Status Quo at Symphony Hall, Birmingham - Review

Status Quo at Symphony Hall, Birmingham - Review

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Posted 2022-03-08 by Andy Colemanfollow

Sun 06 Mar 2022 - Fri 18 Mar 2022

It's been a long time coming but, at last, Status Quo are back in Brum. The band's Backbone tour was originally scheduled for 2020 but it was cancelled and life was put on hold due to the pandemic.

So, here we are with the renamed Out Out Quoing tour, two and half years after their last UK gig (in Hyde Park), and a little longer than that after their previous Birmingham show (supporting Lynyrd Skynyrd at the NEC). And it's as if Quo have never been away!



Frontman Francis Rossi says the band rehearsed relentlessly for three weeks to ensure they returned to the standard they were at in September 2019. As the Symphony Hall lights go down at 9pm, and the familiar opening riff of Caroline is heard, it's soon apparent that their objective has been achieved.



Following the untimely death of co-frontman Rick Parfitt , Rossi is the centre of attention but some of the lead vocal duties are shared with bassist John 'Rhino' Edwards (Rain, Whatever You Want, Again and Again), rhythm guitarist Richie Malone (Little Lady, Get Out Of My Head, Mystery Song) and keyboardist Andy Bown (Whatever You Want). Drummer Leon Cave also chips in with some impressive backing vocals.



It is Quo's first visit to Birmingham's premier concert hall and Rossi is impressed with the prestigious facilities. "It's rather posh – and very, very nice," he enthuses as he gazes at the fans occupying the stalls and three balconies that soar to the gods.

Now aged 72, Rossi's banter with the crowd includes more jokes about the 'joys' of getting older. He even admits that the songs in the set from the latest album, Backbone, are known as the 'Help the Aged Section'. But if fans do have to leave the auditorium for a comfort break they miss some cracking new tunes, particularly Richie Malone's Get Out Of My Head and Rossi and Rhino's Cut Me Some Slack.



The hour and 40 minute set has a good range of songs from the band's career, although there will always be favourites like Big Fat Mama, Forty-Five Hundred Times and Don't Waste My Time, that will be omitted. It was good to hear Malone's interpretation of Rick Parfitt's Mystery Song, an extended version of Down Down and a rip-roaring rendition of Rockin' All Over The World. But – and here's my only complaint – it was a disappointingly short encore. While it's great to hear Paper Plane (and I wouldn't want it dropped), another one or two tracks would have been welcome and, in my opinion, a Quo electric show should always conclude with Bye Bye Johnny. Maybe next time!



Set List

Caroline
Rain
Little Lady
Softer Ride
Beginning of the End
Hold You Back
Backing Off
Get Out of My Head
What You're Proposing / Down the Dustpipe / Wild Side of Life / Railroad / Again and Again
Mystery Song
The Oriental
Cut Me Some Slack
Liberty Lane
In the Army Now
Roll Over Lay Down
Down Down
Whatever You Want
Rockin' All Over the World

Encore

Paper Plane

**Status Quo's UK Out Out Quoing dates:

Mar 8: Cliffs Pavilion, Southend;
Mar 9: Regent Theatre, Ipswich;
Mar 11: De Montfort Hall, Leicester;
Mar 12: G Live, Guildford;
Mar 14: Bridgewater Hall, Manchester;
Mar 15: St David's Hall, Cardiff;
Mar 17: New Theatre, Oxford;
Mar 18: The Forum, Bath. **

#bands
#birmingham_city_centre
#central_birmingham
#concerts
#music
#music -venues
#pop_culture
#shows
#west_midlands
#march
!date 06/03/2022 -- 18/03/2022
%wnbirmingham
70631 - 2023-01-26 01:48:17

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