Ratboys Downstairs At The Dome

Ratboys

Salarymen

Downstairs At The Dome, 5 September 2026 

I was back to see my favourite discoveries this year, the incredible Ratboys, at the downstairs venue in the Dome (singer Julia Steiner was very taken with the idea that there was an actual Dome!), which I had never been to before. It was just as joyful and energetic as before but this time they played one of my favourite songs of theirs, Burn It Down, so I really couldn't have asked for more!

I had a bit of a stressful journey to Tufnell Park due to problems with the trains and only turned up just as the doors were opening but, whether it was due to the End Of The Road festival happening at the same time or the fact it was a Saturday night, I was only the third person in line. 

When I went in the place was empty for a long time but thankfully was packed by the time Ratboys came on, although for a long time I wondered if I was going to be the only person at the front! While the place was empty though I bought a copy of Ratboys' previous album The Window from Julia Steiner herself, who was very friendly, so that was nice. 

I could see support band Salarymen walking around beforehand, setting up a camera to film their performance, and they seemed super excited to be playing.  Made up of the London-based Aussie duo Renee de la Motte and Thomas Eagleton, they certainly looked the part: de la Motte, on bass, was wearing a matching shorts and jacket set with leather boots that looked very rock n' roll (she also looked a bit like a young Ann Wilson from Heart), while the tall and shaggy haired Eagleton, on guitar, had white jeans and a ringer tee that made him look like he could have been in a 90s indie band (he at times reminded me of a dark-haired Evan Dando).

They had a drummer and a second guitarist (playing his first show with them tonight) completing the band but it was clear that the duo were the stars of the show, alternating the lead vocals on songs and often looking to each other and smiling, or even facing each other as they played guitar. The music was slightly poppy indie rock like The Sundays or The Primitives, while they also reminded me of bands like Split Enz and Crowded House, especially when Eagleton sang.

They were a pleasant enough listen and they were clearly thrilled at the good reaction they were getting, which was nice. There was a song dedicated to their late dog Chili, I Forget About Time, which of course endeared me to them but I think the best song though came at the end, a bass driven number called Holding On sang by de la Motte, with a catchy chorus and lots of harmonies. It was a good way to end the set for sure.

More soon about the amazing Ratboys!