Piledriving Quo still rocking on
Back in the 70s there was only one thing louder than Status Quo . . . their audiences. These days the crowds may be a little more polite – and inclined to sit rather than stand – but the band themselves show little sign of slowing down or lowering their volume.
Status Quo
LG Arena, Birmingham NEC
Review & photos by Ian Harvey
Back in the 70s there was only one thing louder than Status Quo . . . their audiences. The Quo Army was famous for raising the roof with a raucous singalong of the boogie merchants' rock anthems.
These days the crowds may be a little more polite – and inclined to sit rather than stand – but the band themselves show little sign of slowing down or lowering their volume.
See our gig photo gallery below
They may have had an astonishing 75 hit singles over the past 40 years, but Quo have often been the butt of music snobs' jokes. Last night at the NEC, Quo showed why they always have the last laugh.
Surrounded by screens showing highlights from their four decades of hit-making, Quo hit the ground running with their classic opener Caroline - Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt delivering that famous heads down, legs akimbo riff.
Two hours later they left the audience still baying for more after a show which delved back to their earliest hits, including the rarely-played Pictures Of Matchstick Men, Ice In The Sun and Mean Girl.
Francis Rossi told the Shropshire Star just a few weeks ago that the LG Arena was the best venue in the country, and Birmingham celebrated a back catalogue that seemed never ending, from the 70s thunder of Roll Over Lay Down to the lighter moments like Living On An Island and the breathless singalong that is Rockin' All Over The World.
Quo delivered on their promise to give fans Whatever You Want, apart from one glaring omission . . . rather than play their new single, It's Christmas Time, they elected to leave the stage as it was piped over the PA system.
That led to the rather bizarre sight of most of the audience staying in their seats to sing along with it in front of an empty stage – giving themselves a big cheer at the end.
Earlier, Manfred Mann's Earth Band entertained with a 50-minute set which showcased the astonishingly soulful voice of dreadlocked singer Noel McCalla.
With founding members Mann on keyboard and Mick Rogers on guitar, they got the crowd's vocal cords warmed up with a short run through Do Wah Diddy Diddy, but really shone with an extended Mighty Quinn, Blinded by The Light and Davey's On The Road Again, as well as a soulful reading of Bob Marley's Redemption Song.
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Status Quo at the LG Arena - Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi
Status Quo at the LG Arena - Rick Parfitt
Status Quo at the LG Arena - the fans clap along
Status Quo at the LG Arena - Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi
Status Quo at the LG Arena - Rick Parfitt
