Status Quo - Monday 31st March - Hammersmith Apollo

Quo Night 3.

I'd genuinely had no intention of doing the Monday night at Hammersmith, but nights 1 and 2 were so good, it made it essential - especially if this is genuinely the last chance to see this line-up.

The venue was much less busy - probably only 2/3 capacity on the floor, so this meant we had easy access to a good spot. We swapped our "normal" front-left position for a front-right one to see Alan Lancaster close up. He seemed revived after a day-off and again the band were on form. A slight bit of feedback disturbed the set part way through, but Rossi was having fun with some searing solo's than were different from the previous shows. Still no jig in Roadhouse Blues, which was a rare disappointment.

I treated myself to the signed lithograph on the way out - it will find pride of place somewhere at home.

All in all though, a fantastic 3 shows. Got to be up there as the gigs of the year.

Setlist
Junior's Wailing
Backwater / Just Take Me
Is There a Better Way
In My Chair
Blue Eyed Lady
Little Lady / Most of the Time
Rain
(April) Spring, Summer and Wednesdays
Railroad
Oh Baby
Forty-Five Hundred Times / Gotta Go Home
Big Fat Mama
Down Down
Roadhouse Blues
+
Caroline
Bye Bye Johnny

Status Quo - Saturday 29th March - Hammersmith Apollo

Night 2 of classic Quo. And arguably, this was even better than last night. Another packed house, although we managed to get a bit closer to the front. Band were on top form again.

Alan Lancaster still looks a little frail and struggles to walk. Quite how he and Francis were playing "football" to injure Rossi's leg is anyone's guess. But again, it was a joy to see 4 musicians with such history enjoying their playing and the crowd.

Making a note to purchase the live CDs over the weekend.

Setlist
Junior's Wailing
Backwater / Just Take Me
Is There a Better Way
In My Chair
Blue Eyed Lady
Little Lady / Most of the Time
Rain
(April) Spring, Summer and Wednesdays
Railroad
Oh Baby
Forty-Five Hundred Times / Gotta Go Home
Big Fat Mama
Down Down
Roadhouse Blues
+
Caroline
Bye Bye Johnny

Status Quo - Friday 28th March - Hammersmith Apollo

The Frantic Four "reunite for one final time" says the poster. Well that's good news for us Quo fans who thought last year may be our only chance to see the classic Quo line-up.

A packed Hammersmith Apollo waited eagerly to see the band, with support coming from Wilko Johnson. Nice to see him again - shame that Roger Daltrey was busy across town at the TCT shows.

The atmosphere was never likely to meet the 2013 noise levels and excitement, but Quo came on to a rousing welcome. The set was very similar to last year, although I must confess to having to play "Gotta Go Home" before the show to remind myself of it!

I know there are some fans who will only see this line-up and not the current Quo line-up. I enjoy both, but there's no doubting this is the real deal. Heavy, more rehearsed than last year and all the band seemed to enjoy it this time around which was nice to see. How about a 2015 reunion?

Wilko Johnson Setlist
All Through The City
The More I Give
Dr Dupree
Going Back Home
Roxette
Don't Let Your Daddy Know
Back In The Night
She Does It Right

Quo Setlist
Junior's Wailing
Backwater / Just Take Me
Is There a Better Way
In My Chair
Blue Eyed Lady
Little Lady / Most of the Time
Rain
(April) Spring, Summer and Wednesdays
Railroad
Oh Baby
Forty-Five Hundred Times / Gotta Go Home
Big Fat Mama
Down Down
Roadhouse Blues
+
Caroline
Bye Bye Johnny

Status Quo - Saturday 16th April - Hammersmith Apollo

More of the same (without the pre-show tribute band) - this time we were nearer to the front. Great atmosphere again. Same set as last night (no surprise there). Being at the front, it was apparent that Alan Lancaster looked a little frailer than I'd previously noticed. He was also having great difficulty holding on to the plectrum he uses to pluck his bass - by my reckoning he must have dropped it at least a dozen times. As the roadie usually had to come on to pick it up, I wondered why they didn't simply have a strip of replacements on his mic stand? I hope this wasn't a sign of Alan's much talked about illness and that he comes through this run of shows in good health.

Another great night. Now partly regretting not booking for Wembley Arena tomorrow!

Setlist
Junior's Wailing
Backwater
Just Take Me
Is There a Better Way
In My Chair
Blue Eyed Lady
Little Lady
Most of the Time
(April) Spring, Summer and Wednesdays
Railroad
Oh Baby
Forty-Five Hundred Times
Rain
Big Fat Mama
Down Down
Roadhouse Blues
+
Don't Waste My Time
Bye Bye Johnny

Status Quo - Friday 15th April - Hammersmith Apollo

A tour 32 years in the making - the (temporary) return of the "classic" Frantic Four line-up of Status Quo. Having first seen Quo in 1984, I had never actually seen the incarnation of Rossi, Parfitt, Lancaster and Coghlan, so it was with much anticipation (and a little trepidation that it might not be as good as we all hoped) that an afternoon was booked of and we trekked off to Hammersmith.

The Distillers pub in Hammersmith were hosting tribute band "Stated Quo" and they entertained a packed house with a raucous collection of familiar and more obscure Quo tunes.

After a few pints, it was off to the main venue to get a decent spot. We settled for a good view about 1/3 of the way back, left of centre. The pre-show atmosphere was electric - the kind I've only experience a couple of times in nearly 30 yrs of gig going. An almighty roar greeted the lights going down and an edited version of Jackie Lynton's classic introduction from 1977 played on the PA. "Is there anybody out there that wants to rock....?"...

Indeed there was.

Starting off with Junior's Wailing, Lancaster took vocals on the first 3 songs. The set flew by with an intensity that belied the combined ages of the 4 musicians on stage (circa 250). Rossi was on fine form - solos were brilliantly played and he seemed to be enjoying himself. Also noticeable was the lack of messing around / changing words etc - maybe because all the show were being recorded? Who knows, but it was good to see a serious "no messing" performance.

An hour and a half later we were all done with the last few "Bye Bye's" of Bye Bye Johnny. On the way out we agreed how fantastic it had been. A one off tour? Let's hope not!

Setlist
Junior's Wailing
Backwater
Just Take Me
Is There a Better Way
In My Chair
Blue Eyed Lady
Little Lady
Most of the Time
(April) Spring, Summer and Wednesdays
Railroad
Oh Baby
Forty-Five Hundred Times
Rain
Big Fat Mama
Down Down
Roadhouse Blues
+
Don't Waste My Time
Bye Bye Johnny