BLOCK OUT the following titles:
Let's Rock the 80's
Rewind
Because This Is The Boomtown Rats I'm talking about. There is no high school reunion rocking the 80's going on. There is Zero rewinding taking place.
THIS IS THE BOOMTOWN RATS.
The most virile, vital band in Rock 'n' Roll.
This is Masculine Mojo.
On Saturday night in Northampton the Masculine Mojo ripped into the night with "Like Clockwork", which VERY MUCH encourages you to NOT fall into the trap of routines like high school reunions, ticking off boxes (doing this because you're this age, doing that because you're that age), or doing what's expected of you at all.
THIS IS THE BOOMTOWN RATS.
DO IT YOUR WAY.
If the gloomy weather had gotten you down, that was long forgotten when the Rats kicked in to "Close As You'll Ever Be". It was raw and ferocious and the ferociousness continued with "(She's Gonna) Do You In".
The very best singers and the very best bands have the ability to be up at 100 with loudness & energy and hold you in the palm of their hand as they ease you down to a softer, although anything but quieter, place. That's just what the Rats did with "I Don't Like Mondays". Soft and gentle melodically (in the beginning) but bold and very direct in its message about the devastating effects of gun violence. On this evening, Bob Geldof directed that message to the war in Ukraine and Gaza and how an end must be brought to the horrors.
Bob Geldof is very gifted with getting to the heart of matters both in speech and lyrics. He's candid and never shys away from things. He's been doing this for a long time. So when the set two songs later turned to "Diamond Smiles", it was back to horror (although set to one of the catchiest, poppiest melodies there's ever been). Sometimes I'm stunned at how much his lyrics AREN'T spoken about. I've always thought "Diamond Smiles" carries some of the most poignant lines ever written. In a time when people didn't really write about things like this, Bob penned the words from Diamond's perspective, "Love is for others ~ For me, it destroys". As the words and melody of "Diamond Smiles" were ringing out into the cool night air, whether the lyrics had you in a reflective place or you were blissfully caught up in the "Na, na, na, na's" at the end, or a little bit of both, it was gearing you up for the full throttle "Against The World" from "Citizens Of Boomtown". Sexy and full of passion, it's the ultimate "You And Me Against The World" song. If you had any doubt before, you certainly didn't now. THIS Is The Boomtown Rats. The Boomtown Rats are the band in Rock 'n' Roll showing everyone else how it's done. So much so that some of the tragic high school reunion experiences/surroundings of earlier in the day were a FAR distant memory and you could walk out knowing that if the Boomtown Rats are who move your heart, soul, mind, and body then you are as powerful, passionate, & vital as they are. Inject that into your life every day through when the Rats take the stage next on 29th June in Exeter, UK and we'll see you back here on 1st July in The Zone!
🔹🔷🔹
It was a really good gig. The band had a blast
A full set of photos from Saturday.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1021442552668425&type=3
Why did they miss out Diamond Smiles? I’m kinda glad they did as I was so emotional anyway and the lyrics in this are so poignant.
I wish there was some way I could be there and tell Bob I love him or if someone told Bob about me, maybe he would want to meet me♥️ This sounds like an awesome concert and I absolutely love the beautiful photos, Mayor Jennifer!♥️♥️😍😍