08 December 2011 (gig)
12 December 2011
“We are the Quireboys and this is rock n roll!” True words indeed, for that is precisely what the band delivered during their dynamic show at the Garage!
While the support band made for a howling atmosphere, it was down to frontman Spike and his boys to get the good-time vibe into full gear. Not that it proved a problem – the venue was crammed with fans and they all came along to support the very band that over the years had never failed to provide bona fide songs and a wickedly good time.
While much-loved favourites ‘Dirty Town’, ‘Misled’, ‘Tramps & Thieves’ and ‘There She Goes Again’ got the party going, bandana-wearing Spike announced that a new album is in the make and some new tracks will be introduced during the course of the evening. Great news indeed, for no band – no matter how excellent the songs – can play the same old repertoire forever. “The songs are so new, I can’t remember the lyrics myself yet”, joked Spike. “So if I mess up, you wouldn’t even know, would you?” Thus followed the first new track titled ‘Too Much Of A Good Thing’ – a surprisingly hard and heavy sounding number from band usually seduced by more bluesy notes, but what a scorcher! The perfect number for Guy Griffin and Paul Guerin to go wild on guitar and demonstrate their dexterity, and for bassist Dave Boyce and drummer Matt Goom to skilfully provide the necessary beat. Especially Goom handled his drum kit with much respect throughout the evening as opposed to trash away on it as if there was no tomorrow.
After ‘Roses & Rings’, Guy Griffin addressed the crowd with “Hey you, I bet you all wanna hear this one…”, with gravel-voiced Spike promptly lapping into the band’s signature hit ‘Hey You’ to much applause and sing-a-long.
Next came one of my personal favourites, namely ‘Mona Lisa Smiled’ – to which Spike had the following to say: “Now we’re playing a song that is a big hit all over Europe and I hope it’s a big hit over here too… because we need the money!” ‘Mona Lisa Smiled’ should be a big hit the world over, quite frankly. With his usual cheeky smile, he then plugged the band’s excellent acoustic album ‘Halfpenny Dancer’ and mentioned that the horse on the front cover is called Noddy and it belongs to him.
Another new song was introduced called ‘Mother Mary’ – a fantastic tune full of melody and emotion which the Quireboys describe as “a whiter shade of Mott”. Keith Weir’s impeccable keyboard play is used to particularly good effect on this one.
After ‘Can’t Park Here’ and ‘Take Me Home’, Spike greeted his old mate and fellow Quireboy founder member Guy Bailey, who was amongst the audience (clapping and cheering). “Ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you a story” continued Spike with a mischievous smile on his face – “many years ago, Guy and I went for a drink to the Vauxhall Tavern, where Guy pulled the most gorgeous woman I ever set eyes upon. Unfortunately, ‘she’ was called Norman…” The crowd was in hysterics, as was Spike. “Guy Bailey, where are you? Are you hiding?” he yelled into the audience, then blasted into ‘Lorraine Lorraine’:
“Blacked out in the Southern Cross
Bible belt of London's lost
Teenage queens and how they seem
SW11 and American's dream.”
Lorraine, Lorraine, what's there for me?
There ain’t too much that I can see
24 hours a man can change
Lorraine, Lorraine, Lorraine.”
Vauxhall Tavern every Friday night
Buying those drinks though the money's tight
Kiss the girls, cos boy's don't cry
Famous last words of a fucked up guy.”
As if to make amends for his joke (on the expense of Mr. Bailey), Spike then played a song that Guy and he had written together, the killer-riff dominated and ironically titled ‘White Trash Blues’ (which followed by another fave of mine, ‘I Don’t Love You Anymore’).
Then Spike asked the crowd “Do you know what time it is?” which was of course the cue for ‘7 O’ Clock’ (time for a party). Not that anyone in the audience needed any further reminding of that, for as always, they all sang and danced along to the band’s infectious tunes.
It was the closing number of the night, although not really – the fans demanded an encore and got it with ‘This Is Rock N Roll’ and ‘Mayfair’ – Spike twirling around stage and swivelling the mic-stand about. Sweat dripping, the Boys wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, before descending into the backstage area.
Ladies and gents, these were the Quireboys, and thanks for keeping rock n roll alive!
