Live Review: Ratatat, Kirin J Callinan, Frikstailers

Argentina's Frikstailers took the stage, dolled up in tacky glowing rave glasses and what looked like Splatoon wigs, and began attempting the genuine challenge of building hype in a big venue with a sparse audience. They leaned into the awkwardness with a set full of maximalist electro-pop: gimmicks like pitch-shifted vocals and the use of Dance Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero peripherals as MIDI controllers added some personality to the show. Regrettably, the songs themselves were pretty generic — not such a problem when it's 3am and you're off your face, but as the opening act of a Wednesday night show, the duo fell flat.

Even the worst sets still give audiences a chance to sink a few drinks, which probably helped a lot of people deal with the wonderful weirdness of Kirin J Callinan. Wild synths, rototoms, and unrecognisably effected guitar provided the intense backing for Callinan's singular stage presence. The frontman's microphone wasn't carrying his voice all that well, and virtually all of his breathy banter was lost, but even on mute you'd have plenty to look at: Callinan's sleazy posture, jerky movements, and guitar acrobatics could be spotted a mile away. The otherworldly bass and guitar tones and booming, dynamic drumming provided loads of atmosphere, and before long the band brought their set to a close — only to discover they had about ten minutes of stage time left. Callinan milked the uncomfortable moments for all they were worth, refusing to beg for the audience's approval, and closing with a solo a cappella rendition of The Toddler.

As the headliners' now-iconic logo projected on screen, the crowd were reminded that, oh yeah, we still get to see a Ratatat set tonight. The Strokesy indie-pop of opener Pricks Of Brightness gave enough space for the two multi-instrumentalists to establish their place on stage — plus, the crowd got their first look at the band's famous light show, with laser beams shooting around the room mirroring the band's signature razor-sharp guitar lines. Accompanying the stellar lights (which didn't let up throughout the night) was a series of psychedelic video projections, ranging from fruit being exploded to collages of digital birds. The band did well to perform in silhouette: it meant that their presence was still felt, and energy still palpable, without getting in the way of all the light and sound.

Tracks from the band's newest album (such as the terrific groove of Cream On Chrome) mixed well with older ones like Falcon Jab and the iconic Wildcat. Melodica, autoharp and live drums added dimension to the sound, while showing off more of the band's hidden talents. On paper, a Ratatat gig shouldn't even be all that good: two guys with guitars playing along to a backing track, trying to mimic their intricate studio productions on stage. But the execution (and experience) is quite unlike anything else.