Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. August 2008.

During the last few years, there has been an abundance of 70’s and 80’s bands making comebacks but one act resisting the clamour to reform was the Boomtown Rats – until now.

With no chance of Bob Geldolf rejoining, it has been left to original members Simon Crowe back to doing what he does best on drums and Garry Roberts on guitar, they were joined by Peter Barton on vocals and the impressive Darren Beale on guitar.

Opening with Close As You’ll Ever Be and Looking After Number 1 from the Boomtown Rats’ debut album, it initially appeared that they’d taken on a hard task but with a sympathetic audience urging them on, it wasn’t long before some of the old magic returned.

With the classic Someone’s Looking At You and the bouncy Like Clockwork in the set, The Rats gave their all and it was with some disappointment when the evening drew to a close but not until we’d been treated to two of their best known songs, Rat Trap and I Don’t Like Mondays.

Ian D. Hall