Ratatat

Playing the Guggenheim? Ratatat has been there, done that.

A A A Comments By Drew Bixby Thursday, Nov 23 2006

Classics, the second proper full-length from Brooklyn's Ratatat, is a convivial collection of slashing electric guitars, on-point computer backbeats and dance- tastic instrumental fun. Every song sounds like an arena-rock show barebacking a dance party. On the heels of a recent high-profile show at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, guitarist Mike Stroud e-mailed us about punching through a cab window in Japan and throwing up on fans.

Ratatat is dance-tastic fun.

Details

With the Faint, 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 28, Ogden Theatre, 935 East Colfax Avenue, $15, 1-866-468-7621.

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Westword: What was it like to pop the Guggenheim's live-band-performance cherry? Mike Stroud: It was an exciting experience to play there, very humbling. It was also sort of stressful because the security seemed to hate the event and tried to throw us out before we even played. I wonder if the museum will ever have live bands again.

In yourFader interview, you admitted that fans are constantly asking to smoke weed with you. Have you ever obliged? If fans told you thatClassics was better high, would you take it as a compliment?

Somehow it's always college kids that want to smoke us out after the show. I oblige 90 percent of the time, I would say. I'd probably agree that Classics, or any album, is sort of better that way. I just get so distracted sometimes when I listen to music, it's nice to just focus completely on the music and -- I hope my parents aren't gonna read this...anyways, I've never listened to music stoned before. I've never even heard of weed.

Tell me a funny story about playing four shows in Japan with Mogwai. Is Ratatat big in Japan?

Those guys are hilarious. We got along really well with those Scottish cunts. I got drunk one night and punched a cab window. The car screeched to a halt and the guy wanted to kill me. I'm not sure if that's funny. We loved Japan. Ratatat is the next Cheap Trick.

The Faint sort of make dance music. You guys sort of make dance music. Does this mean your show will be more dance party than rock show? Should fans wear special shoes or dance-conscious outfits?

They probably shouldn't wear anything while we're playing. I'll throw up all over them if they show up in retarded dance outfits, unless it's a leotard. Reotard.

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