Rats - Dreams

Liverpool’s Rats, a rapidly growing success story on the live circuit. From headlining This Feeling’s 13th birthday last October and selling out a massive hometown date at Invisible Wind Factory last month, they’re becoming an unstoppable force.

At the end of Feb, they returned with their latest single ‘Dreams’. Sonically, their most gentle number to date but, no less impacting. Visions of academy venues, arm in arm, at the end of night sing this loud and proud are well within reason.

Joe Maddock’s vocals have hit an adorable vein of form here. Although delicate and seemingly floating away aimlessly, they contain a working class warmth and, an endearing humbleness.

Their previous singles, have demonstrated devilment, protest, and righteous polemic. Now, Rats are striking way beyond that. Offering up a potential sound of the summer, alongside fragile characters is elite level juxtaposition.

They are not to be missed at This Feeling’s Re-Wired festival this April.

*Image courtesy of Chris Driver

Rats: Nambucca, London

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

Rats ft Skinnyman – Jack

Musically, there’s an array of indie-punk bands reigniting the mid-00s scene at the moment. Liverpool’s RATS are key to the scene, and have returned with their new single ‘Jack’ and, it might just set them apart from the pack.

Unlike so many of the 00s scene, RATS have a visceral social comment and are willing to creative risks in delivering it. For the most part, ’Jack’ conforms to many indie reference points of the 15 years, and does it expertly. It’s great pop music.

Then, the introduction of Skinnyman changes everything. The return to depression era employment tactics is ruining lives. All the while, the givers of zero hour contracts get tax breaks (FUCK BORIS). Step up Skinnyman! His aggressive climax is the sound of the downtrodden getting nose to nose with their oppressors and demanding change!

 *Image courtesy of @ChrisDriverPhoto

RATS: The Social, London

“When Jake Bugg went to number one it made national news headlines. Why? Because he never went to stage school nor graduated from Brits academy. He didn’t enter Britain’s Got Talent nor summit himself to the humiliations of X-Factor. He made headlines because he is just an ordinary kid from a state school……I can’t believe there aren’t plenty of teenagers out there with an ear for a good tune and a chip on their shoulder who have something to say to us.”

Billy Bragg, The John Peel Lecture, 2015

Introducing to you, Liverpool’s Rats! They headlined Creation23’s night at The Social Tuesday night and displayed said fire and skill.

Their brand of working class indie-punk always gets lost in the mix when the majors and x-factor types dominant the industry. However, with singles like ‘Weekend’ and ‘Figure It Out’ in their arsenal, eventually the keepers of the gate will be forced to open.

The latter, was explosive and right in the slot that will carry them to big venues. Throughout the set, elements of all their songs threatened to reach this level. Despite not being as fully formed; Rats are very much a band in the ascendancy. The wit and angst in their delivery of upcoming single ‘Jack’ and the emotive hooks of ‘Dreams’, it’s easy to imagine them as Liverpool’s answer to The Courteeners.

Awash with tales of sex, drugs and violence, Rats, like Jake Bugg in 2015, shouldn’t be considered an anomaly. On this showing, it won’t be long before they are lauded in the same light as Bugg. Woe betide anyone who stands in their way.

Friday 2nd August marks our 8th birthday. Come down to the New Cross Inn for a night of great live music. Tickets available here: