yep my first time ever in Ireland in my (almost) 60 years. Better late than never.

suss wrote:

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Can't quite believe I'm saying this but I found myself looking up flight quotes, partly because Geldof was surprisingly good in gigs I saw last year, but equally because a Dublin visit is long overdue.

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If you wait a week or two, then Ryanair will probably have the May flights for £30 return, so you can head out Saturday am and back first thing Sunday.  Don't even have to stay in Dublin, just catch a bus from O'Connell Street to the airport in the early hours.  As long as there isn't a rugby match on, the tickets will be cheap.

As for the gig, I did have other plans which were cruelly dashed last night (Champions League Final is on 19th May), but with Happy Mondays playing Brixton that night, I'll probably see them as I should be able to get a ticket.

I guess I could treat my better half to a weekend in Dublin, but not sure she'd be too keen on seeing Geldof.

Vicar Street is Southside near Heuston Station and approx 20-25 minute walk from O'Connell Bridge in the city centre.

Have taken the plunge. Gig and digs booked - just need ArrGee's crystal ball on flights to come good now, or I might need to squeeze into the old speedos . 

Don't think I've ever booked a 'table' ticket for a gig before...must be getting old, or posh, or both.

Also got a Brighton ticket. Will be doing a Scottie/Jules/Musicmania and getting a 'hug' avatar photo next at this rate.....

Doubt I'll go as far as buying any albums though 

Probably will - in for a penny and all that. Might even have a chance of singing along to his non-Rats stuff by then after 2 shows in preceding fortnight. Look forward to seeing you there, provided I get a ticket ok.

Afraid not. My Geldof collection runs to This Is The World Calling (7" and 12" mind ) and the few tracks that appear on Loudmouth....plus everything he ever did as a Rat I ought to add.

Just never been a fan of the solo stuff, but I remain open minded I guess. Hope to meet you on the night. 

You reckon?? Can't honestly see it myself. And if I do it'll be all your fault....25 years I'd managed not to see Geldof until you make an offer that couldn't be refused. Those seats at Cadogan must be about best I've had anywhere.

Now see what you've started!

Got my own 4 nations tour going on in space of one month. Rats Wales, Rats Scotland, Geldof Ireland then Geldof England. Can't wait....

Oh yeah, you're right, I did do on my doorstep Croydon first didn't I? Derr!

Ok, you're free of any blame. 

TBH, it's Brighton and Dublin as locations that swing it as much as the gigs. You still considering Islington?

suss wrote:

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You still considering Islington?

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 Considering it, but will be a late decision.  Long holiday weekend, so have to see what plans my wife has.

Lisa wrote:

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So, I'm looking for some advice from all the staunch Geldof fans about his concerts. Thinking of doing the Islington one, but not sure whether to bring 12 year old son along....

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Sadly Geldof won't let him in...

Bob Geldof Live in concert with full band.

Doors 7pm
Start 9pm

Over 16s only.

https://www.ticketline.co.uk/order/tickets/13266392/bob-geldof-islington-assembly-hall-2012-06-01-19-00-00

Lisa wrote:

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Also worried about the threat of people turning up wearing speedos!!

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 Well obviously there are several bridges in London I can choose from without resorting to swimwear. Last time I looked there were none linking Dublin to UK. Suppose I could don speedos to complement my FAOS t-shirt though 

Can't answer on rest I'm afraid. Not a staunch fan. Don't recollect anything precluding 12 year olds in my very limited attendance though. 

Lisa wrote:

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So, I'm looking for some advice from all the staunch Geldof fans about his concerts. Thinking of doing the Islington one, but not sure whether to bring 12 year old son along. Saw Bob during Vegetarians of Love tour years ago and don't remember it being too wild, but then didn't have responsibilities so didn't care! He's been to see Rats at the Penn festival and loved that. Just wondering whether people tend to sit/stand/jump on the chairs during solo gigs or whether they're reasonably civilized??  

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I wouldn't bring my 12 year old along to a Geldof gig, but would bring him to a field to see The Rats. I did plan to bring him to the Brentwood festival, which sadly coincided with his school play, as I think a festival is easier than a venue with a lot of other attractions/distractions.

