15/12/2022 The Quireboys @ Islington Academy

It's been an interesting year for The Quireboys - in fact, it's been so interesting that we now have two bands called 'The Quireboys'. In a shock move early in the year the band announced that they had fired their charismatic singer Spike! They then announced their intention to carry on - with no original members left, and guitarist Guy Griffin taking over vocal duties. When they booked a big show at The Forum in Kentish Town it was not only without Spike, but also  announced as 'Quireboys Orchestral' - in other words the band playing with an orchestra. This wasn't my idea of rock 'n' roll so I decided to vote with my feet. Apparently a lot of other people thought the same as the gig was not well attended - in spite of a lot of tickets being virtually given away in a desperate attempt to boost audience figures. According to phone video footage the show was noticeably lacking in atmosphere as well as crowd numbers....

Spike responded to his sacking by announcing that he was going to put his own 'Quireboys' together - including several former members - three of whom played on the band's classic debut album 'A Bit Of What You Fancy'. That album is widely considered to be their best, so Spike now appeared to be holding all the aces. Not only did he put together a whole new band consisting of actual ex-recording and touring members of the Quireboys, but he also announced they will be recording a new album and work has already started on writing the songs with original guitarist Guy Bailey. This news has been very enthusiastically received by the fans!

The other 'Quireboys' are still a good band I'm sure, but the Quireboys without Spike is like Motörhead without Lemmy or the Wildhearts without Ginger (another ex-Quireboy) or Whitesnake without David Coverdale. I'm sure most people buy Quireboys tickets because they want to see Spike do his thing - I know I do.

So, the venue is full - there are obviously a lot more people here than at the other 'Quireboys' gig in Kentish Town a few months ago. It seems nearly everyone is here. There is much anticipation from the crowd and the atmosphere is electric, but what will the night hold? It turns out things aren't quite as expected...

The fans are looking forward to seeing the return of original Quireboy Guy Bailey, but when the band take to the stage he is nowhere to be seen... This is ominous as Guy's health has not been great for a while. Spike is joined on stage by original Quireboy's bassist Nigel Mogg - who appeared on the band's first three albums. Also in Spike's new/old version of the Quireboys are original keyboard player Chris Johnstone and Rudy Richman on drums. However - neither of the guitarists on stage have ever played with the Quireboys before - although they will be familiar to some people...

Yes - that's Chris McCormack - Danny Wildheart's brother and ex-3 Colours Red guitarist. These days a music promoter and the man behind Camden Rocks Festival. He seemed to have retired as a musician a few years ago, so seeing him pop up tonight was certainly a surprise! On the other hand the Quireboys are known for originally being a Geordie band, and Chris is from that area so there is a certain serendipity here... It seems that he was actually as surprised as I was at being drafted in at the last minute. It was hoped that Guy Bailey would be playing in the band tonight, but it appears his health sadly wasn't up to it. 😟 The other guitarist in the band tonight is Alan MP from original Quireboys bassist Nigel Mogg's LA based band Juvenile Wrecks - also drafted in late in the day and having to learn the set from scratch in very little time!

However, with four actual Quireboys from the band's first couple of albums on stage together the sound isn't much different to how it was in those early days.

The setlist wasn't much (if any) different to how it was back when the band had only released two albums either, but to be honest it's the songs from the band's classic debut album A Bit Of What You Fancy that the fans want to hear the most. Most people would agree that it's their best collection of songs, although it's follow up Bitter Sweet & Twisted is good too. Tonight's set consists virtually entirely of songs from the band's first two albums, with the addition of the ever popular debut single 'Mayfair'.

Although original Quireboys guitarist and songwriter Guy Bailey isn't well enough to perform with the band tonight he is actually present. He has often popped up as a guest guitarist at shows since leaving the band - with Spike saying Guy "will always be a Quireboy". Tonight he is just brought onto the stage to make an appearance but not play - he has always remained a popular figure and is very warmly received by the crowd tonight. He doesn't look well to be honest, but then I don't think he ever did...

The pace does slacken a bit on occasion when the band are joined by a female vocalist who duets with Spike as well as providing backing vocals on some songs - no one seems to know who she is, and although I think Spike introduced her at some point I can't remember her name.

As ever with the Quireboys - it's party time! A bagpiper is brought on stage towards the end of the set - maybe because it's nearly Christmas? 

Islington Academy is pretty full tonight - I would think it's sold out. The venue is full of familiar faces and the atmosphere is terrific! Spike's new Quireboys definitely give the crowd what they want and apart from not getting to see Guy Bailey perform I doubt anyone goes home disappointed. A brand new single 'Jeez Louise' is set to be released in the New Year, and a new album is set to follow later in the year. According to Spike it will be a proper 'rock 'n' roll Quireboys album' with "no chords with numbers in!" and all the songs have already been written with Guy Bailey.  It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Spike and the boys...

9/12/2022 M.O.S.E.S & Healthy Junkies @ The Old Blue Last

This week Friday night is an actual 'Friday Night' again instead of Thursday - see my previous couple of posts. 😉 And this one finds me heading down to Shoreditch instead of Islington for a change.

After a shiny state-of-the-art modern venue last week I now find myself in an old school pub 'toilet' venue. It's fairly well known on the indie scene, but not to put too fine a point on it - the Old Blue Last is a bit of a dump. Reputedly 'haunted by Shakespeare' although the building is very obviously not old enough for him to have ever been in it. It's just another run-down East End boozer clinging on somehow by trying to be 'cool' to less discriminating hipsters. I don't have a beard, but somehow I managed to sneak in anyway. Upon reaching the bar after braving the indie disco and associated 1990's rose tinted spectacled hipsters I wondered why I had bothered? Another venue where regardless of price there is nothing I actually want to drink! No real ales on tap, but that was no surprise - and my request for a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale was met with a blank look from the obviously inexperienced barman.

