This was a proper old school Sunday night out with the rock crowd, featuring loads of regulars that used to hang out at Big Bobs Gone Strange and other Sunday night haunts, that instead of being in Covent Garden was up in Islington, at the rather plush surroundings of the Assembly Hall.
Quireboys @ Islington Assembly Hall
First on were Continental Lovers to play a set of glam sleaze rock, opening with the band’s first single St Joan that was sloppy in all the right ways, Joe Maddox sung about the queen of rock and roll Joan Jett. Tape Deck saw Ben Webster letting rip and just about nailing his guitar solo, while channelling a cross between Slash and Lenny Kravitz that would have been perfect for a mix tape.
Really Doesn’t Matter is almost the bands credo, they don’t want to be too tight, it should veer all over the place, like Ken Sinn throwing poses with his bass all over the stage. They are chasing The Girl with shiny shoes, they are always after The Girl. Always seeking an Outta Sight Connection someone to really blow their minds. Recent single Wedding Song is a brilliantly twisted marriage with a woman who was already broken, before he asked to tie the knot, heartbroken and sleazy Ace Carltons drumming was almost the right medicine. Can’t Get Her Out Of My Head no matter how you try, she’ll always infest your dreams of another conquest, on another rocking Sunday night. They finished with the ever-brilliant Dale Arden, who doesn’t love Dale Arden that went straight into Dead Flowers that are the only sort of flowers they’ll lay at your Grave.
Next on was Willie Dowling and The Invisible Band, Willie started the set by telling us all that he expected that he was going to drive most of us mad and we would hate his set. I don’t think he was particularly wrong either. Unlike the last band I saw him play with Dowling Poole the Invisible Band seem to believe that Supertramps Breakfast in America and Steely Dan are where it’s at for a musical Cure to our modern blues, it was mesmerizingly spot on, soft rock. Willies’ song intros were knowing, he listed all the imaginary friends who would have to die, If I Killed My Imaginary Friend with cheesy keyboards and soft bass insinuations. The Ballad Of Sadie Goldman may have some connection to the tv series Blue Heelers, this had a bit of an Alessi Brothers influence on the softer than soft keyboards.
I loved Willie’s intro to Gravy Train his bitter twisted agit MOR screed against politicians and the games they play, or the people they are meant to be helping. Willie made clear we could buy copies of The Simpleton in the foyer before hamming it up. My thoughts on the sentiments on Fuck You Goodbye was that lots of us would be relieved if he did just that, going back to sounding like Honeycrack did back in the day. He closed by taking us back to his days in The Grip for an almost wallpaper reworking of Vera Daydream this was a perplexing set.
Finally, it was time The Quireboys who formed the new line-up, after the recent parting of the ways. The opening song Jeez Louise from the excellent new album Wardour Street certainly hints at some of the madness that went down, but with Spike in irrepressible form and Nigel Mogg strafing the audience with his bass this was electrifying. Spike welcomed us all along and fiddled with his scarves throughout Can’t Park Here that had brash guitar from Luke Morley.
Misled was the first of the songs they played from the classic A Bit Of What You Fancy this had Spikes trademark insouciant bonhomie throughout. Sweet Mary Anne sounded great as everyone joined in and Willie Dowling’s keyboards got deep into the spirit. Spike had been put out again, he was down it was Raining Whiskey, once more trying to drown his sorrows, one microphone toss at a time. It was clear that no matter what happened Spike and the boys would never be the Whippin’ Boy of this classic, that they played up to with Luke on his sparkliest guitar.
Tramps & Thieves had a few extra layers of meanings after the last few years, it was played with added brio. Hey You was one mass sing along and love in, that only continued through You And I when Spike made clear, your all he needs, well apart from the whisky and Rock & Roll that of course he told us we were keeping alive with The Quireboys.I Think I Got It Wrong Again from Wardour Street has all the bile and anger it needs, with Nigel’s insistent bass firing off Willie’s keyboard dalliances. Spike then introduced his dad’s favourite song King Of New York that was affectionate in a very Small Faces way. Happy was exactly what this line-up of The Quireboys had made sure everyone in the Assembly Hall were, this was upbeat, time for another drink.
There She Goes Again will always get everyone joining in, while Spikes scarves continued to unfurl and get looser and looser, while the band did the opposite. Roses & Rings was played for keeps, before they closed the set with 7 O’Clock that was the time for the doors to open at this gig, so it was true this party started at 7’ O’Clock.
They came back for an encore that opened with Like It Or Not the statement of intent, that he will always be Spike from The Quireboys who likes to drink Whisky, snort cocaine and keep Rock & Roll alive with The Quireboys, who are we to argue with that. They then closed with the brilliantly bruised ballad I Don’t Love You Anymore a perfect way to end an epic Sunday night.
Live review of The Quireboys at The Islington Assembly Hall, London on 24th November 2024 by Simon Phillips. Photography by Trudi Knight.
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