Originally published by L.S. Media. February 12th 2009.

Back in August of last year, two of the original members (Simon Crowe and Garry Roberts) of the Boomtown Rats got together with Peter Barton and Darren Beale to play their first full gig as The Rats at the Bilston Robin. It was a night that didn’t disappoint. Six months down the line and the band, if anything, have got tighter and an awful lot of the old magic was in evidence for the audience to see.

The Rats opened up the night with Close as You’ll Ever Be and the foot stomping Looking After No 1. Even without Bob Geldof’s trademark leer and biting vocals during the latter to give you the real sense of anger that accompanied the song, Peter Barton brought a fresh edge to the song, and rather than it sounding like a rant against the pop music industry of the time, it sounded more like a call to arms against the rampant tide of globalisation.

A lot of the set was taken from their self titled debut album which included the wonderful Neon Heart and Joey’s on the Street Again. Scattered amongst those were some of punk rocks classic gems which included the strangely prophetic, paranoids dream of Someone’s Looking at You and the stirring Like Clockwork.

When the Boomtown Rats were starting out in the clubs in and around Dublin they didn’t have enough of their own songs to get through the night so they would play cover versions Dr Feelgood’s records. Now over thirty years later they went back to that tradition and played She Does it Right and Riot in Cell Block Nmber 9 which was magnificently bellowed out by drummer Simon Crowe.

Much praise must go to the youngest member of the group Darren Beale, who puts so much energy, skill and dedication into his performance that you forget how young he actually is, but by playing with three of the best professionals on the circuit he will only learn more and become even better, which can only be a huge testament to the band.

Garry Roberts, one of the under-rated musicians of the time, proves that form maybe fleeting but class will always be permanent. And Garry Roberts will always be permanent.

The Rats finished off an impressive night with a few of more radio played hits of the bands career with a storming version of Rat Trap, She’s so Modern and the Boomtown Rats biggest hit I don’t like Mondays, before leaving the stage to huge applause from a crowd, some too young to remember them in their heyday, others who grew up in times of turmoil and good live music,who wanted them to carry for a few more hours.

Ian D. Hall