 Click on the arrows to choose review. Updated 2nd January 2008.
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In eager anticipation, we once again travelled over to Mr Kyps this time for the State of Quo gig. By the time the doors opened, there was a healthy amount of people turning up and by the time the band came on it was heaving, hot and sweaty.  For the uninitiated, this was the old school Quo, the original line up. Rossi (Mike Grady) on lead guitar, Parfitt (Paul Carr) on rhythm guitar, Lancaster (Chris Gleeson) on bass and Coghlan (Dave Owen) on drums. Mr Kyp had promised a more popular set this time and with such a vast array of songs to choose from , taken from both albums and singles, we were not to be disappointed.  It was State of Quo’s first gig of the year and far from being a little rusty, the lads were absolutely on fire and well up for it despite a long drive down from Lancashire. And did those hits flow? Crashing straight in to the 1973 hit Caroline, followed quickly by Again and Again. The band went on to play some giant Quo classics, many of them top ten hits from years gone past. Hold you Back, Rain, Paper Plane, Down the Dustpipe, 4500 Times, Roadhouse Blues and of course Down Down, which was a number one for Status Quo, way back in 1975. Kyp was even given his promised ‘cheese’ with Rocking All Over The World.  Messrs Rossi and Parfitt interacted superbly with the crowd as well as with each other making it seem like a real Quo bash. Both Lancaster and Coghlan did their bits well also, pumping out the rhythm section and keeping everything in time. The time seemed to disappear in an instant. As they came back out on stage for the encore, once more the band got themselves into the classic 'three guitarist in a line, legs astride, hair shaking 12 bar boogie' position for one last time and blasted out Big Fat Mama. Brilliant. We went home very, very happy, hot, sweaty and totally knackered. | ||||||||||||||
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Review by Steve Collins. |
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A hot Black Bullet cut through the frosty Sussex air with Neil, Di, Cubby and myself arriving like the wind in Mr Kyps. Di did a great job navigating, but Neil managed to ignore concise directions at crucial moments, still I was very grateful for the lift. We arrived in Mr Kyps carpark to find Paul Carr propped up against the Transit, he looked tired after a long journey down but was pleased to see a large crowd already waiting and more in the local waiting for the venue to open. After a chat with Paul we drifted into the pub and just started a pint, when an oversized daffodil and its owner, together with Quonickers announced their arrival in the pub with shrill Welsh accents. The locals seemed perturbed and likewise, we consumed our beverages and bade the ladies farewell and adjourned to the comfort of Mr Kyps. The venue had a great stage, lighting and PA. It was busy with a large crowd, many from the SQMB. I cannot remember all of them but, Railroad, Pepsi P, Ron The Jacket, Jimmy G and Crappy were there to name a very few. I caught up with Mikey and Dave at the bar and there were looking forward to playing for the first time since The Greyhound. The band came on at 21:30 to Caroline, the sound was excellent - plenty of power and although loud, it was just at the right level. Again and Again followed and I thought this was great. The band played it's usual mix of old and older Quo and then we had Railroad - I just love this song, the bluesy mid-section was delived impeccably and I wish Quo would play the whole song as well. Classic stuff! The set continued and soon we had 4500X - SOQ have perfected this song, with Chris and Dave keeping it all very tight. I, along with the crowd were really getting into this classic when we had the unfortunate invasion of the stage by WBEL. I'm not prepared to say anymore, except I felt it ruined 4500X and IMHO, the gig for SOQ, the crowd were screaming with laughter, but frankly, I felt for the band. Mr Kyps staff had to evict her from the stage and SOQ continued to a deliver a great set despite a second invasion by WBEL. I hope it doesn't effect their chance of playing there again . They played RAOTW, but I've often said that this song if played with raw power and no soppy keyboards is a good song and so it proved. The encore was BFM and Dave nailed the cowbell! And so the gig came to a resounding end, Neil finished a pi**ed as a mattress and Cubby kept him company with the shots! Di did a great job driving home with Neil lolling around like a dustbin in the front seat and Cubby sleeping soundly in the back. After dropping off Cubby, Di was forced by Neil to stop for a Kebab! We reluctantly called into a layby in Camberley where Neil and I purchased two large kebabs. There were some local yoofs who turned the freezing air blue with some choice language! We arrived back at Neil and Di gaff with Neil still as drunk as a Lord. I finished my kebab long before Neil as he had trouble keeping the polystrene container open such was his bleary eyed focus. I woke the following morning as Di was departing and Neil amazingly was able to make some crackin' toast and tea. A great night, a great gig but it dawned on me that as I left Neil and Di's place, SOQ were probably only just arriving home after driving back after the gig! I'm sure I'll be seeing Dave at Manchester Airport...ha!
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Review by Tramline.
