RAT:ATT:AGG

Rat:Att:Agg's show ended in pandemonium last night at Camden's Barfly with a stage invasion from the crowd. Limbs flailed and instruments were attacked, as band and audience members playfully grappled with each other in a noisy finale.

Standing around backstage at The Coronet in South London, ahead of their performance this evening, the band are full of smiles, despite any losses, describing it as their, 'best gig yet'. Matt Flag, keyboardist, vocalist and general 'good vibes' guy, recalls the moment:

"There were definitely about four or five seconds in my brain, where I was like 'Yes, everyone's on stage' and 'yeah do it'. Then there were four or five seconds of 'Dude, stop jumping on his guitar, I don't have any money' and 'Oh that kid's really kicking the drum kit!"

"But you've got to run with it. Obviously they liked it enough to get up on stage and make dicks of themselves, and we make dicks of ourselves most nights. So that's what it's about."

The mayhem ensued during the last song of an energetic set.

Aside from the chaos last night, Rat:Att:Agg were bemused by the theft of their orange maracas. The 'sorely missed' pair were last spotted being shaken vigorously by guitarist Morgan Plugs, during a mid-set highlight, where he enjoyed a bouncy piggy-back ride on a lucky member of the audience.

Rat:Att:Agg were founded in May earlier this year by Raary (aka Rory Atwell) after his former band, the Test Icicles split at the peak of their fame. The five-piece were formed in haste on the eve of a tour with The Semifinalists.

The other four members of the Rat:Att:Agg have all been involved in other bands in the past. Drummer, Robin Silas, explains why he enjoys their shows:

"At last night's gig we made a song up, which happens sometimes. I was thinking lots of bands wouldn't do that, my old band definitely wouldn't have done that. It would take about two weeks to write a song."

In the short time Rat:Att:Agg have been together, they have since established their blend of indie, hardcore, and avant gard-pop, and recently released their first 12", Can We Fix It/ Lift The Hex on Moshi-Moshi Records. Despite this release the band remains unsigned "hiding under a "cloak of anonymity" according to Raary.
Lift The Hex was the band's first song written together. It was compiled in a matter of days, and Raary describes it as a song which, "encapsulates lots of different sides of our musical spectrum"

So is Raary pleased by the transformation from his initial solo work into the realisation of the band, project, and their music?

"Yeah definitely, it feels like there is a lot more of a challenge. Whereas before it was more of a head-fuck, and no-one really wanted to be in a band. Now we're in a band and we all want to strive forward and do something exciting, it's good"

While the band have not been together for that long, it is clear that they are all good friends, and united musically by their quest for having fun in what they do. These qualities set Rat:Att:Agg apart from the current scene, which is rife with seriousness, an issue which bassist Conan Roberts, is eager to point out:

"Everyone takes themselves too seriously, it's ridiculous. Music is awash with bands who have no personality and no sense of humour at the moment."

Their cartoon style humour surfaces as they titter in agreement while they swap anecdotes tonight. It is most noticeable when Matt, Robin and Conan are asked if they felt any pressure by Raary's previous project, at which Raary sinisterly pipes; in a mock disgruntled voice: "Well I was walking around with an axe and a cloak!"
"We were too drunk to notice any pressure. We formed on a Wednesday night and went on tour on a Thursday", adds Matt in defence.

Due on stage shortly, the band take their leave. They will continue their adventures with more gigs and the making of an EP over the next few months.

For more information on Rat:Att:Agg, you can visit their profile, at: www.myspace.com/ratattagg

- RockReview.co.uk

a thoroughly recommended debut disc... Pretty flippin’ good! 8/10 - Drowned in Sound