I made my way upstairs to the room where the bands play. I had bought a ticket on the Dice app on my phone - which I showed to the guy doing the door - and was met with another blank look but he let me in anyway as he recognised me. There was another bar in the room upstairs, but I already knew it wasn't worth bothering with so I didn't. The actual room the bands were playing in was OK actually.

I was only there to see one of the support bands and had never heard of the headliners. I had never heard of the first 3 bands either, and to be honest because of the bar it wasn't the sort of place I wanted to hang around in any longer than I needed to. So I arrived just in time to see Healthy Junkies - a band I have seen countless times and have never left me disappointed.

Phil and Nina have kept the band going for a few years now after a few lineup changes, but the core sound and attitude of the band remains - a punk inspired mix of glam, grunge, and pop tunes.

Healthy Junkies always put on a high energy and impassioned show. It makes a change seeing them somewhere other than Camden, but a few familiar faces have made their way to East London to see them.

I'd never heard of the headliners M.O.S.ES. but a bunch of indie kids obviously had as they had a decent crowd watching them - although the small venue was by no means full.

There are a good band and can obviously play well, but to be honest it was pretty standard indie fare. The band had absolutely nothing to make you remember them from countless other indie bands that you might see in the usual Camden and Hoxton hipster hangouts - the only thing that stood out was the singer. Not because he had a great voice or anything, although he was perfectly good enough, but because he had that 'it' thing - that star quality. Probably a bit in love with himself like many frontmen are, but he knew he was good at being on stage and making himself the centre of attention.

None of their songs were particularly memorable, although they weren't crap. M.OS.E.S are probably a band who will vanish never to be heard of again, but I wouldn't be surprised if the singer doesn't pop up again somewhere in the future - either solo or with another band. He might have been a bit full of himself and his band very forgettable, but at least it was worth going down to Shoreditch to see Healthy Junkies.

1/12/2022 Kira Mac @ The Grace

Once again, Thursday night proves to be the new 'Friday Night'.

This is my first visit since it's reopening to the venue formerly known as 'Upstairs at The Garage'. Now re-branded as The Grace. I can't say I like it very much in spite of the much more state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. The once fairly reasonable in selection and price bar is now shite - there is nothing I actually want to drink regardless of price. So I don't bother. 😒 Also...

...smoke machines - the deadly enemy of gig photography. All that mist floating about in the atmosphere reflects the light back and makes autofocus very unreliable. 😖

Opening tonight's proceedings is The Karma Effect - a name that is new to me.

I don't know who the frontman is, but he looks familiar from somewhere and I suspect he's been around the block a few times over the years.

I get the strong impression he's very much in love with himself, although to be fair he puts a lot of energy into his performance and is a very good frontman - I think he must have been doing this for a while.

He's a pretty decent guitar player too - and doesn't he just know it.

The band are actually pretty good - a strong 1970's/80's classic rock vibe, but the songs don't really grab me.

And on to the main act. I think this is the first London headline show for Kira Mac - and they've sold it out. It's not that surprising to be honest as Planet Rock radio have been playing them a lot over the last few months, and I think they could have sold out a bigger venue like The Garage downstairs.

The band take their name from their singer's stage name. Her actual name is Rhiannon Hill and she has passed auditions for 'The Voice' TV show - she certainly does have quite a voice on her!

The band's sound is very much in the 'classic rock' mould and strongly influenced by the blues-rock acts of the 1970's and '80's. Their material is strong - hence getting a lot of airplay on Planet Rock this year. They already have their first album out 'Chaos Is Calling' - it's pretty good, although many of the songs sound in a very similar vein as if they have been written by the same person. However, one of the standout moments of the night is a song that breaks from their hard rocking powerhouse sound - the singer introduces the song by describing one of her friends saying something like "Rhi' - why don't you write another of those quieter songs?" The result is the ballad 'Never Going To Stay' - which is one of the outstanding songs on their debut album and a highlight of tonight's show.

'Never Going To Stay' is almost the only quieter song of the night; All ten tracks from their debut album get an airing as well as covers from ZZ Top and Nicklback - and also 'Nothing Else Matters' by Metallica - which was the song Kira sung on her audition for 'The Voice. It's pretty good version too. 

This is a young and I suspect fairly inexperienced band, but I get the strong impression they have worked very hard to get to where they are now in a short space of time. I also suspect they have been very well managed to get to this stage this early in their career - but they certainly deserve it. 'Kira' herself has a very warm, natural and engaging personality on stage - she is very down to earth and makes no effort to hide her Stoke-on-Trent accent. Her likable personality makes you think she would be a good person to go to the pub with - I may be shallow but I tend to judge people by if they would be good company in the pub - imagine going to the pub with Brian Johnson from AC/DC? That would be fun!

The standard of musicianship is high, and so is the songwriting. It's very impressive that such a young band can sound so radio-friendly and commercial. I really like the fact that they have made no attempt to follow current rock fashions and dumb their act down to 'appeal to the kids' like many other current bands do. They do have an vintage classic rock feel to their songs, but there is a modern twist to their sound as well to keep things fresh.

The band really do themselves proud tonight with an outstandingly successful show. They are very relaxed and polished performers for such a young band and could have a promising future ahead of them - I'm sure next time the band play in London they will be in a larger venue...