Live Review: Ratatat, Kirin J Callinan, The Community Chest

Considering the high level of airplay Magnifique has been having on triple j, a larger and younger crowd was expected for Ratatat's stop on their Australian tour. However, those who did turn out were in for an audio and visual fest.

Support came from The Community Chest. The Adem K-fronted band opened the night to a small crowd with a very professional set that ranged from '90s-style indie-rock to synth-pop and pub-rock tunes. Thoroughly enjoyable, though a little wasted on the small crowd in a huge venue.

Kirin J Callinan is a one-man post-punk/cabaret act. He is definitely reminiscent of local lad Tomas Ford. His set started off well, but quickly devolved by trying to converse with the crowd. It seemed that he wasn't really prepared for the show, or was trying to get more crowd interaction. An a cappella INXS cover did get the crowd singing along though.

After 30 minutes of technical set-up it was time for the headliner. A Ratatat show is always a spectacle. The Brooklyn duo provide a feast for the senses, from the sound you can feel in your chest to the maddening kaleidoscopic lighting show they bring for each tour. When you step into one of their gigs expect to be impressed by the sheer velocity of the visuals.

Ratatat put on one hell of a show. Synchronised clips of lions, pigeons, fireworks and marble busts melted and rotated into psychedelic Mandelbrot visualisations, while multi-coloured lights strobed and swung across the crowd.

Most acts on an album tour would load the setlist heavy with new songs. However, last night's show was equally balanced from their previous LPs. For a casual fan, this would have been an excellent introduction to the band and their back catalogue. Recent hits like Cream On Chrome played alongside earlier fan favourites like Falcon Jab, Seventeen Years and Wildcat. Most of the tracks were pretty close reproductions of the album cuts, but the duo did perform a few extended jam sessions showing off their musical virtuosity.

In the end, this was a hugely enjoyable show, thanks to the huge sound from the Metro concert stack, its lighting rig and finally a band who know how to put on a truly memorable show. It is the perfect combination for a Thursday night out.