Bob Geldof in Southport. Photograph by Ian D. Hall.

Originally published by L.S. Media. September 15th 2011.

L.S. Media Rating ****

Bob Geldof doesn’t tour that often, he doesn’t bring out albums all that frequently either; however within the space of nine months, Bob has managed to do both. The vocal and yet warm crowd that attended the excellent show at the Southport Theatre were treated to a performance by Bob that reminded all that the man still has fire in his veins; a spirit that cannot be easily dismissed and a personality that is so likeable and infectious, that even when he is ranting against the world, there is a certain spark of enjoyment in his eye.

Earlier in the year Bob released the album How To Compose Popular Songs That Will Sell. Going by the audience’s reactions to each song that was played out during the two hour set, Bob mastered this tricky question many years ago.

Opening the evening with the Great Song of Indifference from the 1990 album The Vegetarians of Love and the Systematic Six Pack from the Sex, Age and Death album was a great choice of songs to get the crowd in the mood and when they heard the opening bars of When The Night Comes from the Fine Art of Surfacing album it was as if someone had turned back the clock and the audience were seeing Bob as a fresh young man with a story to tell for the first time.

There were many highlights during the show including a rather special rendition of Screams In Vain, Harvest Moon and some of the more well-known tracks from his distinguished career in The Boomtown Rats such as the incredible I Don’t Like Mondays, Joey’s on the Street Again and the phenomenal Rat Trap which bought the house down. Such was the roar of approval of the crowd that the band was off stage for the barest of moments before they came on for their encores which included the vivid Diamond Smiles.

Bob and the band came on stage for an unprecedented second and replayed The Great Song of Indifference once more, dedicating it to the man who had missed the start of the show and had kept calling out for it. With a smile on his face which showed the affection he has for his fans even when they can’t be on time. Bob displayed once more why he is so loved by audiences and it can be only hoped that it’s not too long before he is back in the North-West.

Ian D. Hall