(and in a more readable font)

Yesterday was the day I came out to declare my victory. For years now I have felt like I was in some sort of secret club, a very select club, which is all rather nice but being cliquey was never a good quality now was it.

Bob was in Berlin to showcase the new album. The intimate club was hot and sweaty, it was packed. The crew and the band were tense, the stage was tight. The event was being recorded for broadcast on German Radio. So far everything had gone to plan. How To Compose Popular Songs That Will Sell has scored a major thumbs up from the press. Bob the Gob has been charismatic in the round of the media appearance circuit and has settled into his new role as Mr Chuckles. But now these songs had to be played live. The set had to be carefully constructed. We know they are ****ing good songs, but the art of structure is vital to a live performance.

For those who have seen Geldof and his band live, you will know that his show is quite simply awesome, and getting the right mix of the stuff we all love and know so well amongst a hotbed of new material that we are not as familiar with is an art in itself.
For my part, I felt nervous and had no job to do, there was no merch to sell, the only t shirt in sight was on my back, I had nothing to do but to sit and wait like an expectant father for the gig to start.

Indifference, Sex Thing, then Bob tells the audience this is a showcase and its been 37 years since he did a showcase, tonight you are the guinea pigs. But then they went into a number that everyone should treat with respect When The Night Comes revisiting the days of the Rats.

Now the tension started Shes A Lover was the first to be tested Geldof was prowling the stage like a sprung coil this track was delivered with great aplomb. Then straight into Mary Says newish territory with falsetto vocal which was pitch perfect. One has to remember that this band just wreaks class. Musicians of the very highest quality. Next up was Heres To You. When I first got my promo copy of the album, this was the top of my list, but now its very hard to say; because in all honesty all of the tracks do it for me.

Geldof didnt chat a lot, he used the time to get across as much of the music as possible in the time available. The audience was loving it. We were moving up a notch now, the crowd was moving and grooving, this was going to plan. Then Geldof told the story of Banana Republic, the English thought it was a nice pop song, the Germans thought it was about them, but Bob told us that the Irish knew it was about them, and thus the Boomtown Rats were banned from playing in their own country.
From Banana straight into Systematic Six Pack; this was huge. How I Roll - fantastic. Dazzled By You was for me the track of the night with an almost football anthem reception from the crowd. They were eating out of his hand.

Then it was all about familiarity Mondays Joey Rat Trap, the best of the Boomtown Rats. We ended with the reprise of The Great Song of Indifference the job, in my view had been well done. The band had done their stuff, Geldof had delivered. The crowd fully appreciated that they were in the presence of Geldof The Musician.

The encore a powerful R n B trip down memory lane with a cover of the Feelgoods Back In The Night and then The Rats Diamond Smiles. The night ended with a stunning version of Blow. Tonight was indeed the night we claimed our victory. Next port of call USA.