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| I can safely say I have recovered from what has got to have been one of the BEST long weekends of neck-breaking-heads-down-boogie although I am still sounding a bit Bonnie Tyler-ish today. First though, I’d like to mention the Truant gig in Bolton on Friday. These lads are absolutely brilliant! If you like Arctic Monkeys, Green Day, Kaiser Chiefs, The Fratellis, etc make the effort to go and see them. They threw in a few Quo covers kicking off their set with ‘Caroline’ and including ‘Creeping Up On You’ and also did a crackin’ version of Thin Lizzy’s ‘Don’t Believe A Word’.  Saturday, and our fabulous landlady, the one and only Miss D, drove us to Blackpool. Quick bite to eat – hi to lindylou and Bob - then it was straight round to Riffs. We arrived at the same time as Di, Security, Karen and Quozone. Lots of strange goings-on in the doorway (don’t ask), then looking up we saw Sharon and Bill banging on the windows and headbanging along as State Of Quo did a bit of a sound check. Oh you can just tell it’s gonna be one of those nights Upstairs and into Riffs and the place is refreshingly cool thanks to the air-conditioning – thank you! Hi to Fiona and we’re in.  Jimmy ‘dimples’ G and The Bolton Posse are already there and ready to rock. Great to meet Big Al (he is a BIG fella), Pam . G, missquo and Maz Quo. Bit of a kafuffle and yes it’s my drinking buddy for the night, Georgegeordie! Roadhouse and Lesley arrive, then Fine Fine Fine and Jo, and Belfast’s very own AJMULL. We’re all getting settled in then State Of Quo hit the stage, banging out some top Quo tunes including a personal favourite ‘Breaking Away’. [insert set list here Mikey].  Lots of hair flying around, lots of air-guitaring, lots of singing along, lots of smiling happy people, lots of sambuca…(but that’s another story). Heads were down and rocking from the first note to the last. As always, and despite not gigging for the past seven weeks, State Of Quo delivered a hard-rocking set for just over 2½ hours straight to some very happy Quo fans.  Sunday night, my (seriously mega) hangover’s under control and we’re off to the Moses Gate. Getting there early because we know how busy it gets, we meet up with Rich and Robb (also members of the LMC), Colin Harkness and Carole, dogof2ed and sonofdog2ed. Great to see Jayne, Helen and Ann again. (Jayne, we’ll see who goes where on Friday, hahaha). Before we know it, again, State Of Quo are on the stage, all heads were down and we were off. Dunno about the rest of you that were at Riffs the night before but Quo-neck had set in for me and was taking a while to loosen off. Mikey’s finger had made a recovery from injury the previous night so there was no holding back. (There’s a screech as Pat and Bob arrive mid-gig from Crewe, long-time no see).  A bit of a tweak to the setlist gave us some surprises including ‘Runaway’. (I’m hoping Mikey will oblige us with the setlist again). The place was absolutely jam-packed and bouncing! Hard to pick a top tune of the night but I will say that ‘Slow Train’ was awesome!! Drummer Dave was clearly in a mischievous mood too which was evident in his drums breaks. As I said before, State Of Quo hadn’t done a gig for around seven weeks so Riffs was a kind of warm-up gig. As great as Riffs was, The Moses Gate was a belter! MASSIVE THANK YOU to all the lads in State Of Quo. You never fail to deliver. Well worth the journey. Thankfully Monday was a lazy day of eating, sleeping and recovery before we headed out on the road and I came home to a suspiciously clean and tidy house. What a weekend. It’d been too long so it was great to be all together again. I’ll get the pics uploaded today.  So who’s all going to Riffs 1st Birthday Bash on 8 September with State Of Quo? Can’t wait to do it all again – minus the sambuca this time though…
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Review and photos by Tracy Turner.
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| I couldn't understand why the organisers put Coghlan's Quo on before Showaddywaddy on this 70's revival weekend but there we go. JC and the State Of Quo boys were great, opening up with Caroline as the curtain rolled back was class, Paul Carr giving it the full Rick Parfitt start with the opening riffs. Mike Grady also made use of the expanses of the stage going walkabout on the platform behind the drum riser, while Chris Gleeson on bass was less mobile, but no less rock steady. In true Quo fashion Paper Plane and Down Down were ripped through before the audience got a break and an opportunity to say hello to the band. Rain rocked as did Roll Over Lay Down, yes it was mostly hits to please a general audience, but there was still Roadhouse Blues, Hold Ya Back, Spinning Wheel Blues and Bye Bye Johnny for the hardcore, plus a 30 second cameo of For You during a guitar change. Rick's Girl saved the day during Whatever You Want when Paul Carr dropped his plectrum on the floor and couldn't pick it up. He was playing with the prospect of ripping his fingers to shreds when Rick's Girl handed him one of Rick's red plectrums she just happened to have in her camera case, nice touch! She made sure she got the plectrum back after Rockin' All Over The World though. Despite running over time, the Butlins staff allowed an encore, in an attempt to extend the gig for as long as possible, your truly requested Forty Five Hundred Times, only to be rebuffed with a comment of "daft B%&$ard!" from the stage before Bye Bye Johnny kicked in. After the gig John Coghlan was treated to the site of QuoKnickers on the roof of the band's van playing an inflatable guitar, the incident raising a grin, as he was driven home For anyone who hasn't seen JC drum for a while, he's still got it and is a real showman if you watch him closely, go see him if you get the chance. Think of an original member of Quo going back to where 42 years before a skinny blond bloke strolled into the Pig and Whistle or the main ballroom (whichever it was) and saw a band called the Spectres belting out Bye Bye Johnny and you're witnessing a re-visiting of rock n' roll history.
