LISTING REMOVED : Saturday 1st October - St Albans Beer Festival, Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans, AL1 3LD

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

LISTING REMOVED : Saturday 1st October - St Albans Beer Festival, Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans, AL1 3LD

suss · In the Long Grass

RE: Saturday 1st October - St Albans Beer Festival, Alban Arena, Civic Centre, St Albans, AL1 3LD

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
Better tell ArrGee Jnr to curb his thespian tendencies in October.

well, it's Saturday and no U18s, so I will be ok.

Also, don't matter who Gunners play, they'll only implode in March, so I'll see Rats regardless. Well unless it's QPR or Swansea as I'll get a call from an old aquaintance either way.

-- Edited by ArrGee on Wednesday 18th of May 2011 10:12:32 PM

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

I am really liking the touring mentatlity of the Rats. They seem to be looking for an audience, albeit a boozy beery one. But that makes sense. There aren't enough fans to sell out any large venues, but there are certainly enough festivals to turn up at and remind people of the Rats.

It would be worthwhile doing a couple of numbers off A Tonic for the Troops that some of the older festival goers may remember. The first album may be familiar to us, but people I know with a passing aquaintance of the band only know the two big albums, and many of them don't rate Surfacing very much.

So if the band do read this, get rehearsing Eva Braun, Don't Believe What You Read and if Darren reckons he is up to it, Me & Howard Hughes smile

(I suspect Darren can play that by ear!)

suss · In the Long Grass

Had a PM exchange with Noel on this recently funnily enough.

I've tried to strike that balance between 'you owe us' fan and constructively critical fan when gently enquiring about set variation (possibly my one gripe with Rats now, although I wouldn't want any of current set dropped). I think one different track every now and then would keep it fresh.

Garry didn't seem to think Blind Date or Don't Believe What you Read would be contenders when I asked, and Simon thought Hurt Hurts wasn't really in keeping when that one came up (had to agree, but I said I thought the guitar on that track was well suited to their line up).

Noel came up with a brilliant suggestion which they might be more favourable towards, namely Do the Rat. It's early, simple, memorable, very personal, and most of all fun.

It's really tricky asking without feeling pushy, but (with a bit of dutch courage smile ) I'm happy to sound them out about that one if opportunity arises. Then again, maybe they want to be taken relatively seriously.

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
Garry didn't seem to think Blind Date or Don't Believe What you Read would be contenders when I asked, and Simon thought Hurt Hurts wasn't really in keeping when that one came up (had to agree, but I said I thought the guitar on that track was well suited to their line up).
Noel came up with a brilliant suggestion which they might be more favourable towards, namely Do the Rat. It's early, simple, memorable, very personal, and most of all fun.

I would not consider anything post-Tonic. I don't think Diamond Smiles is good enough, and not so sure about doing Banana Republic nor House on Fire either.

Don't Believe What You Read is pretty straight and was a good live song. There is a version by Chixdiggit on Chronic for the Troops which shows how easy it is. The only songs I wouldn't consider worthy would be Don't Stop and Normal People, never remember either been played live and both got dropped from the US release. But Eva Braun, Howard Hughes, Living In An Island and Blind Date would be songs that would be good to hear again.

I'd rather not have Do The Rat. But am all for a rendition of Barefootin

-- Edited by ArrGee on Thursday 19th of May 2011 07:10:19 PM

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
I've tried to strike that balance between 'you owe us' fan and constructively critical fan...

I'm just bloody grateful they play at all!

With my anorak on, I'd like them to play every song off every album and do all the b-sides as encores. And then they could do all the covers they did pre-1977. Only then will I be truly content smile

The set variation is one thing, but outside the seventies singles, I would guess that most punters at a beer festival would know bugger all of the first album. They may have some inkling of the second and third. After that though, no one would know any of it including many of the singles.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

ArrGee wrote:
suss wrote:
I've tried to strike that balance between 'you owe us' fan and constructively critical fan...
I'm just bloody grateful they play at all!
With my anorak on, I'd like them to play every song off every album and do all the b-sides as encores. And then they could do all the covers they did pre-1977. Only then will I be truly content
The set variation is one thing, but outside the seventies singles, I would guess that most punters at a beer festival would know bugger all of the first album. They may have some inkling of the second and third. After that though, no one would know any of it including many of the singles.

Think this means that ArrGee seldom wears his anorak. One minute its stuff from the first two albums only and next post its this!

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
Think this means that ArrGee seldom wears his anorak.

I do get it out from time to time smile

Suede played three of their albums in their entirety over the weekend at Brixton

http://www.xfm.co.uk/news/2011/suede-to-play-three-albums-over-three-shows

For the current Rats, I think that the songs from the first two albums should be the core of the set, with Someone's Looking thrown in for good measure. For me, that suits the current line up and would be the most exciting set list. From the third album onwards, the greater emphasis on keyboards would mean getting another member to do justice to the songs.

But I would be OK with them doing Mondo Bongo and V Deep as a gig. I could grab a beer when they do Another Piece of Red and Charmed Lives.

noelindublin · Loudmouth

Wouldn't it be a nice idea if somebody invited the original Boomtown Rats to do all of A Tonic For The Troops live. Not sure how these full album gigs are organised but if somebody in the role of curator eg Alan Magee or somebody of his ilk, was to do the asking then it would be more likely to happen.

Playing the full Tonic album would in my opinion be a sucess perhaps moreso than a general Boomtown Rats reunion. Seems to work for loads of other bands- and Tonic For The Troops did sell by the bucketload so it should be a sellout.

Then I wake up and realise this probably will not happen......

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

noelindublin wrote:
... and Tonic For The Troops did sell by the bucketload so it should be a sellout.
Then I wake up and realise this probably will not happen......

I'm not sure that the original line up playing A Tonic For The Troops along with Mary, Joey (both on the US edition), Number One and Mondays as an encore would sell out anywhere bigger than the 100 club.

Best we can expect is Pete, Darren, Simon and Garrick are rehearsing some of the choice songs and give them an airing this summer.

suss · In the Long Grass

noelindublin wrote:
Then I wake up and realise this probably will not happen......
Strangely prophetic??
Gig no longer on RAM site

ArrGee · Back To Boomtown

suss wrote:
Strangely prophetic??
Gig no longer on RAM site

That's a shame. Hiwever, my thespian son is less than happy post audition with the non-role he has been given so he's thinking of going to Brentwood instead.

Sadly the camping is all sold out, so will have to cadge a lift home off someone or stay at the Premier Inn a couple of miles away (only £30, so as good as camping!). I gave away my car as it was getting too expensive to tax and insure.