FANCY BOYS
Unfortunately the QUIREBOYS "Chas n' Dave" stage set is more than a little naff, but two seconds after they take to the stage you forgive them.
At the Marquee a month ago I thought the boys were great, although, on reflection, perhaps a little rusty. But tonight it's the Quireboys of old, firing on all cylinders, kicking out, and having a ball.
The two Guys (Griffin and Bailey) complement each other perfectly, both in sound and visually, swapping solos and places on stage. Nigel is, well Nigel really, as enthusiastic as ever, even Spike likens him to Pete Way (I'm glad it's not just me who thinks that).
Old favourites come and go, and the crowd goes crazy for them all. It's not long before fans start clambering on stage to claim a handshake, hug, or kiss from their favourite Quireboy. Spike seems the most popular. Stick his picture on the cover of a preteen girls magazine and I reckon the next single could make even further inroads to the Fab 40 than the last. Nigel asks Spike to stop inviting his family on stage, but no one - except perhaps the security - is going to stop anyone having their moment of glory. Spike is only too willing to share the mic for a few lines of a verse or chorus.
"Whipping Boy," the newest song (co-written with Willie of THE GRIP) shows the depth and maturity of their songwriting talent. I can't wait much longer for this album. A relaxed stroll through one of my favourites "Roses and Rings" is next, a breather before the pace picks up with "How Do You Feel" and "Pretty Girl." The latter has wonderfully out-of-tune harp playing from Spike.
The ballad "I Don't Love You Anymore" has developed into a show stopper. When Spike sings, "I could have cried, I could have...," you just know he's not faking it. This is real. Power, soul, and rock n' roll.
The country n' western shake of "Sweet Mary Anne" leads into "A Long Time Coming," and this time the harp playing is in tune.
"7:00 O'Clock" still has that new chorus, but I'm getting used to it now, and a storming "Mayfair" closes the show.
But no one is going home yet. Band and crowd romp through "Sex Party," which belongs as much to the many faithful as it does to the band. A down and dirty cover of MUDDY WATERS' "Hoochie koochie Man" brings another glorious night to an end.
This success has been a long time coming. The Quireboys have endured several years of complete indifference from both the industry and the media. They used to sell out the Marquee on a regular basis and get hardly a mention in even the rock press. Now that they're flavour of the month, they're loving every minute of it, and showing just how good they can be. But this is no flash in the pan, the Quireboys are going to be around for a long time to come, just getting better and better.
Simon Robinson
Live Shot: Blast
Riff Raff
January 1990
0 comments:
Post a Comment