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Album Review
by SashaS
4-8-2003
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| The Quireboys: deft to rock-partying |
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The Quireboys: '100% Live 2002'
(Demolition)
The Quireboys return rocking to where it should be
Good guys hardly ever make it, could be a title of a signature song of The Quireboys’ career. Their original progress was halted by the advancement of the grunge episode that put a stop to basic, straightforward rocking bands. The Quireboys have always been the kind that is as British as James Bond.
After 7 years of separation singer Spike and guitarist Guy Griffin wrote some songs together in 2000 and fellow Quire-bassist Nigel Moog got to hear them, the band reassembled for a show in LA that led to a comeback album. The times have shifted back to some more traditional values and The Quireboys are more than full of them.
They’ve always been a feelgood rockers in the tradition of the vintage Rolling Stones, Thin Lizzy, Bad Company (the earlier, Paul Rogers fronted incarnation), Rod Stewart fronting The Faces, Aerosmith... you get the picture about the time when rocking was melodious, expansive and not hiding behind volume and ‘issues’. Above all, it was fun for the fans!
They rock hard but not heavy, they perform well but not showy, the play it explicitly and without gimmicks, no imagery but ‘come-as-you-are’ attitude and corresponding downdressing. But, the band’s biggest strength has always been live work and it is unfortunate they are one of the outfits that have had a problem capturing the ‘live’ spirit in a studio.
Thus, this live album is what the witchdoctor would have ordered, if you happen to be into alternative medication. The ‘100% Live’ was recorded during the nine-date ‘Monsters Of Rock’ Arena tour across Britain and were augmented by the ex-‘Snake charmer’ Alice Cooper, Thunder and Dogs d’Amour. And this is a party record! When Spike goes through ‘This Is Rock’n’Roll’, you believe him!
Before this tour the band switched drummer and got Jason Bonham, the son of the late Zepp legend, who brought the band extra kick, the same way Queens Of The Stone Age and Killing Joke benefited from Dave Grohl reactivating his drumming skills. But great drummers also know when power is not needed: ‘Whippin Boy’ slows down to take you into a land where riffs and emo-‘rhymes’ form a harmonious unit. Old faves, ‘Hey You’, ‘There She Goes Again’ and ‘7 O’Clock’ are mixed with newer songs, ‘Turn Away’ and ‘C’mon’ but there are no visible seams.
This is what men want – no frills, neat-malt, no bullshit, 100 per cent Rock’n’Rolling. The Quireboys provide the fun effortlessly. As the cover proudly proclaims, ‘Old Time Quality R’n’R’.
8/10
SashaS
4-8-2003
The Quireboys album ‘100% Live 2002’ is released 04 August 2003 by Demolition/Dreamcatcher
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