Sorry to hear you were somewhat disappointed. The gig length and band demeanour sounds untypical of what we get in the UK or even how we on these isles perceive the US gigs. See Suss's reviews - sounds like you were almost at different gigs! 

wordmeester wrote:

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I'm sure it was the beer hawkers at ****wick that put this mess together. Had us stand round until just past midnight for the band to hit the stage and leave not long after 105am. No sax player (recorded sax off the synth) was cheesy; sound was pretty ****ty and that stupid friggin "The Boomtown Rats" soccer anthem to end the gig. That was my signal to get out the door before the thinning crowd did.

I enjoyed the time I had with the boys, Simon was pounding the **** outta those drums and tight as ever, but I gotta say Bob, Gary and Pete looked exhausted and nary a smile between them. Didn't look like it was fun for them. Left me thinking about where the last 30 years have gone since I saw the Mondo Bongo tour.

Disappointed; I shoulda saved the $55 and stayed home with my live CD from Vicar Street. Geez, even Bob's stage banter was identical.

Still a fan, albeit reminded again that sometimes going "home" isn't worth the trip.

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 Rock gigs sponsored by beer companies can be a bit of a turn off. Watching the Rats perform Mondays at New York( via Rolling Stone video) they seemed to have the Smithwicks Big Sessions logo on the big screen behind the band-blatant advertising which somehow detracts from the band of stage.The Rats had a fantastic video projection at some of the earlier shows, a urban horror fest featuring grizzly old and babyskinned Boomtown Rats and scary cartoon rats. 

The midnight start is a bit funny as well. Most Uk/Ire gigs with the band start at about 9.30 and generally last about 90 mins or more. I've seen the band live about 8 times since they reformed and have never felt shortchanged or disappointed. Also their on stage rapport is generally very good. Maybe it is the fact of all the travelling that takes a bit from how you perceived them. Remember that your midnight is our 5am and who knows how long the band had been travelling for to get to New York-they all live in different parts of the UK so they may have been exhausted even before the got to the US.I certainly can't see it as any slight on the USA-more live sheer exhaustion.

I agree with you about Geldof's on stage banter being almost the same each night. It's like he's going through a script, with a little ad lib, but nothing to much distinguish one venue from the next.Even the band wearing the same clothes at all the gigs is a bit puzzling?

It's harder for those living away from the Rats real fanbase. Those in Australia had the gigs cancelled. In Europe we get to see the band on a more regular basic,and the travelling is not much of a problem for regular fans, so we can compare and contrast shows. We have the option of going again if we feel we might have been a bit disappointed, or indeed if we were thrilled and want some more.

 Maybe another part of the 'disappointment' is the sheer age thing. We are all that much older than first  time 'round and that undoubtedly influences how we see our favourite bands.

ArrGee wrote:

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noelindublin wrote:

 Rock gigs sponsored by beer companies can be a bit of a turn off. 

Well, had it not been sponsored it wouldn't have taken place.  The only reason the Bradbury Rats played Dublin was because of Kenwood sponsoring the gig.  

The midnight start is a bit funny as well. Most Uk/Ire gigs with the band start at about 9.30 and generally last about 90 mins or more.

You ain't been to a Black Grape/Happy Mondays gig.  Midnight is an early start.  I saw The Libertines on Friday who did a two hour set.  Not bad for a band who only released two albums.  Will be interesting to see how long Royal Blood play for in November given all they have released is a 30 minute LP and a B-side. Geldof solo gigs tend to last a couple of hours, though it feels longer

It's harder for those living away from the Rats real fanbase. Those in Australia had the gigs cancelled. In Europe we get to see the band on a more regular basic,and the travelling is not much of a problem for regular fans, so we can compare and contrast shows. We have the option of going again if we feel we might have been a bit disappointed, or indeed if we were thrilled and want some more.

Ain't been too many dates outside the British mainland.   If I was disappointed I wouldn't have gone again. Have to confess I did have serious doubts about going to Dublin after seeing The Bradbury Rats in Blackheath, but given the stonking show they did at Whelans was glad to be proved wrong.

 

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 Guinness seem to be promoting a lot of music in Ireland at the moment. Or more correctly promoting their product.  Their woeful Arthurs Day has been scrapped due to public outrage against the sheer drunken excess of it all, though the corporate spinners on the radio would like to make at all seem a bit of harmless fun. Doubtless the will find other says of selling their black soup.

Are you going to the Forum in Kentish Town?

noelindublin wrote:

Are you going to the Forum in Kentish Town?

 Yes, definitely.   Wanna ticket?  I have a spare.

noelindublin wrote:

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ArrGee wrote:

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noelindublin wrote:

Are you going to the Forum in Kentish Town?

 Yes, definitely.   Wanna ticket?  I have a spare.

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 Thanks for the offer ArrGee, but I will pass . I never thought I would ever get to see the Boomtown Rats play again not so long ago. Now I budget for my trips months in advance, so tickets/planes/trains/hotels etc are sorted.

Maybe someone else on this forum might do with a spare ticket more than me, but I'll leave that for you to decide. Thanks again.

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 S'alright.  I will find someone to accompany me   I bought the ticket for a friend who can no longer make it.