something about their guitar interplay that hits different outside, the way Julia Steiner's vocals cut through without needing a box around them. They closed things out strong, giving the crowd an encore that felt earned rather than obligatory. It was the kind of set that reminded you why Ratboys have built a quiet but devoted following—they don't oversell anything, just play.

Ratboys in Portland News

• Hear a new song from Ratboys, “What’s Right?” treblezine.com · Dec 3, 2025
• Ratboys Announce New Album ‘Singin’ to an Empty Chair’ Out February 6th via New West Glide Magazine · Oct 28, 2025
• Ratboys Announce 30-Date Tour Across U.S., Canada TicketNews · Sep 26, 2025
• Ratboys Announce 2026 North American Tour, Unveil New Single "Light Night Mountains All That": Stream Consequence of Sound · Sep 23, 2025
• Ratboys Share ’Light Night Mountains All That’ And Announce A Tour UPROXX · Sep 23, 2025

Live Music in Portland

Portland's indie rock scene has always had space for bands that think sideways, and Ratboys fit naturally into that continuum. The city's taste runs toward guitar-forward acts with lyrical depth, bands that treat songwriting like architecture rather than decoration. Ratboys's angular approach and refusal to smooth out the difficult edges in their compositions align with what Portland audiences actually want to hear—music that respects their attention span.

Portland road trip to see Ratboys?

Stay in the Pearl District or Nob Hill for walkability and the kind of quiet that lets you recover between shows. Eat at Canard, where the charcuterie and wine list are thoughtfully curated—it's the kind of place that respects both food and your time. Spend the afternoon at Powell's Books, the massive independent that justifies its reputation. Walk through Forest Park if the weather cooperates. Portland's best element is how it refuses to take itself too seriously while maintaining actual standards. That's worth the trip.