The Boomtown Rats- Setlist Omissions.

Rats Fan · Never In A Million Years

The Boomtown Rats- Setlist Omissions.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

I think live they do a very good mix of early album tracks and the big hits. I love the raw feel of the album tracks particularly of the debut album. By playing these tracks they are really going back to their musical roots -ie rhythem and blues, the dr Feelgood, Stones influence. Geldof doesn't shy away from musical influences, more he wears them on his sleeve, yet the Rats still sound pretty unique.

There are just so many good tracks off all six albums they are really spoiled for choice. Time constraints usually mean the set us compromised a lot of the time. By seeing them so often I have got to hear a few of the lesser played tracks live eg Elephants Graveyard, When The Night Comes.

Totally agree that the Rats are brilliant live- that's why I bother with them more than any other band. There are lots of posts about the setlist lurking around in this message board. Basically you cannot please everyone with a live gig, and that must go for most bands. In a nutshell it's a privilage to see them live, so when I listen to rare b sides or album tracks I can think to myself 'these are the guys who wrote and played these fabulous songs'.

suss · House on Fire

Welcome to forum. Always good to hear another view.

I can't really add to Noel's great response other than to say they've covered all of first album bar one track (I can make it if you can) live since reunion, so it's clear they see that as their strength and raison d'etre. Would like to have heard more Tonic tracks thrown into mix personally, either at expense of first album non singles or elongated versions (well documented on here) but as mentioned there are four more albums with what some would consider gems but not all so can never please everyone.

Problem is they no doubt feel some obligation to play all the early singles (to appease the masses) and festivals are time constrained. Headline gigs must be draining with the amount they put into it, so Springsteen style sets (as in length) are not an option really.

Tend to agree though that some of the 'epic' tracks could still feature if other songs weren't three times length of studio versions.

Which gigs did you catch out of interest? Much variation?

daggerrat · Never In A Million Years

Agree with you,

it is always a pleasure to see them. Sunday as good as ever as i mentioned before.

Funny i was driving earlier paying Tonic thinking they could play howard hughes, blind date etc.

Who knows one day there may be some sort of gig with an extended set time, suppose i can dream.

Rats Fan · Never In A Million Years

Thank you everyone- it's great to find a group of Rats fans. I've been to Isle of Wight. Bournemouth. The Roundhouse, Wychwood Festival, Portsmouth Pyramid Centre, London The Forum, Wellowfest.

So far I've seen the regular set of all the hits plus a few more.

Of the ones which vary- I've seen 'Having My Picture Taken', 'Never Bite The Hands That Feed' and 'Me And Howard Hughes'.

I'd love to see 'Elephant's Graveyard' and 'Kicks' - which I heard they'd play elsewhere.

Is there any news of a 2016 tour?

suss · House on Fire

Elephant's Graveyard did feature in the gigs just after reunion and IOW such as Cork and the early 2013 tour venues - can't remember when it got dropped exactly but hasn't been resurrected.

Kicks got one airing, at one of the two same day Butlins gigs, as an encore. Guess they decided it either wasn't right or wasn't rehearsed enough. Who knows?

I guess they have covered more than we care to remember since 2013, but because set is so 'settled' now it feels like there's less effort. I just always put it down to tried and trusted popular songs that they can squeeze in. Would be great if the occasional gig ran to more than 75 minutes to allow some surprises but seems unlikely.

Re: surprises, the one off covers make a refreshing change i.e. White Light White Heat @ Bristol in tribute to Lou Reed and then 'In Crowd' at Hurtwood pre-Brexit vote, as did Strypes joining for a couple @ Dublin.

Seems as though new material is definitely being written, so provided it gets recorded and rehearsed I guess there's a chance they'll trial some in gigs, and if there's enough for an album then a tour makes sense. Let's face it there won't be much radio airtime. Can easily see the influence of BG landing them slots on the late night chats or the One Show to promote new material though. Ultimately the quality of it will decide whether people are energised enough to buy tickets.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

I can't imagine they'd be thinking of a tour for 2016 at this late stage. Could be wrong though. Would expect 2017 with album might be more likely. Hopeful, as ever.

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Would be nice to get to see them b4 the end of the year. Hope they do Belfast or Dublin,along with a nice wee album for xmas.

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

They are doing Dublin in August - Leopardstown. Can you make it, think it's Thursday 11th August, without looking it up.

suss · House on Fire

Jules wrote:
I can't imagine they'd be thinking of a tour for 2016 at this late stage.

Agreed - meant to add in mine I also can't envisage anything before new year

manatthetop · In the Long Grass

Jules wrote:
They are doing Dublin in August - Leopardstown. Can you make it, think it's Thursday 11th August, without looking it up.

Yeah I new about that gig. But will be away on a wee week's hols same time

Jules · The biggest Geldof fan in the world, bar none!

Shame.