As a band, Ratatat is rather well known for piecing together simple layers of synthesizers, guitars, and mish-mash electronic samples with well-developed precision; as a venue, The Riviera is rather well known for acoustically making any sound created by an act register as if mud were being forced through the speakers. more ›

Ratatat isn’t known for clever album titles. The NYC-based electronic duo recently released their fourth full-length album, LP4, the follow-up to their similarly blandly-titled 2008 release LP3. But don’t let the uninspired title fool you, because LP4 is bursting with the type of energetic, hip-hop-infused electro-pop fans have come to expect from Ratatat,expanded this time by experimenting with newer and stranger sounds. more ›

This year’s Hideout Block Party had it all: blues, world music, stoner rock, deep country blues, puppet shows, political dissidents, robo-rock, the return of Neko Case in two guises, and a punk rock marching band. In-between all of this the organizers managed to mix in voter registration, political discussion, and a drunken spelling bee. The amazing thing about this whole package? Its whole purpose was to raise money for various community centers, primarily in the interest in improving the lives of area children, proving The Hideout truly is striving to create a sense of community through the arts. more ›

We have to hand it to The Hideout, those cats know how to throw a party. What began as an affair populated mostly by local bands friendly to the bar has expanded to become one of the most inventively and entertainingly booked local festivals of the year. more ›