Despite having numerous hits, including two UK number one singles, The Boomtown Rats have never seemed to get the due they so honestly deserve. Ask anyone born after 1985 about the band and they’ll mention Bob Geldof and/or ‘I Don’t Like Mondays’, if you’re lucky. Yet there are other bands from the punk and new wave era that have firmly crossed generations: Ramones t-shirts are plentiful (even worn by those who’ve never heard a note), Sex Pistols are well-documented and The Clash are revered. The Boomtown Rats are a fantastic bunch of musicians whom, as far as most are concerned, are part of an all-too-quickly forgotten musical past. ‘Diamond Smiles’ and ‘Banana Republic’ were huge hits in 1979/80, but when was the last time you heard them on the radio or played anywhere in public? For most people born after 1985, Bob Geldof is just the scruffy man who does tireless work for charity – he’s hardly ever given proper credit for being one of the best songwriters of the era.
Category Archives: Gig Reviews
REAL GONE GOES OUT: Iron Maiden – O2, London 04/08/2013
When Iron Maiden headlined the UK leg of the Sonisphere Festival in 2011, it was a distinctly underwhelming experience. Not only were the band too quiet, but since they had a new product to promote (that year’s workmanlike ‘Final Frontier’ album), the setlist represented the rest of the ‘Final Frontier’ tour in that most of their near two hour set was culled from material from the band’s three most current releases. For those who’d never seen the band before, or the more casual admirer who’d have liked to hear a few more classics, the set was a colossal misfire. Sure, when you’re a band headlining your own ticketed gig at a large venue, the audience is your audience, they’ll go along for the ride no matter what; but a festival audience is an entirely different beast – much more demanding. From halfway through Maiden’s set on that particular occasion, people were leaving in droves, wandering off with casual indifference.
REAL GONE GOES OUT: KMFDM – Islington Academy, London 20/04/13
‘Kunst’, the eighteenth studio release from KMFDM, is one of the best of their long career. On 20th April Real Gone had the opportunity to catch the band during their UK visit to see how well the new material fit in with their live set, when the cult industrialists headlined a four band bill.
REAL GONE GOES OUT: Snakecharmer – Assembly Hall, Islington, London 23/02/13
The union of ex-Whitesnake men Micky Moody and Neil Murray with powerhouse vocalist Chris Ousey, Wishbone Ash guitarist Laurie Wisefield and Thunder skinsman Gary ‘Harry’ James was always likely to create a strong band unit. Under the name Snakecharmer, their debut collaboration – along with keyboard player Adam Wakeman – served as concrete proof. Since the album pushed all the right buttons and a little more, their live show was probably going to be equally as solid; and when Snakecharmer played a one-off show at the Islington Assembly Hall in London, a gathering of classic rock fans got to experience the then still relatively new gathering of old friends first hand.
REAL GONE GOES OUT: Tremonti – Electric Ballroom, Camden, London 18/02/13
As guitarist for Creed and Alter Bridge, Mark Tremonti has built a fan following over the years, but 2012’s ‘All I Was’ marked his first solo venture (albeit issued under an eponymous band name). Moving away from Creed’s post-grunge sounds and AB’s much-loved retro hard rock, Tremonti takes a more metallic approach on the album. Although one of 2012’s best metal-based albums, the recorded work doesn’t resemble the intensity of the Tremonti live set…