Music > Live Reviews

Quireboys & Burning Crows

17/03/15

Quireboys & Burning Crows

Sometimes, I get so caught up in trying to find new, challenging music, I forget just how much fun kick-ass rawk can be. Damned near thirty years ago, the Quireboys were one of the first bands I saw live. I must've seen 'em thirty odd times between '86 and '91. Only vocalist Spike survives from the very earliest days, along with guitarist Guy Griffin from the debut album, but the current line-up completed by guitarist Paul Guerin and keysman Keith Weir makes a fine noise.

Opening with a trio from that classic debut A Bit Of What You Fancy in There She Goes Again, Sadly Mislead and Roses & Rings takes me straight back to those days in Soho. It's not all nostalgia though, with songs from all their albums, including newie St Cecilia and the Gypsy Soul. Yep, Spike still sounds like Rod Stewart. Yep, they still sound like the Stones channeling the Faces but, even acoustic and (mostly) seated, they still show the young pretenders how it’s done. Sometimes, it isn't necessary to be new for the sake of it. Sometimes, just playing classic, good-time rock 'n' roll is enough. A bloody great night. (9/10)

Openers Burning Crows also played an acoustic set. Sincere but somewhat clichéd, some of the material didn’t translate to an acoustic setting but they went down well and put in a reasonable set nonetheless. (6.5/10)

Pavlis