One of my favorite bands came to Phnom Penh last weekend. I'm pretty sure its rare that Phnom Penh or anywhere in Cambodia gets bands from the US doing shows here. Maybe they would go to Bangkok, Thailand or Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam, but not Cambodia. However, for some magical reason Ratatat decided to stop in Phnom Penh in between shows in Saigon. I didnt even know about the show until a few days beforehand when a friend in Vietnam messaged me saying that he was going to see Ratatat and that they would be playing in Phnom Penh. He told me that he thought I would like them or "maybe your their biggest fan, i dont know". I messaged him back saying that in fact I am a big fan and thanks a millions times for letting me know about it. I immediately went to the venue and bought tickets, and snatched one of the advertisement posters for the show off the wall as a pre-show souvenir. I was psyched all week for friday night.
I've seen Ratatat before, in New York City and at UVM for our annual springfest. This show was just as good if not better because it was such a small place and I was up against the stage for most of the show, more than close enough to untie the guitarists shoes, or hit some of his effect pedals if I wanted. Or take some amazing pictures. They played a full set complete with lights and their weird videos playing on a projector screen behind them. I had no idea what to expect in terms of the audience, but it ended up being almost all foreigners, and a lot more middle aged and younger people then I expected, I dont know where they all came from. There was probably also a good amount people my age who were backpacking through Cambodia on just the right weekend. Looking around at Ratatat and all these white people, I thought I was back home at a Ratatat concert in NYC, yet I couldn't be further from that, it was a cool feeling.
Even before the show I saw Evan Mast, the keyboards/synth/bassist and talked to him for a minute or two, asking if they would play a specific song or two. Then after the show both Evan and Mike, the synth/guitarist just hung around talking to everyone. I went up again and talked some more with Evan, he was really cool and nice. I also got to snap a picture with them. Such an awesome night.
Heres the link to ALL the pictures:
Ratatat Album
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