My gigs of 2014

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

My gigs of 2014

Tango · In the Long Grass

That's a pretty good year you've got there.
Rats at The Forum and Maida Vale both up there, and Billy Bragg at Hammersmith Apollo a great night. Stretching the definition a bit John Cooper Clarke and co. Royal Festival Hall show was top notch.

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

That's an impressive list. For the last 2 years I've been focussing my energy and cash into the Boomtown Rats only and missed other things. Therefore, 2014 I saw the Rats and Republica 12 times. A few other sets thrown in at festivals and Butlins for variation, including From The Jam, The Blockheads, Howard Jones, The damned (half a set), UB40 etc. Price for the worst act goest to Fun Lovin' Criminals. It was like torture waiting for the Rats.

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Derek The Dane · V Deep

Wow ArrGee,well cool list.Only did the Rats last year in London(brilliant).Got Simple Minds coming up in March and I hope a Rats concert somewhere.One cannot beat a great live concert.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

Tango wrote:
Billy Bragg at Hammersmith Apollo a great night.

I had a pair of front row circle tickets for that but didn't go. Couldn't arrange anyone to look after kids for the night.

Tango · In the Long Grass

ArrGee wrote:
Tango wrote:
Billy Bragg at Hammersmith Apollo a great night.
I had a pair of front row circle tickets for that but didn't go. Couldn't arrange anyone to look after kids for the night.

Damn shame, he was on good form, support pretty good too. Guest appearances from Wiggy, Frank Turner and Phil Jupitus made for a particularly good Great Leap Forward.

suss · In the Long Grass

I'm in Jules' camp, with most energies devoted to Rats gigs last year (33 in total if Butlins counts as two and Maida Vale also allowed).

Apart from that I think I only managed Ruts DC in Brighton, Caro Emerald (also in Brighton), and Carter USM "last ever gig" in Brixton.

Think I need to broaden my horizons maybe....although all the festivals featuring Rats offered numerous other name acts in short bursts I guess. Highlights here would be Damned and Blockheads (Butlins), From the Jam (Butlins and Chilfest) and Stranglers (Whitehaven). Can't think of any at the Rewinds I'd rush back for.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
Can't think of any at the Rewinds I'd rush back for.

What sort of reception do they get at rewind/reload/80s festivals etc. ?

Rebellion looks good but like Butlin's I can't see myself heading that far north for it. Cambridge was pushing it.

suss · In the Long Grass

Heard both on the day and subsequently at Glasgow gig that Rats stole show at Perth Rewind. Didn't get any feedback post Henley but went down well at the time. Acts either side seemed to be 15 minute hits only slots so no real chance to whip up continued or increasing interest. Got to credit Geldof - he seems to command any audience regardless of whether they're fans beforehand.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
to credit Geldof - he seems to command any audience regardless of whether they're fans beforehand.

IMHO I think that if people see them then they would surprise them with the number of good songs and the entertainment value. A big festival with BBC saturation coverage like Glastonbury, Reading/Leeds or T In the Park could give them some real exposure. Who knows where they could end up if they steal the show at any of those.

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

I heard feedback from Henley (whilst there and following the show) that the Rats were by far the best, stole the show etc etc.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

1 Boomtown Rats Guildford

2 Boomtown Rats Cheltenham

3 Boomtown Rats Forum London (though alcohol induced blur....)

Case of 'you've tried the best, why bother with the rest (or maybe I should get out more...) smile

Loops · She's So Modern

Jules wrote:
Price for the worst act goest to Fun Lovin' Criminals. It was like torture waiting for the Rats. .

Guilfest? I didn't enjoy FLC at all, we were on the barrier and the bass was awful.

I was hoping we'd be in luck and they would play again this year, but it's just been announced that there isn't going to be a festival in Guildford this year :(

Other than Guilfest and the forum, I only went to one other gig - we saw Richie Sambora at the O2 Academy in Islington

-- Edited by Loops on Friday 30th of January 2015 09:29:11 PM

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

Yes, Loops. We were also at the barrier, in the middle. It was really awful. We looked around and people were dancing and seemed to be having fun. The base was criminal, but no fun lol. Things we do for the Rats. They made up for the torture and then some.

It seems they don't return to many festivals, just Rewind North. They did quite a few in a one hour radius from my home last year. This year, it doesn't seem to be so many.

suss · In the Long Grass

Jules wrote:
It seems they don't return to many festivals, just Rewind North.

Rewind North is different to Rewind Scotland, so seems they have yet to return to any, but that's probably the nature of festivals, to throw a completely fresh line up as much as possible each year. Realise there are exceptions though.

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

They only did Rewind Scotland and Rewind South then, I'd forgotten...