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Review by Paul Furley.
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| Just over six hours after we left Fife and a lot of ‘mon-tae fa’s from me, we arrive at The Crewe Arms, tired and hungry. Got organised then went downstairs. Mid-snack and Helen thinks she saw someone coming in who said she couldn’t make it. Nothing keeps me away from my food but if it’s who I think it is….YAY it was Doris!! Thankfully Karen had the insight to pre-book a taxi which took us to one of the best venues in the UK to see the best (IMO) Quo tribute band in the UK. Lots of excitement, laughter and chat as people arrive and catch up. Lots of us seemed to have been held up in traffic for one reason or other but we were happy to be there at last. Not doing a list of names because you all know who you are.  There’s always a good atmosphere at the Limelight. We hear the tinkering of guitars behind the big screen……. the crowd start chanting and the screen starts lifting…. and we’re off! Heads are down and the air guitars are out as State Of Quo take us through a set that was full of surprises. As previously mentioned, Runaway, Blue Eyed Lady, Over The Edge and Slowtrain were part of a setlist that had us rocking for 2½ hours.  (As was discussed later, it’s nice to not get a verbal introduction to some songs). When State Of Quo went into Blue Eyed Lady, the crowd seemed to freeze for just a split-second then when our ears confirmed that we had actually heard the opening bars and State Of Quo were playing it and not just tinkering between songs, we all went a wee bit mental. Then no introduction and straight into Over The Edge had us all going absolutely mental. Have to agree, that was my top tune of the night too. The guitar riffs and the vocal-ripping lyrics were superbly reproduced by State Of Quo.  All too soon it was over. I can quite honestly say that the gig was well worth every second of sitting on that blady M6! Great to see Pär and Birgitta again (sorry I didn’t say bye, hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday). That was some trip you and Will had dog2ed :eek: Hope your video clips get the thumbs-up. Welsh Blue Eyed Lady and quoknikers ya pair of nutters, if it were the chap with the shaved/bald head, I’m sure he’s called Martin. Twod – those pics of yours are GREAT!! My pics will be uploaded once I’ve sifted through them. Cheers to Carole and Bob for taking most of them. I should have mastered my new camera by the time Riffs comes around…I forgot to ask, who won the bet on how long I’d keep my shoes on for?  There’s now 44679 miles on my wee car. There was 14447 miles on the clock when I bought it end of October 2005. I wonder how many miles of those are State Of Quo miles? As Di said, it’s worth every single one of them.
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Review by Tracy Turner @ photos by Twod
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| Another year, another Wembley trip, although this was one was a bit different. Dave's perforated ear drum meant the gig had suddenly been thrown into serious doubt at the very last minute, but he was determined to be there and give us his best. Previous years have seen the set last for more than three hours, but a repeat of this was out of the question. However, the band were determined to make this sure this would still be a special day. Enter John Coghlan, who regularly plays with Paul, Mike and Chris as John Coghlan's Quo. As I say, this gig was perilously close to being cancelled so many thanks to both drummers for making it happen. Absolute stars - the pair of them. I actually helped put the two setlists together, which was quite an interesting task. Had to try to avoid the obvious Quo hits and come up a completely different set for both drummers, but it ended up working really well. It's interesting to note that neither JCQ or SoQ played Caroline, Down Down or Rockin' All Over the World at all. Just goes to show how expansive Quo's back catalogue is when a gig lasting more than three hours still doesn't leave room for some of the biggest and best-known tracks. But since Quo themselves were going to be playing them later in the night, I don't think anyone objected, especially as the punters were getting treated to the sound of classics we'd never hear anywhere else. Opening John's set with Shady Lady was Mikey's idea and a good one too, because it told the punters from the word go that they wouldn't have a clue what would be coming next. That's a lot of the fun with SoQ, I think. A list of their repertoire and my favourite Quo songs would be practically identical and never knowing which of my top tunes I'll hear next is brilliant. It's such a buzz to hear those songs that you'll never hear anywhere else live and loud, played with guts and passion. And the response it gets from the crowd is incredible. Over the Edge, for example, nearly blew the roof of the place and it just goes to show how much people love these tunes. Must admit though, I was baffled by some comments saying it was too loud. It's meant to be like that isn't it? Music to shatter your eardrums by - literally in Dave's case! Personally, I just think Quo have gone a bit too quiet.... The Greyhound was just right for me - in your face, sweaty rockin' with classic songs and a tremendous atmosphere.
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Review by Jim Glynn.
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