Quireboys - Bridgwater Review

Despite the band being one of my favourite live acts over the past decade or so, in recent times I somewhat lost interest in The Quireboys. Before the pandemic I routinely saw the band multiple times a year, with the next Quireboys show never being too far away, but that all changed in 2022 when they fired frontman Spike - the only founding member left in the line-up. I saw the band again in January 2022, which was fun after the enforced break but the show was not one to write home about, and a few months later they were mired in turmoil - with both sides accusing the other of wrongdoing and vowing to carry on as The Quireboys. In truth, I could somewhat see both sides of the story. I felt for Spike, as The Quireboys was essentially his band, but I also sympathised with the rest of the then line-up as I had often thought that dealing with him was likely extremely hard work at times. With both looking to carry on, too, I tried to be open-minded - but when I saw what passed as The Quireboys without Spike in September 2022 I was disappointed. Considering that the show was a special one in London that I had had tickets for for two years, too, the disappointment hit harder. The show was eventually released on DVD which I have a copy of - which was a real fight to actually get hold of due to the band's incompetent record label/management - and it features the shadow of a once great band. Since the disappointment of the show and the farce of getting a product which I had paid for two years in advance, then, I have had very little interest in that iteration of The Quireboys - who have now, wisely, changed their name to Black Eyed Sons, bring an end to any confusion. Spike launched his new Quireboys (without the 'The', but that is a pain to write sometimes) in December 2022 - with a make-shift line-up of old hands and new faces at a lengthy and sometimes fantastic show which featured memorable and chaotic moments in equal measure. 2023 was generally quiet for Spike, aside from his on-going series of acoustic shows, but this year has seen activity turbo-charged - with a new Quireboys album dropping earlier this month and shows taking place throughout the year. I saw the band in Swansea in May, which was a good night, but I was somewhat still feeling the general malaise of recent times. Since hearing the new album, Wardour Street, though, I am on board again - and taking a punt on a ticket for the show in Bridgwater on the album's tour a few months ago suddenly seemed like a great move. The current Quireboys also line-up seems to have solidified around Spike and fellow original member Nigel Mogg (bass guitar/vocals) - with Thunder's Luke Morley (guitar/vocals) and journeyman musician Willie Dowling (keyboards/vocals) also seemingly mainstays. Whilst it is a shame that the other old hands which re-started this journey with Spike in 2022, Chris Johnstone and Rudy Richman, no longer seem to be involved, at least when it comes to touring (they are both on the new album, though), the current line-up is a good mix of old and new - and joining the band on drums for this tour at least was Morley's Thunder bandmate Harry James.

I had never been to Bridgwater before, let alone been to a gig there - and the venue was the Palace Nightclub on the edge of the main town centre. Despite the ticket saying that the doors opened at 7pm, when I got there just after such it turned out that the place had been open for over an hour - and that I had missed openers Continental Lovers. This was no big shame, though, and I got into place just as Dowling was about to start his own set - acting as the night's main support. The venue turned out to be quite a decent one, too - especially as I had no real expectations. It has the feel of an old-school nightclub but the stage was a decent size and there were plenty of different vantage points from around the room. The show was loud, too, but the sound mix was clear - and it seems a shame that the place is not more well-used from a live music perspective. Turning to Dowling, though, his set was essentially exactly the same, even down to much of the banter, as that which I had already seen twice this year. He also opened for the band back in Swansea - and I also saw him with Cats in Space in October. He is a name that I have been familiar with for years, but it seems that he is really putting himself out there again this year - and I suppose it makes sense for him to open for Spike's band given that he is also part of it. The piano-driven pop songs which made up the set were as passingly enjoyable as they were previously - but this being the third go round the shine was perhaps beginning to wear off a little. He wisely kept the sixth form political statements to a minimum again, as I felt that he went a bit too far in Swansea and he did not come across as all that likable as a result - he was generally a bit more self-deprecating and subtle this time. His lyrics suggest that he is more articulate than some of his ranting in Swansea suggested - so I enjoy his sets more when he lets the music do the talking. His messages are carried in his songs anyway, and delivered in a more thoughtful way, so he seems to be perfecting his current craft as he goes. I get the impression that this piano-led pop music is a new avenue for him with the whole vibe different from the norm - so perhaps he is having to reinvent himself somewhat as each show passes. I do not have a problem with political songs, I just roll my eyes at outbursts which would sound at home in a Guardian comments section - and Swansea was certainly full of those. Bridgwater was not, though, and I enjoyed the jaunty-yet-intelligent songs yet again - but given that I have now seen essentially the same set three times this year I do not really need to see it again.

