2/7/2011 The Quireboys @ The 100 Club

Subject	The Quireboys @ The 100 Club
DateCreated	7/10/2011 3:15:00 PM
	The Quireboys don't play in London that often these days, and when they do it tends to be in the city's larger venues like The Forum - so when it was announced that they would be playing in the intimate confines of the 100 Club some of us got rather excited!  So we find ourselves this Saturday night in a small but world famous West End venue - and the real ale pumps are back in use tonight! I like the 100 Club.  Spike and the boys are on fine form - nicely warmed up and playing their second gig of the day. This show is part of the Blues Fest 2011 series at various London venues. Much to my surprise the show doesn't appear to be sold out. I can only assume this is due to poor promotion as this band can normally fill 2000 capacity London venues.  There is still quite a respectable crowd in the 100 Club, and it's actually much more enjoyable when there is room to move around without all the constant pushing and shoving that goes on at sold out shows. And even if the club isn't full, there is always a great atmosphere gauranteed Quireboys gigs - and this is no exception!  Naturally, for a band with a rich back catalogue to draw from this was always going to be a bit of a 'Greatest Hits' show - especially as they haven't got a newly released album to plug this year. There's no surprise that the band's debut (and most would say best) album 'A Bit Of What You Fancy' is heavilly featured in tonight's setlist - but I don't think anyone is going to complain about that! It seems like most of that album is played, along with a selection of the finer stuff (pun intended) from their other albums including songs like 'I Love This Dirty Town' and 'Mona Lisa Smiled' from their more recent 'Homewreckers & Heartbreakers' release - definitely a setlist with something for everyone. Ian Hunter's daughter Tracie gets up for a duet with Spike at one point - he seem's fond of doing duettes the ladies!  With people like original Quireboys guitarist Guy Bailey, Dogs D'Amour frontman Tyla, and guitarist Dave Veal from Ray Zell's infamous old band Marionette mingling with the crowd it's almost like a trip back to the old days.  I think it's fair to say a good time is had by all.  And then since the 100 Club seems to be chucking us out rather early for a Saturday night it's time to repair to the Intrepid Fox for further refreshment.  I would have considered Decadence normally - being already in the area, but I have places to go in the daytime tomorrow so I can't afford to write Sunday off as is normally the case when I go there...