 Click on the arrows to choose review. Updated 28th November 2005.
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The great rocking, heavier sound of 70’s Quo hit the Mr Kyps stage I Poole, Dorset with a vengeance last night. Steering clear of post 1980 Quo, State Of Quo faithfully reproduced the early years. Anyone expecting Marguerita Time or In The Army Now would have been sorely disappointed. It was never going to happen. Rossi (Mike Grady), Parfitt (Paul Carr), Lancaster (Graham Peters) and Coghlan (Dave Owen) were there and ready to rock. Opening the set with Juniors Wailing, a track from the 1970 Quo album, Ma Kelly’s Greasy spoon, the lads went on to do such classics as Backwater, Most of the time, Roadhouse Blues and the Quo diehard favourite, 4500 Times. You had to look twice at Paul Carr. In his denim and trainers, head down and pumping his white Telecaster, he was Rick Parfitt. I’ve seen the real Quo in excess of fifty times and Paul’s pure energy and enthusiasm really stood out. Mike Grady was Francis Rossi for the evening and the tightness of his guitar work sounded so much like Mr Rossi, it was uncanny. The pair of them even did the Rossi/Parfitt joke telling to each other during the songs. Graham Peters’ bass has got the authentic Alan Lancaster sound and from start to finish he put in 100%. Dave Owen was in the seat occasionally reserved for the original Quo drummer, John Coghlan and Dave certainly knows his Quo and never lets up from start to finish pounding out the beat for every song in perfect time. Coming back on for the encore, State of Quo finished with yet another favourite, Caroline. All in all, it was a night for the Status Quo purist and I for one went home extremely sweaty and totally knackered.
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Review by Steve Collins.
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| The one worry I had before coming to see State Of Quo is that they may well play a lot of that pop ridden dross that has afflicted Status Quo over the last few years. I needn't have worried. Guitarist Mike Grady made it clear from the off that this was going to be the classic bluesy 12 bar boogie rocking version of Quo from the days of messrs Rossi, Parfitt, Lancaster and Coughlan. With the smell of denim in the air the band ripped into 'Juniors Wailing' leading into 'Backwater Junction' that had the Quo fans young and old playing their air Guitars with glee. This band make you want to party and that's what we did! Along with classic numbers like 'Roll Over Lay Down', '45 Hundred Times' and 'Paper Plane' we were treated to a feast of back catalogue tracks including 'Spinning Wheel Blues', 'Something's Going On In My Head' and 'Railroad'. With Paul Carr working the 'Rick' magic on lead & rhythm guitar and bassist Graham Peters hitting every Lancasteresque note the way it should be, it was only left to drummer Dave Owen to give us that John Coughlan power which he did with ease. Francis Rossi would have been more than pleased at the way guitarist and sometime harmonica player Mike Grady built up the atmosphere, and by the time the band played a Scottish jig in 'Roadhouse Blues' we were all left exhausted. The band came back and played 'Caroline' for an encore, and as they once more got themselves into the classic 'three guitarist in a line legs astride hair shaking 12 bar boogie' position for the last time, I knew the original heads-down pile-driving all out rocking version of Status Quo was safe in the hands of State Of Quo.
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Review by Terry Leabourne.
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| Jak the Lad are becoming a firm favourite with the Mr. Kyps audience as an excellent support band and also as a headline act; remember they sold the place out not so long ago! Along with the superb musicianship they also add a high element of fun, and this is exactly what rock 'n' roll is all about. Playing covers of classic rock anthems across the board of Free, Bad Company, Thin Lizzy, the Georgia Satelites, Chuck Berry and so many more, the fun and the great renditions simply ooze from the band. It's a pity the floorboard area at the front of the stage appears to be tainted with something resembling toxic waste, as it's such a difficult job to get the audience to stand on it! But they managed to when State of Quo marched on stage, when the Poole legions of the Quo Army thought 'Sod It,' and filled the former people-free zone. State of Quo are purveyors of Quo's classic rock era in preference to the charity stuff from either end of their long career. The band are so into it and play to a very high calabre, and the audience thoroughly enjoyed it. Indeed, the vast array of Quo T-shirts from tours not so long and also a very long time ago were in high abundance, and I believe some of the fans were even older than me! So we had a great selection, like Spinning Wheel from that turning point in the Quo career with the Ma Kelly album, then Backwater, Paper Plane, the epic 45 Hundred Times, and so on, right through to their first encore of Sweet Caroline. And like Jak the Lad, these boys had so much fun playing they were a joy to watch. Rock 'n' roll is fun, and as soon as it's taken too seriously it just doesn't cut the ice. Everyone there had a rollicking good time, hips a swaying from the girls, outright headbanging from some of the boys, and a fair old bit of air-guitar playing too. What an excellent night! My extreme thanks to Mossy for the bait, and Rocktillyoudrop for coming up and saying hello
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Review by Alan Burridge.
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| Well i need to come clean... my time keeping is offically bad A gig 4 miles from my house and i'm almost late for the start! Enough of me the gig oh yeah as usual top draw i seems Graham is really fired up at the moment must be the pending retirement, with both Paul and Mikey suffering MASSIVE MAN FLU the sound got loud in the mix but that did not detract from the quality delivered. All the classics were packed in between Caroline to start and the usual Bye Bye c/w Batman Shake.. and Rock and roll music to finish a fantastic 2 1/2 hour set, my favourite of the night was Backwater with Dave in his usual top form on Drums, he plays unasumingly at the back of the band but does he make his pressence felt this man can play, nice chap ace drummer.Surprisingly a few remained on their seats during the gig ?? At this point i must mention the venue, situated 2 miles from Bolton www.mosesgate.co.uk is a great pub type venue Ray the landlord always has something going on support your local LIVE MUSIC venue. Message board members in attendance in no particular order Jimmy G, Crapmodem all the way from Herts.The BWFC posse who must of arrived 5 hours early to claim the front row , the Rhinobass man from Liverpool and occasionally with Clone, Nanana and mate from Nuneaton the ladies of SOQ also in attendance Colin ex Spyder nice chap top rocker and others who i missed sorry folks. Highlight of the night Jimmy G with the two local young ladies lucky lad. Lowlight of the night Paul knocking over a pint. It appears that last night was a top night for the Tributes with gigs all over the UK going on, KEEP MUSIC LIVE support your local venue support your local bands get out their before it's to late.
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Review by Daz.
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