As for the audience, my sole experience is kicking back in the comfy chairs during the solo material, and just waiting for him to do the Rats stuff.  The Assembly Halls are standing downstairs, so it could be a bit more lively, but I doubt it will be too wild for a 12 year old. He'd probably just be bored.

Lisa wrote:

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ArrGee wrote:

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Lisa wrote:

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Of course there is the danger it might be quite a crush - or maybe not??

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Probably be a bit of a crush at the bar when he does his solo material, but I wouldn't expect it to be too busy.

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 Maybe I'll sneak a few bottles in to avoid the crush - I hate queuing!  Purely for medicinal purposes of course - to dull the pain and all that

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 Doubt they'll let you bring your own booze in.  Some decent pubs nearby, so just get yer medication in advance.  Not entirely sure how the Dublin thread became the London thread.

Lisa wrote:

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Of course there is the danger it might be quite a crush - or maybe not??

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Probably be a bit of a crush at the bar when he does his solo material, but I wouldn't expect it to be too busy.

ArrGee wrote:

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 Doubt they'll let you bring your own booze in.  Some decent pubs nearby, so just get yer medication in advance.  Not entirely sure how the Dublin thread became the London thread.

-- Edited by ArrGee on Thursday 23rd of February 2012 07:53:01 AM

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 I wasn't the first to mention it!!  Still it's all publicity, though not sure you're doing a great job in selling it!

suss wrote:

And at risk of being a further Dublin deviant, my FAOS t-shirt was recent off Ebay, from States, just the cover picture basically. Might well be that link you posted but I can't see eBay from work. Good quality one if it is same though.

The link I posted was for a Looking After No 1 t shirt that looks brilliant...

suss wrote:

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Finally, thanks for posting eventim discount code - sadly 48 hours too late for me. Hopefully someone can use.

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I have a £50 viagogo voucher that is burning a hole in my pocket at the moment.

I had 3 and got a Franz ticket with one and a Happy Mondays ticket (on 19th May, so I won't be at Vicar Street) with another.  It expires next Wednesday, so I have to choose a gig, but no Geldof tickets are on sale. 

I'll probably end up getting a ticket for the NME awards next Wednesday.  My wife thinks I'm a total saddo, as I'd go off to Brixton to see Pulp play one song on my birthday that only comes around every four years.  However, I have to meet up with my agent for a boozy steak lunch next week to celebrate getting a new job, so I might do that before I head off to Brixton.

suss wrote:

That No 1 t-shirt is also top notch...picked one of those up a year or more back. Do The Rat put me onto it after Whyteleafe gig (he had one there). 

 

 It's the best I've seen.  Back in the day I had a black sweatshirt with that Rats logo in a pink flock (yes, pink), which was really good, but I have outgrown it and am pretty sure it has been sent to the charity shop.  Only antique shirt I have is my Happy Mondays one from 1990, which was an embroidered logo and has managed to survive a couple of washes.

They had a couple on geldof.com a few years ago, but they seem to have given up selling them.  The severed head one was quite good.

Thanks for the heads up. I ended up booking with Aer Lingus at £108 all in from Gatwick, at times that suited me well.

Saw some good deals from Luton, and also if you're prepared to leave one London airport and return to another, but in the end the savings were not massive, or were lost on cost of me travelling to/from the others. Costs me £7 to get to Gatwick and back. 

I've also got an irrational dislike of RyanAir and its policies if I'm honest.

Believe it or not I still haven't purchased a ticket for this yet. Not sure how ticket sales are going, but I will get one soon. I tend to leave things till very late but I doubt the gig will have sold out already.

Yes of course, we should all meet up beforehand for a half shandy!To be honest I'm not much of a pub person but the occasional visit is not unknown.I'm sure something can be sorted. Maybe being a bit drunk is the best way to appreciate Geldof's solo work.!

