The Quireboys

Last Friday night held a special treat in store for both fans of The Quireboys as well as acoustic music, for everyone’s favourite good-time rock band played their much anticipated acoustic gig in London’s renowned Jazz Café. To say that guests had a good time would be somewhat of an understatement. To say that guests and musicians were in one hell of a party mood would be more to the point!

Support was provided by Bedfordshire-based band The Whybirds, who set the tone with their excellent alternative country-rock sound. Playing a set from their new album 'Cold Blue Sky’, the four lads not only have a busy schedule ahead but a rockin’ future as well, if their current UK-tour calendar is anything to go by. The band cite being influenced by 'the good s***’ and hey guys, whatever makes your imaginary fiddle twiddle.

After a brief break it was time for the glowing stars of the night, and glow they did indeed – with sheer excitement and intoxication. Frontman Spike and his fellow Quireboys (Guy Griffin and Paul Guerin on guitar, Keith Weir on keyboards and Phil Martini on drums) lost no time to get the party started! Playing mainly songs from their current acoustic album 'Halfpenny Dancer’, the first number was 'There She Goes Again’. From the word go, Spike had the audience in his grip like some hypnotising snake charmer, while he proceeded with the excellent 'Devil Of A Man’. Sporting a flame-red bandana and wearing a black suit with a red carnation on the collar (just what is it with rock stars and red carnations?), the Quireboys singer looked indeed like a devil of a man.

After one of their greatest hits 'Mona Lisa Smiled’ it was time for the first cover version of the night, namely the UFO song 'Love To Love’. Here, Quireboys triumph with a particularly wonderful acoustic arrangement, highlighting what skilled musician each and every one of them is, while Spike’s whisky-soaked voice once again demonstrated what a superb crooner he is.

It was indeed an intimate evening with the band, whose members sat pretty much next to each other on the small stage and close to their cheering audience. The venue was packed with fans old and new, and diners on the upper level happily interrupted their dinners in favour of clapping along to the songs. Which gave Spike one of many opportunities to crack jokes throughout the evening, like 'Have you all finished dinner? Are you on to dessert now? Great, then get out the razorblades and cocaine and hand me some as well' followed by 'Only kidding, I don't do that anymore', followed by the crowd bursting into roaring laughter and applause.

The band played three more covers during the show; one of them was the aptly titled 'Bottle Of Whisky’ by Scottish singer/songwriter Frankie Miller. Throughout the set, each Quireboy seemed perfectly tuned into one another and had a fabulous time, with guitarists Guy and Paul having fun playing left and right to Spike, while Keith Weir worked his magic on the keyboards. Due to the stage layout, drummer Phil seemed rather hidden in the background but it had no effect on his fantastic drumming.

Other numbers included 'Dirty Town’ and 'Late Saturday Night Call’ from the 'Homewreckers And Heartbreakers’ album as well as several numbers from their acclaimed 'A Bit Of What You Fancy’ album. Things got slightly sentimental when Spike dedicated two songs to persons dear to his heart. 'King Of New York’ was dedicated to his late dad, while 'One For The Road’ he dedicated to a close journalist friend who had passed away that very day. A fitting tribute if ever there was one!

After raising a glass and toasting fans and gone friends, Spike introduced his additional backing musicians who support the band on their acoustic gig, yes; the total number of musicians on this very fine occasion was nine! How they fitted onto stage was anyone’s guess but they managed. So, additional musicians and therefore additional instruments Rob Bond on the pedal steel guitar, Chris Haig on the fiddle, Terry Marshall on the sax and Chris Corney on banjo, mandolin and dobro guitar. Last but not least, there was bassist Damon Williams, who gave Spike yet another opportunity for displaying his mischievous wit and sense of humour: "Ladies and gentleman, Damon is from Wales, but please don’t hold that against him" followed by Spike singing the first lines of Tom Jones’ hit 'It’s Not Unusual, to be loved by everyone’ – to everyone’s amusement.

After 'Late Night Saturday Call’ the Quireboys made an attempt to leave the stage but succeeded only for about five minutes, as the audience yelled for more. Returning for the encore, the band got the party mood going stronger still with 'Long Time Comin’ and for the final number of the night, the song of choice was the rather heartfelt and sentimental 'I Don’t Love You Anymore’ –bit despite the lyrics, the audience very clearly still loved the Quireboys!

The band’s acoustic gig proved somewhat of a musical rite of passage, so to speak. Not only has the band matured as a whole, but so the music. By going acoustic and including brilliantly executed cover versions that no one would have expected to hear from The Quireboys, the band is bound to embark on yet another string of triumphant successes across the globe. Watch out for 'Halfpenny Dancer – Volume 2’ and more gigs later this year!

(Please read my interview with the awesome Spike in our 'Interviews’ section)