Review by Richard Henry for MPM
Let’s hope these guys get us all hot and sweaty in here tonight because its Baltic, so much so that Spike invited me and my mate on the tour bus if the bar wasn’t open! First up tonight though is the legend that is Pat McManus!
Pat McManus
There are if you think about it, very few guitar heroes from here, Gary Moore, Rory Gallagher, Vivian Campbell, and although not my cup of tea you would have to say “The Edge”, but here we have a man who is still out there touring relentlessly.
He ripped through a load of his own tunes and some Mamas Boys tracks and the fluidity that the man has and the connection to the instrument is just a joy to behold, musically very early Whitesnake crossed with a bit of southern ZZ Top with a huge Celtic influence, the band where tight as anything as well and I absolutely loved his set, if you haven’t checked out Pat before I highly recommend doing so, he is also back in Belfast again soon and in Ahoghill for a solo gig, get yourself down to one!
Quireboys
Jeeze Louise
Kicking off with a track from the new album Wardour St, it’s an up-tempo one to kick us off, Spike chucking his mic stand about, I was convinced he was for hitting the ceiling at one point, there they are, just a driving boogie woogie trac, with Willie pumping away over there on the piano, plenty of energy coming from the stage and what a track to kick us off with!
Can’t Park Here
One from “Bitter Sweet and Twisted”, wind it up and go, straight up rock n roll in here tonight and the place is packed, Spike sounds great and the band are on top form tonight, everyone singing along with the title of this one, so much energy coming from the stage, its infectious, you can’t help but be smiling, nice piano solo from Willie, just good vibes here tonight!!
Misled
“Little Bit of what You Fancy” sir, ooh suits you, Spikes gritty vocal starting this one off, again that really swampy Texas boogie feel again at the start of this one, then the band kicks in and there you have that Faces thing again, it’s just so danceable and so heavy groove, you can’t help but want to move and have a good time, and that’s what it is all about, love solo from Willie there and then back into the chorus, cracking tune!
Sweet Mary Ann
Staying with the same album, three banging tracks and it’s time to bring the set down a bit with this one, it just sort of sways into the chorus, how many people are singing the Woah bits around me, yeah mostly everyone, then in kicks the band and it just drives on through the verse again, the guys having a blast up there as well, it’s a real party atmosphere in here on this freezing night!
Raining Whiskey
Back to the new album, no Frankie Miller for this one, Brown Sugar anyone, that’s what that riff reminds me of, straight away, you will hear me say this loads, these guys just have that dirty swagger to them, great chorus and a load of people singing this one back, the place is packed tonight, think 400 which is capacity in the Limelight 2, for these guys to be putting out tracks of this quality so many years later is testament to them, what a banger!
Whippin Boy
Back to 1990 for this one, Harry kicking off the groove on this one, then Willie adding that swampy piano part, this is just a downright groovy track, it’s just sort of trundles along at its own post, it nearly has that Wanted Dead or Alive vibe, only sexier, the band just groove and Harry is at the heart of it, adding that bit of swagger to the proceedings, just love this song!
Tramps & Thieves
Back to Bitter Sweet for this one, again there is that Richards style riff, and boom we are back into the head nodding groove, Luke stage right walking back to the kit and up to the mic to sing his backing, with Spike and Nigel taking most of the front of the stage with Willie on stage left, the vocals are great when all the guys come in, Luke out with the slide guitar on this and takes a lovely solo while Willie pounds away on the other side, then we have a break down before it starts to build again into that chorus!
Hey You
Back to the debut, boom, into a lovely groove, lots of people here swaying from side to side and dancing to the guys, some nice slide work from Luke there, now this is nearly the loudest the crowd has gotten so far singing right back to the band that catchy as hell chorus, myself included, is this the biggest hit these guys had, I would say maybe, judging by the reaction!
You & I
Bang we are back to the new album, bringing it down a bit, this is almost like an Eagles/Faces style song, complete with little country bend licks from Luke, that’s a great chorus and there are a few people in here definitely know it as well, i just love that laid back groove on this one, nice sort of break in the set!
Think I Got it Wrong Again
Another from the new album, almost like a Texas blues style shuffle to this one, really nice little guitar riff at the start of it, and just a deep groove from Nigel and Harry there, some nice bass work dancing around the riff, big sing along to the chorus, Luke and Nigel up to the mic as well, again there is Willie dancing around and adding his signature touch to this one!
King of New York
Bitter Sweet album again, bringing the tempo down again with this one, you get to hear Spikes vocals with just Willie on the piano, the set is paced really well tonight, I just love songs like this where you can really hear his voice, when Harry comes in with the groove its sort of subtle to let the other parts speak, good playing, we are clapping along with this one and the crowd are giving the guys a great response in there tonight!
Happy
New album again, Black Crowes anyone, cause that’s the vibe I got straight away from this; it’s a real foot stomper of a rhythm from Harry and a proper Keith Richards guitar riff, I liked the way it built up into the chorus, its classic rock for a reason, no real surprises but it’s just a down and dirty romp of a track and that’s what you want from these guys, lovely swampy solo there from Luke as well, not as familiar with this album, I know, I am rectifying that, but I love this track!
There She Goes Again
Back to the debut, Willie kicking this off on the boogie woogie piano, again these guys just have that Stones swagger on stage, Spike and Nigel just hamming it up at the front, the whole crowd are getting involved singing the chorus refrain back at the guys on the stage, Luke taking a solo at the end, its classic after classic in here tonight!
Roses & Rings
Another from the debut, bringing it down for this one, Spikes voice sounds great on this, you can hear him at the start, although as the song builds in there comes back that swagger and a lot of hip movements and swaying about, he is a proper frontman, Willie adds a lot to the sound, I sat and watched him on this and he is up and down the keys, adding to the backing and then little flourishes in there as well, what a track!
7 O’clock
Triple strike from the debut album for this banger, we all know what time it is in here tonight, and that is party time, everyone in the place is singing back to the guys the woo ooh hoo part, Spike is swinging his dirty device up there and the crowd are right there with him, the band just groove hard, it’s like the Faces and the Stones combined for me, absolute belter of a track!
Like it or Not
Another from the new one, I just realized that in some ways Spike is a bit like Brian Johnson, this one is really a funky 12 bar blues at its heart, it’s almost reminds me of Cold Day in Hell by Gary Moore, Luke takes a lovely solo right in front of me, really tasty blues licks and some lovely phrasing, and of course plenty of guitar face, I really loved this one!
I Don’t Love You Anymore
Back to the debut for the closer tonight, there they go cutting us off early again, Spike tells us, it’s a very cool choice for a last song, because of the way it is, it’s almost like its signaling the gig is coming to an end as the guys ease us out for the evening, it’s a heartfelt ballad that sort of just slowly chugs along, the Belfast crowd singing back the title, although it’s the exact opposite of the title, we do love you guys and come back again!
Great mix of the two classic albums and a load form the new album Wardour St, and all of it sounded like the Quireboys, down and dirty, and that’s just the way we like it!
Photography by Darren McVeigh for MPM