On the 'great debate' I come down on the side of Geldof with the Rats. While I have bough all his solo albums and most of the singles over the years I don't think I could exchange any of the Rats albums for one of his singular efforts. Notwithstanding  that, a thread runs through the music and like all artist the same obsessions are dealt with, sometimes in a disguised form. All his solo albums have the best part of five or six good songs, at least in my opinion. Certainly Sex Age and Death and Veggies of Love should be sought out by any naysayers and given a chance.

Suss I think the result would be a 3-2 win for the Rats over Geldof solo, based on those going from this forum. I think Musicmania prefers Geldof solo, so there may be disputed 'goal.' It would be amusing if Bob did a 'hands up who prefers me with the Rats?' at his live gigs.

musicmania wrote:

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Ha ha, some chance of that question being asked! I will be in Dublin all weekend with Scottie so will definitely go to any meetups. Not sure of where we could have it though as I don't know any of the pubs nearby as I generally go drinking in the city centre after concerts as I rarely drink before concerts as I prefer to be sober for them  TBH it isn't that I prefer his solo work I like both and tend to judge each on its own merits. I'll be happy whatever he sings as it is 7 years since his last full solo gig here and 3 years since I have seen him so I need a fix

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 Hope to meet up with Scottie and yourself MusicMania and any others around the time of the concert. Will send PM.

There are some good pubs around Christchurch, which is just down the road from Vicar St, but I'm no expert. Anyway they serve beer at the venue itself, believe it or not! Personally I like to have a drink or two before a concert, but who hasn't had to divert to the loo and miss a song they  wanted to hear in their concert going careers. So maybe abstinence is the wiser option.

If it was either/or I'd choose Geldof's work with the Rats as more vital and remarkable. But like you I have always been open minded and willing to listen to his solo work on it's own merit, not expecting him to be the same person he was in his younger, more fiery days. We take what we need from music.

Will send pm nearer the concert date. Might have to spend the day press ganging people for the gig, like the British navy used to do, but hopefully there will be a good turn out.

musicmania wrote:

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That is way worse than I was hoping for and I hope those seats are cancelled orders.

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 They don't have cancelled orders.  That's the sales so far.  They will probably drum up a bit more interest in the fortnight before the gig.  Was similar with Cadogan Hall.  Only in  last few days did the tickets start shifting.

There is always cancelled orders for every concert, not by the person who bought the tickets initially but when there is credit card issues which Ticketmaster don't catch when the order in done but only when they go to process the order.
Here is a link for the Late Late interview which as always was very interesting. Hopefully it will drum up more support.

http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1144933

ArrGee wrote:

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 As an aside, I got one of these.  Made it myself with the .png below. (this one may not be high enough quality, but I have a better one)

Love that t-shirt. Could do with one of them as a message to certain people in my life  

noelindublin wrote:

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Much better than the aborted Tonic shirts. Easy to read, not gaudy, but most likely Geldof would sue you, claiming he did the original design! Would be nice in bottle green, the theme colour of the debut album.

Is there a demand for V Deep 3O Anniversity t shirts?. Probably as much  as for North Korean rocket launchers.

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 Like Henry Ford said available in any colur as long as it's black.

The tonic shirt was meant to be a close tie-in to the forum/blog style, but I agree, my prototype wasn't selling it

Not sure it would be worthwhile Geldof suing me, and I'm sure he could have picked on the forum/blog had he been bothered.

Not much demand for any shirt, never mind a V Deep one.

Finally bought my Geldof ticket for Vicar Street today so hope to meet up with Suss, Scottie, Musicmania and others on or around May 19th.

I will say it to Scottie when she arrives in Ireland but this sounds good to me! I'd imagine if we plan on being there by 6.30pm it mightn't be too packed at that stage.

Also I noticed on the Aiken FB page we have support on Saturday night by a band called The Mighty Stef. Last time in 2005 I don't remember any support but maybe there was.

Have to agree with Scottie, and accept fact I'm now almost a convert, it was indeed a great gig. Shame Bob hasn't (to my knowledge) got a song called "Old and Totally Bladdered" though, as that would have been far more relevant for yours truly on the night.

