After the excitement of Marathon Monday, Ratatat played to a packed crowd at their sold out House of Blues show.’ ‘ ‘
As the show kicked off, the audience looked like an unsuccessful dance party that was not materializing.’ Beginning with new more post-rock influenced songs, the audience seemed distant and did not warm up to the act until about five songs in when they started playing their hits songs.
Throughout their set list, alternation between original hits and new releases formed a peak and valley performance, reminiscent of a bad DJ set.’ Improvisations on the clever hooks of the first two albums sent a dance explosion of excitement through the crowd.’ As the crowd tried to dance, Ratatat would not allow the momentum to grow, but would turn to a more post-rock sound.’ New songs and tracks from ‘LP3′ seemed to lose the crowd’s gyrating fervor in exchange for a more noise-motivated masturbatory performance from Ratatat.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
Throughout the performance, the band was backed by video edits.’ Many visuals seemed overdone, but each seemed specifically designed to uniquely correspond with the current song.’ The video projections and light show added emotion to the lyric-less show.
Although the last song was not particularly pleasing, Ratatat appeared across the screen signaling the end of the performance.’ It left the audience worked up, but not completely satisfied.’ Upon returning for their encore, seemingly preplanned with prepared visuals, Ratatat delivered the set most of the audience seemed to be expecting ‘-‘- their electronic rock was perfectly paired with danceable hooks, excitement, and improvisation.’ The twenty-minute encore stimulated the crowd’s desire for dance to a climax.
Upon further reflection, the show adequately represented the eclectic sound that Ratatat strives to create on their albums.’ It wasn’t the intense dance party crowds may have been searching for following an eventful Marathon Monday, but the encore made up for where the rest of the show lacked.’ Structured with moments of excitement, repose, rock and dance the show struggled to follow the same combinations the band’s music encompasses. Ratatat did not put on the most exciting live show, but a lacklusted one . . . to be expected.
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