boomtown-rats

The Boomtown Rats reformed, playing NYC and Boston (dates, tickets on sale)

Boomtown Rats

Like Madness and the Jam, the Boomtown Rats generally matched considerable Anglo-European success with near-total American commercial obscurity. Despite a string of intelligent, irresistible pop singles and intricate, skillful, unpredictable albums filled with assorted musical styles and sounds, the only US hit the Rats ever had was the morbid ballad “I Don’t Like Mondays.” While their albums are not uniformly excellent, the band’s commitment to quality and growth, plus singer/songwriter Bob Geldof’s magnetic personality, help elevate even lesser efforts to listenability, and much of their work is downright brilliant. – [Trouser Press]

The Boomtown Rats reformed in 2013 to play the Isle of Wight Festival, their first live performance since 1986, and have kept playing shows. They’ll be in the Northeast this fall to play New York’s Terminal 5 on September 26 and Boston’s Royale on September 28. Tickets to the T5 and Boston shows are on sale now.

Both those US shows are part of the “Smithwick’s Presents The Big Session” featuring fellow Irish bands The Stunning, and Mundy. All dates are listed, along with a few videos, below…

Boomtown Rats – She’s So Modern

The Boomtown Rats – Someone’s Looking At You

Boomtown Rats – Up All Night

Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap 1978

The Boomtown Rats. I Don’t Like Mondays.

Boomtown Rats – 2014 Tour Dates
Sept. 13: Heartlands Festival, Pool, Cornwall, UK
Sept. 26: Terminal 5, New York City, NY, USA
Sept. 28: Royale, Boston, MA, USA
Oct. 11: GB Alt Festival, Skegness, Lincolnshire, UK
Oct. 18: Wulfrun Hall, Wolverhampton, UK
Oct. 19: 02 Academy, Newcastle, UK
Oct. 20: 02 ABC, Glasgow, UK
Oct. 22: 02 Academy, Sheffield, UK
Oct. 23: 02 Academy, Liverpool, UK
Oct. 25: Ritz, Manchester, UK
Oct. 26: Engine Shed, Lincoln, UK
Oct. 28: Assembly, Leamington Spa, UK
Oct. 29: 02 Academy, Bristol, UK
Oct. 31: Pyramids Centre, Portsmouth, UK
Nov. 1: 02 Academy, Oxford, UK
Nov. 3: The Junction, Cambridge, UK
Nov. 4: 02 Academy, Leicester, UK
Nov. 6: 02 Academy, Bournemouth, UK
Nov. 7: The Forum, London, UK
Nov. 9: Great Hall, Exeter, UK