Status Quo at The Civic at The Halls, Wolverhampton - Review

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Wed 05 Jun 2024 - Fri 23 Aug 2024

Veteran rockers Status Quo last played at Wolverhampton Civic Hall in 2017 (review here ), and on their return frontman, Francis Rossi is complimentary about the venue's multi-million pound refurbishment. "I see they've done this place up a bit," he tells the capacity audience. "We've now got running water backstage!"



Long-time Quo fans discovered that the venue's facilities are not the only difference from the band's previous visit. The set-list for the 90 minute show has been tweaked, so we've lost Paper Plane, Creepin' Up On You and Don't Drive My Car, but gained In My Chair. An extended What You're Proposing medley includes Something 'bout You Baby I Like, Rollin' Home and Mystery Song. A big disappointment is that the encore only features one song, Burning Bridges (On and Off and On Again). The campaign for the return of Rock and Roll Music and Bye Bye Johnny begins here!



As the sole remaining original member, Rossi (pictured above) is the heart and soul of the band. He supplies most of the lead vocals and has a great rapport with the audience. He spots someone at the front who he says looks like Rick Wakeman. There's a shout from the crowd that the individual also looks like Jesus. Rossi grins and replies that he won't say that because it may be deemed offensive to some! The 75-year-old later jokes that he may pass out on stage "now that I'm 51".

He's also experimenting with some new guitars which certainly give old favourites like Down Down an extra sonic dimension. His soloing on that song, and on the likes of Roll Over Lay Down, just get better and better.



Rossi is helped out vocally by guitarist Richie Malone (who takes the lead on Little Lady) and bassist John 'Rhino' Edwards (lead vocalist on Rain). Keyboardist Andy Bown also straps on a guitar and supplies backing vocals on a handful of numbers, including Softer Ride and Beginning of the End.



Then there's Leon Cave (pictured below with Rossi) whose powerful drumming is now the backbone of the Quo sound, although his drum tech seemed to be extra busy with the kit during this show. Not that the fans cared. They bounced along to Hold You Back, sang along to Rockin' All Over The World and responded in all the right places during In The Army Now.



Considering that Rossi is 75, Bown is 78 and Edwards has recently celebrated reaching 71, it's amazing how much energy and enthusiasm the band still generate. Catch them while you can!

After a lengthy European tour Status Quo return to the UK in August:

August 11: MacMoray Festival, Cooper Park, Elgin;
August 13: The Piece Hall, Halifax;
August 15: Dreamland, Margate;
August 16: Salt and Tar, Bootle, Liverpool;
August 23: Vivary Park, Taunton.

Setlist

Caroline
Rain
Little Lady
Softer Ride
Beginning of the End
Hold You Back
What You're Proposing / Down the Dustpipe / Something 'bout You Baby I Like / Wild Side Of Life / Rollin' Home / Railroad / Again and Again / Mystery Song
The Oriental
In My Chair
In the Army Now
Roll Over Lay Down
Down Down
Whatever You Want
Rockin' All Over the World
Encore:
Burning Bridges (On and Off and On Again)



%wnbirmingham

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