I am glad that Dowling was in tow, though, as he actually adds a lot to The Quireboys. If Johnstone cannot be present then Dowling is the best option - with his busy, barroom style perfect for the band's raunchy sound. It was 20 or so minutes following Dowling's set finishing that the five members of the band trooped out onto the stage - with Spike swaggering to the front with confidence and getting the crowd ready as the band launched into Jeeze Louise. The setlist was very similar to the one which was played in Swansea, but the show was so much better overall. The current line-up was clearly still finding their feet back then, but now they have some more miles under their belts - and they rocked from start to finish. It helped that the sound mix was so good, too. Spike's voice was crystal clear all night, and he sounded more powerful than he often has in recent years, plus he was just on great form generally. When he is on fire he is almost untouchable as a frontman and he worked the Bridgwater crowd with ease throughout the night - with rock 'n' roll survivor Mogg also throwing plenty of old-school rockstar shapes. Morley may be more restrained on stage, but he was pulling a lot of the strings. His bluesy riffing throughout the barrelling Can't Park Here and the more delicate country tones of Sweet Mary Ann showcased his variety as a player - and he made many of the band's songs his own, especially given that The Quireboys have generally been a two-guitar band in the past. James' shuffling style fit the band like a glove, too, and Dowling was busy and full of flair - helping out quite a bit on backing vocals, too, to give Spike a boost when needed. Given how great the band were, too, the atmosphere was electric. The place was busy - but everyone seemed really up for the show and each song, including all the newer ones, were sung loudly by the crowd. The band's take on Frankie Miller's Raining Whiskey had everyone singing along - whilst I am not sure that the blues drawl of Whippin' Boy has ever hit so hard. Bridgwater featured a heavy version of the band, then, and this transitioned into old anthems like Tramps and Thieves and the strutting new number I Think I Got It Wrong Again. One of the biggest sing-a-longs of the night unsurprisingly, though, was a mid-set rendition of big single Hey You, but there were also quieter moments including the new, heartfelt You and I and the epic ballad King of New York - which may have been the overall highlight. It is not a song that I have heard live too often, and this was the best version yet - with Spike really living the lyrics and Morley delivering a solo dripping with emotion. It was generally left to rock 'n' roll for the rest of the night after this, though, with new highlight Happy sounding sleazy and the barroom rock of There She Goes Again also featuring plenty of singing. It was, of course, left to 7 O'Clock to round out the main set - and the old single left the crowd wanting more. The 10pm curfew was looming by this point, though, but there was time for a two-song encore. Spike reasserted his position as 'the' Quireboys singer during the pointed Like It or Not - whilst another big ballad was left to close things out. I Don't Love You Anymore is always a highlight of a Quireboys show, and Spike sang his heart out - with Morley again showing that he gets the band's songs and style with another big solo. It brought the curtain down on an excellent night of live music - and with six new songs in the set it seems that Wardour Street is very much here to stay. The setlist was:

Jeeze Louise

Can't Park Here

Misled

Sweet Mary Ann

Raining Whiskey [Frankie Miller cover]

Whippin' Boy

Tramps and Thieves

Hey You

You and I

I Think I Got It Wrong Again

King of New York

Happy

There She Goes Again

Roses & Rings

7 O'Clock

-

Like It or Not

I Don't Love You Anymore

I might have briefly fallen off The Quireboys' wagon, given all the drama perhaps some less than stellar live shows, but with Wardour Street and this Bridgwater show both being so great I am fully on board again. I really hope that Spike is able to keep this line-up of the band together, but with Thunder's future seemingly uncertain due to Danny Bowes on-going health issues Morley (and James) may be glad of something to do. This is certainly an interesting chapter in the history of The Quireboys - and I hope that next year brings more touring from Spike and the gang.