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Travelled over from Dublin for this gig and certainly was not disappointed by the new version of the Rats. All the band put in a great performance and I thought Bob Bradbury on vocals did a good job in perhaps the hardest role, in stepping in for BG so well done to him.
Consumed too much cheap (£2 pint) Welsh beer to accurately account for the full set list, but remember hearing a brilliant Neon Heart, Someones looking, She's So Modern, Rat Trap, Mondays, Diamond Smiles and all the usual suspects.
Simon was dressed in his trademark red t shirt and as ever seemed to put his heart into the songs. Gary seemed a lot more animated than his usual nonchalant stage persona, but looked totally into it and seemed to me to relish playing the songs, and realise that Geldof and the Rats had a past to be very proud of. Darren was superb, a sort of Rats indie kid who really likes the bands back catalogue and delights in playing the songs. Bob Bradbury, on vocals and bass did a great job too, inflecting the vocals with a slightly snarling London accent and proved more than competent.
The venue was really good and the audience was the best part of 300. Nice to look around and notice a lot of younger people who seemed to know the songs, some decidedly animated in their passion. All in all worth the trip and I would certainly consider travelling to another gig, perhaps in a less out of the way place. Having said that, the local Welsh people seemed amazingly friendly, particularly the guys who helped organise a late night taxi back to Cardiff for me (Hew, the dj from The Factory in Porth, I think his name was?)
Finally thanks to Suss for lift to Porth, and Bristol Airport on a rainy Sunday morning, and turning up on schedule as prearranged.Nice to meet Wes from Wolverhamption, a true Rats fan and share a pregig drink with him and Suss beforehand. As fans we all celebrate the band in our own ways, and meeting fellow fans can certainly throw up a range of different personalities and attitudes. After a few drinks and hearing the opening chords to Neon Heart live I suspect we might all blend into one in some Rats induced nirvana.
No problem at all with lifts Noel...was on my way in both cases. Great to meet you, though suspect next time there might be a few revisits to conversation as that £2 brew certainly took its toll .
Good review of a good gig - was certainly a 'different' venue (locals referred to it as the pop factory, which I assumed was a music reference but turns out it actually was a soft drinks factory before conversion, being reopened by Sir Tom no less, with a ceremonial bottle of dandelion and burdock being smashed against the wall apparently). Locals were indeed very friendly too.
I took advantage of being out west with a weekend pass to travel across to Minehead for the Butlin's gig last night, or more accurately this morning. Feared the worst when band got billed at 12.30am and fully expected majority of the weekenders to be too partied out to stay up after 3 days, but was amazed to see 1000 plus (maybe 1500?) of the 4,500 residents packed into the bar where Rats played, especially considering Dr Feelgood on stage same time elsewhere in the complex. Yet again there were dozens who knew all the words, and danced, so the demand is still there. Maybe these retro festivals are the way to go...cracking atmosphere.
Had the FAOS reissue and Loudmouth CDs in car on long rain lashed journey home (got back at 4.45am). 'Sleep' and 'Up All Night' took on a whole new meaning for me .
Funny thing about that Welsh beer is I didn't have much of a hangover the next day.But I got an average of about 5 hours sleep on Friday and Saturday nights so overall I felt tired.
Perhaps I will pop over to Biggleswade in August. It's in Bedfordshire so it's a Luton Airport job! Will check that out.
Well done for making Minehead. The weather must have been atrocious. It's been lashing it down in Dublin all morning. Wettest April in 100 years according to the Met Office. Great that there was a big crowd for the Rats in Minehead, even competing with Dr Feelgood.
Another appropriate song for your return journey is Geldof's In The Pouring Rain.
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