Monday 6 July 2015

Boomtown Rats: US Review

http://annecarlini.com/ex_dvd.php?id=4926


'The Boomtown Rats - Live Germany '78' (DVD/CD)(The Boomtown Rats / DVD+CD / NR / 2015 / Gonzo MultiMedia)Overview: 'Live In Germany '78' is a previously unreleased live DVD/CD by rock legends The Boomtown Rats featuring Bob Geldof. Witness the undiluted towering energy, speed, anger and sheer joy of playing in one of the great British/Irish bands of our time at their peak and in their prime.
DVD Verdict: In 1975 friends Garry Roberts, Simon Crowe, Johnnie Moylett, Patrick Cusack and Gerry Cott formed a band in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland. Bob Geldof was originally invited to be the band's manager, but he soon found himself nominated to take on the role of lead vocals by guitarist Garry Roberts, who originally had that job and didn't want it.
I would like to just then say 'And the rest was history," given that I have been a HUGE Boomtown Rats fan ever since the very early days, shown here on this incredible CD+DVD double at. But as a lot of people, especially Americans don't have that deeper knowledge of one of the UK's best loved bands ever, well, I'll add that the group then moved to London and signed with Ensign Records in 1976. Their first single, 'Lookin' After No. 1', came out in August 1977 and reached the Top 40 of the UK Singles Chart. It turned out to be the first of a long string of successes for them with their debut self-titled album being released the very next month.
Their next album, A Tonic for the Troops (1978), featured three hit singles, 'Like Clockwork', 'She's So Modern' and 'Rat Trap'. Mutt Lange produced 'Rat Trap', which became the first rock song by an Irish band to reach No. 1 in the UK, and the first of any description by an Irish band to top the official chart used by the BBC. In addition, 'Rat Trap' was also the first so-called (at the time) "new wave" song to claim the number one spot.
Backtracking, and reiterating somewhat, sorry, The Boomtown Rats played their first ever UK gig on May 6th, 1977 at the Lodestar Club, Ribchester, Blackburn, Lancashire. The supporting acts were Demolition, and Disco-Punk Chris Graham. Having undertaken a hectic schedule of touring including gigs with Tom Petty, and The Ramones, The Boomtown Rats debut single 'Looking After Number One' entered the UK charts in it's first week of release at No. 78. The Rats then released their self-titled debut album and it reached No. 18 in the UK charts.
And so, with the band now officially the hottest property on the touring market, Germany came calling. This 'The Boomtown Rats - Live Germany '78' (DVD/CD) is as raw, as unadulteratedly self-promoted as they come, as a live show, trust me! The Rats take to the stage like a punk band ready to take no prisoners, and yet as soon as they launch into 'Close As You'll Ever Be' and 'Never Bite The Hand That Feeds You,' the punk angst look of the band has quickly dissolved and a vibrant, yet highly motivated, highly ambitious rock sound complete with pop stage gestures has taken control.
Performing an in intimate setting, Geldof dressed in a black and white stripped baggy sleeves cut off shirt, thin black undone tie, sprayed on black pants, is the ring leader supreme. Next up are tracks such as 'Neon Heart,' '(It Feels) So Strange,' and 'Kicks,' but it's during 'She's So Modern,' when Geldof leans, or should I say "darts" his torso into the front room of tables/audience, and his mic cord, still wrapped around the stand, brings it quickly tumbling to the floor that catches the eye. But nobody minds, nobody cares, nobody is afraid, as this is a high energy rock show at its finest - and shit happens!
Throughout the performance, Geldof is animated, sweating, and always looking to bring his cohorts into the spotlight with him. They are not really that bothered, just seemingly want to play at their furious guitar and drum paces, but Geldof never stops trying to include them. 'Joey's On The Street Again,' 'Don't Believe What You Read,' '(She's Gonna) Do You In' and both 'Do The Rat' and 'It's All The Rage' are set to an incredible pace, but do be aware that Geldof's religious belief's are on show here, quite literally, vocally front an center.
The performance wraps up with a simply stunning, 100mph version of 'Mary Of The 4th Form,' which in turn is backed by 'Lookin' After No. 1.' It has to be said that as the entire show then fades to black, as the performance is over, you are sitting there - as a fan - begging for it to just keep going and going ... and going! But, it doesn't and so we shall just have to be thankful that this brilliant, and previously unreleased live show is now out and available for us all to watch.
Tracklist: - 1. Close as You’ll Ever Be 2. Never Bite the Hand that Feeds You 3. Neon Heart 4. (It Feels) So Strange 5. Kicks 6. She’s so Modern 7. Joey’s on the Street Again 8. Don't Believe What You Read 9. (She's Gonna) Do You In 10. Do the Rat 11. It’s All The Rage 12. Mary of the 4th Form 13. Lookin’ After No. 1 14. Banana Republic (bonus) 15. House on Fire (bonus)
This is a Standard Screen Aspect Ratio (4:3) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Bonus Tracks of:
'Banana Republic'
'House On Fire'
www.boomtownrats.co.ukDVD Purchase Linkwww.GonzoMultimedia.co.uk


CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT GONZO:

Live in Germany '78
DVD/CD - £14.99

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