The down side of my best laid plans to secure a good seat in the recommended Bull and Castle for an afternoon of televised sport was that it left me with approximately 6 hours to myself in a pub, where the Guinness and various whiskeys were all good, and highly effective. My apologies therefore to Scottie and Musicmania if I was talking nonsensically when we finally met up at the venue. I'm not sure if Noel and IrelandCalling tried the pub, but with Leinster match televised I'm prepared to believe it was a lockout from about 4.30. Was rammed where I was. Shame not to meet up with those guys.

Anyway, despite hazy recollections I did really enjoy the set, especially the Rats songs, and luckily the venue did allow people to leave their fixed stool around small table seats to amass in front of stage, although it did take until last one or two songs and the encore for this to happen. Whether this was coincidental with Rats material it's probably not for me to say. There was a guest sax player (guy from Late Late Show I think it was said) who for me enhanced the songs in question.

Bob drew some sympathetic applause when he recalled his Dad and sister had seen him play at previous appearance at Vicar St, and drew some audible gasps when he announced Chelsea had won. He also thanked the audience for pretty much filling the place during what's obviously a difficult time financially for many in Dublin. Finally, he was very patient in greeting every one of a 50+ queue that formed to get autographs and photos post gig. And yes, I did get a photo, which might well become my avatar .

I spent Sunday morning on a bit of a pilgrimage to Dun Laoghaire and Sandycove (think Scottie did same separately) so will have to load some of those snaps on here as well in due course.

And on a personal level my superb weekend was complete when I found myself right next to Paddy McCarthy (Palace captain) on flight back, who had been 'home' for a wedding. Great way to end the trip talking about all things football and 'my' team.

Roll on the Rats in Dublin in December, but equally roll on BG in Brighton and Islington for me next week. 

suss wrote:

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... drew some audible gasps when he announced Chelsea had won. 

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 What a b'stard!  Fortunately, Shaun Ryder didn't mention it at all.  I successfully managed to avoid the score all evening, until I got home at 11.30pm and was up until 2am watching.  I did show a little weakness fastforwarding through the last five minutes of extra time to get to the penalty shoot out.

noelindublin wrote:

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Hope you enjoyed  your stay in Dublin Suss, and Scottie and everyone else.

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 Cheers Noel. Was indeed a memorable trip - shame I can't remember some of it .

Review at following is fair...

http://www.drop-d.ie/bob-geldof-vicar-street/25208?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

p.s. Sorry to have missed you.

Me and my ever changing moods. Haven't given up on Geldof. The Cheese Festival gig in Frome, Somerset sounds like it might be fun, or that Lode Star festival in Cambridgeshire sounds good too. London gig is just too expensive with flights and hotels and same with Brighton (yes I did check!)

With Geldof's musical career in somewhat of a renaissance, or at least playing gigs around Britain and  Europe more frequently there should be other opportunities. Half the fun anyway is going somewhere different and getting out of stale routine. Think there's a gig in Plymouth, and Leeds also later in the year so there's ample opportunity.

See you in the bar in brighton then suss,and anyone else who turns up from this forum.

Should be a good gig as its standing only

I'm flattered you shared not realising it was me. Thanks for the kind words. Good to meet you too.

Nice photos there Suss. Though the murky weather doesn't help too much in Dun Laoghaire.

Where is that Bob Geldof plaque that Geldof wrote Rat Trap in? Sounds like Dublin Tourist Office baloney to me. I doubt he literally sat down and wrote the song there, but it's a good story for gullible tourists.

Most likely the song was written in his head at various points around Dublin and not literally in one or two sittings in Bewleys. Why does Dublin always seem to hawk mythologies about people like Joyce and Geldof who frankly couldn't wait to get out of the place and were basically stifled by it's conservative attitude?

Fair enough Geldof and the Rats went there for coffee but spare me the tourist trail nonsense.

Cheers both, and sorry to have missed IC in pub.

The plaque is on wall outside Bewley's (Grafton St as opposed to the one nearer bridge), on the left hand side as you face building, maybe 15 feet up, which is fine for stopping fanatics or tourists nicking the thing, but not much help when it comes to attracting attention, which I'm guessing is its primary purpose....