Liverpool’s Rats headlined This Feeling’s 13th birthday party recently. Just under two years ago, they played the same venue to under 10 people. This time, a packed crowd was buzzing in anticipation!
The night had been electric with stellar slots from Cleargreen, Howlers and Lacuna Bloome, then Rats just tore the place apart with their brand of rock n roll and punk.
Crowd favourites ‘Weekend’ and ‘Figure It Out’ served the braying crowd with a fix of bangers. The latter, showcases just how far this band can go. On record, it has The DMA’s debut album at its core, live, it becomes a raucous monster of an anthem. Meanwhile., ‘Weekend’, with hooks at every turn, united the crowd in a sea of mayhem.
It’s on their last release ‘Jack’ though where they defined their set and the purpose of This Feeling. Full of risk and great social comment, it turned a desperate fight against the pressures zero hours contracts into a performance of righteous punk rock. The cameo from Skinny Man lifted the song to another plain and took the crowd somewhere truly special.
This Feeling are not the only ones putting on nights like this but, they are the best at it. They have backed Rats from opening a night to 10 people all the way through to virtually selling out Nambucca. It was a beautiful sight and a reminder, do not let tossers in the mainstream tell you bands are cyclical. They are always there and they need nourishing. Rats are now beyond their fledgling status and ready to support big bands before owning the tour circuit themselves!
*Image courtesy of @ChrisDriverPhoto