A wet, windy, miserable evening sees me at The Barbican, York where within minutes of stepping through it’s doors moods are lifted, there’s a real buzz in the atmosphere and a sense of anticipation for the night’s entertainment. That entertainment comes courtesy of The Boomtown Rats. Yep, The Boomtown Rats that gave us all those classic punk/new wave hits of the late 70’s and early 80’s. The outspoken Sir Bob Geldof, he who with the help of Midge Ure and a load of particularly well know musicians, raised millions to help those in dire need in the Horn Of Africa and at the same time hammer into our collective consciences that we can’t sit on our priviledged backsides and ignore what’s going on around the world. Tonight Boomtown Rats are celebrating 50 years of existence. Fifty years! Seems like only yesterday I was walking out of B&G Records in Stockport clutching my copy of Mary Of The 4th Form. We’re all a bit older nowadays and tonight’s gig is all seated in a rather lovely venue known for it’s decent sound.
Support comes from Professional – not The Professionals with Sex Pistol Paul Cook – who hammer out a brilliant 40 minutes or so of hard hitting garage tinged rock n roll. Full of 60’s trashy guitar sounds, layered with hints of Iggy there’s no let up as guitarist Rob Hennebry leaps around the stage while Mani Walder on vocals is all rock n roll swagger delivering some ferocious vocals on the many social ills of today’s society. By the time Professional finish their set the place is almost full with a crowd the likes of which the band aren’t used to playing for but who have appreciated a glorious slice of grungy rock n roll. What I need to do now is experience Professional in a small, sweaty, independent venue full of people who are there just to see them.
A short break and then a film. But not just any old film. A film showcasing the development of The Boomtown Rats from those really early days (1975) right up to the present. Film clips, photographs, interviews. Band members past and present with a nice tribute to Garry Roberts, original member, lead guitarist who sadly passed away almost exactly three years ago. It’s informative, entertaining and the perfect build up for what’s to come.
The film finishes, we’re expecting the Rats to just walk out on stage but no, there’s a 20 minute break. A nip to the bar but then, finally, it is time. Geldof roars from backstage. “York! Are you ready?” The roar as they walk on stage is deafening and this seated gig becomes almost completely standing before the first notes are struck. The Boomtown Rats waste no time letting their set build to a grand finale. Instead they open with ‘Rat Trap’, that massive hit from 1978, telling the story of Billy trapped in a disfunctional family in a depressing, no-hope town. Geldof storms backwards and forwards across the stage, a frontman who has lost none of his stage presence or belief in what he does or sings. The crowd yell every lyric back.
Staying at that pinnacle of Rats popularity ‘(I Never Loved) Eva Braun’ keeps the crowd on it’s feet before the unmistakable “tick tock, tick tock” of ‘Like Clockwork’ maintains the huge momentum that’s already built. Rarely do you see a crowd at a supposedly seated gig stay on their feet and bounce around with as much enthusiasm as there is here tonight. ‘Like Clockwork’ was massive in 1978 and it’s still massive in 2025. Of course this is part nostalgia trip. These are the new wave songs for teenage punks that dominated the airwaves 47 years ago. But it’s also a celebration and a reminder of just how good The Boomtown Rats output was back then. Indeed it’s hard to imagine a better three song start to a gig. ‘Neon Heart’ and ‘(She’s Gonna) Do You In’ take us back to a harder, rawer, less polished Rats just as the punk explosion of ‘76 and ‘77 gripped the nation. Throughout it all there is absolutely no let up from Geldof who, it seems, is completely unable to stay still for even a second. Things slow a little for the gloriously distopian, dark funky beat of ‘Monster Monkeys’ from their 2020 comeback Citizens Of Boomtown.
A brief pause to sing ‘Happy Birthday Boomtown Rats’ then ‘Someone’s Looking At You’ brings a huge singalong and a nostalgic lump to the throat before the all encompassing, heart-wrenching power of ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’ fills the venue. People yell their hearts out but this song is not only the story of a tragic event but a stark reminder that these events continue to happen to this day. The pause in the middle (lost on a minority) giving everyone a moment’s silence to just stand and think. Geldof makes no apologies for the swearing in ‘Against The World’ encouraging old(ish) and young to join in with “You, and me, against the whole fucking world”. And join in they do. He’s still passionate about what’s happening, still angry at a world that seems to turn more shit every day, asking everyone to spare a thought for the children of Gaza, those in Ukraine and the mothers in Sudan. ‘Banana Republic’, a glorious five minutes of funky reggae beats that’s also a scathing picture of the Republic Of Ireland as it was back then written after the band was banned from playing there following a Geldof interview on a TV show. The Boomtown Rats didn’t just write perfect, hook laden, catchy punk-pop songs. Those songs told stories, were a statement on the state of the world and what it could do to people. ‘Diamond Smiles’ brings the smiles and the dancing but it’s also based on the true story of a debutante suicide.
The night has flown by. Geldof hasn’t stopped. But this isn’t Geldof and backing band. Bassist Pete Briquette and drummer Simon Crowe have been there since the beginning and together with Alan Dunn (keyboards), Darren Beale (guitar) and Paul Cuddeford (guitar) this is a tight knit, powerful unit.
They end with the glorious, thumping disco beats and shout-a-long anthem ‘The Boomtown Rats’. A stunning performance from a band who not only know how to entertain but who have the knack of letting you know the world really isn’t a perfect place but do it over a background of some of the most catchy new wave tunes you’ll ever hear.
No ‘Looking After No.1’, no ‘Mary …’, no one cares. An unforgettable performance by a band who know how to throw a decent birthday party.
Photos/words: steve white
Click any image to open slide show/more photos.
