Quireboys - Sunday 24th November - Islington Academy

Brief review:  A new phase of touring for Spike and the Quireboys. Featuring Thunder's Luke Morley on guitar (as "musical director"), the band whipped through a range of songs old and new. And what good fun it was as you'd expect. Spike seems happy to be free of the noise going on around the split of the band(s) a couple of years ago and hopefully, all parties have moved on and we can enjoy the music we love hearing.

Venue and View:  Front left, standing.

Setlist
Jeeze Louise
Can't Park Here
Misled
Sweet Mary Ann
Raining Whiskey
Whippin' Boy
Tramps and Thieves
Hey You
You and I
I Think I Got It Wrong Again
King of New York
Happy
There She Goes Again
Roses & Rings
+
Like It or Not
I Don't Love You Anymore

Wayward Sons - Tuesday 29th March - Islington Academy

Brief review:  Toby Jepson and his current band. Despite not really knowing any of the set, it's a typically good rock n roll sound with good vocals and musicianship. I just can't help feeling that throwing in a handful of Little Angels numbers may get more punters through the door to hear the new stuff.

Venue and View:  Front left. Pretty sparse audience meant easy bar access.

Setlist

Any Other Way
Don't Wanna Go
Even Up the Score
Land of the Blind
Ghost
Punchline
Bloody Typical
Sign of the Times
Fade Away
Downfall
Fake
Crush
Small Talk
Faith in Fools
Joke's on You
+
Feel Good Hit
Big Day
Until the End

The Quireboys - Friday 25th March - Islington Academy

An electric evening of the Quireboys in Islington was preceded by darts of an amazingly good standard in The Carpenters Arms (Kings Cross) beforehand. We'd managed to skip the first 2 bands on the bill, but were too early to avoid the 3rd, meaning a trip to the Mezzanine level bar to rest our legs for a bit. I don't quite see the point of these multi-band bills. Stick to one support - it is plenty!

Back downstairs and you know what you are going to get with the Quireboys - good time Rock & Roll and a great set. The extended bill meant a shorter set than normal, but this was still value for money in my book. Let's hope the recent increased activity of the band continues for a while yet.

Setlist
Troublemaker (Black Eyed Son)
Too Much of a Good Thing
Misled
The Finer Stuff
There She Goes Again
Gracie B
This Is Rock 'N' Roll
Mona Lisa Smiled
St Cecilia
Tramps and Thieves
Hey You
Sweet Mary Ann
7 O'Clock
+
I Don't Love You Anymore
Sex Party

Snakecharmer - Friday 13th November - Islington O2 Academy

This years London Snakecharmer show was still in Islington - this time at the O2 Academy - which is becoming one of my favourite venues. We swapped from our normal bar-side to stand in front of Micky Moody as the sparse crowd made access throughout the floor very easy. It's a shame it was so quiet - especially for a Friday - maybe the fact the band are still trading on their only LP is a factor? Still, they contain 2 of my favourite drummers and bassists (Harry James and Neil Murray) and the set selection of Whitesnake numbers and self-titled LP highlights was solid, albeit a little short maybe.

So all good, but I'm not quite sure what the bands strategy is to move themselves forward to bigger and better things. The answer might be that they don't need one and are happy doing what they do.

Setlist
Guilty As Charged
A Little Rock & Roll
Ready & Willing 
Accident Prone
Falling Leaves
Ain't Gonna Cry No More 
Nothing To Lose
Crying In The Rain 
Moody's Blues [Mick Moody slide guitar solo, accompanied by Harry James on drums]
Slow And Easy 
My Angel
Here I Go Again 
+
Fool For Your Loving

Doro - Monday 19th May - Islington Academy

The Islington Academy is the venue for the return to London of “The Queen of Metal” Dorothee Pesch – aka Doro. Having enjoyed her previous outings over the last couple of years, Rich and I thought we’d pop along for a bit of German Metal. I still don’t know too many of the songs, but they are becoming more familiar. Ms Pesch’s “signature move” would appear to be bending forward, two arms outstretched , with a bit of headbanging to the crowd, some of whom respond in kind. It can look a little strange from the outside, but the breathless talks between songs shows Doro has a real affinity with her English audience. Tributes to Ronnie James Dio and a run through of Judas Priest’s “Breaking The Law” mix in nicely, before the sing-along “All We Are”.

Glad to report that the merchandise was good value, including a nice “30 Year celebration” programme – all in German. Metaltastic!

Setlist
I Rule the Ruins
Earthshaker Rock
Burning the Witches
Fight for Rock
The Night of the Warlock
Raise Your Fist in the Air
Metal Racer
Without You
Metal Tango
Burn It Up
Egypt (The Chains Are On)
East Meets West
Für Immer
Out of Control
Drum Solo
Wacken Hymne (We are the Metalheads)
Revenge
Breaking the Law
All We Are
Love Me in Black
Unholy Love
Evil

The Union - Wednesday 13th November - Islington Academy

More Union - that's quite a bit in the last 12 months I guess! It may also account for the relative emptiness of the venue - probably only 2/3 full. Still, you know what you are going to get and we got it. Good show, great vocals and guitar. Maybe the setlist needs a bit of a shake up next time around though (and I wouldn't finish with "Lillies" in the encore if it were down to me).

Pleased to pick up the signed "Official Bootleg" CD on the way out. And I also added to my drumstick collection with another signed item. Nice!

Setlist
Step Up to the Plate
You're My Jesus
Tonight I'm Alive
Cut The Line
Easy Street
The World Is Yours
Obsession
Saviour
Wreck My Scene
Holy Roller
Black Gold
Black Monday
Siren's Song
+
Lilies
Watch the River Flow

Quireboys - Thursday 17th October - Islington Academy

Spike from The Quireboys

"Know your Quireboys Drummers". That is becoming almost a speciality quiz question for me (the drummer and/or bassist appears to change nearly every time we see them). 2 points to me then for identifying the Union's Dave McClusky on sticks. No points to Richard for suggesting I was wrong despite have a chat with the guy in person a few months back!

A new set from the QBs - based around their excellent new album "Beautiful Curse". The band were on good form and you'll be able to watch it all on DVD soon. Spike appeared to be drinking less and singing more and his vocals and charisma showed through. The normal London spot of ex-member Guy Bailey at the bar, who to be fair hasn't weathered quite as well.

As a nod in his direction, the band substituted "Sex Party" in for "Mayfair" which was on the original setlist.
A quick note about the merchandise. Great effort! A good selection of items - many signed.  All at sensible prices too. Other bands take note please!

As Harry Redknapp may say  - top top band - top top show.

Setlist
Black Mariah
Too Much Of A Good Thing
Misled
There She Goes Again
Homewreckers and Heartbreakers
This Is Rock 'N' Roll
Mona Lisa Smiled
Diamonds and Dirty Stones
27 Years
I Don't Love You Anymore
Tramps and Thieves
Hey You
Beautiful Curse
Chain Smokin'
I Love This Dirty Town
7 O'Clock
+
For Crying Out Loud
Mother Mary
Sex Party

The Union - Thursday 28th March - Islington Academy

This was the rescheduled gig from the abandoned one a few weeks ago. The venue was noticeably less full than it was then - the pending Easter break may have had something to do with that.

Peter Shoulder appeared to have fully recovered and his vocals were top notch - as was the playing from the rest of the band. I couldn't put my finger on why, but this felt slightly flatter than other performances by this excellent band. That's not to say it wasn't good - I'd just give an 8/10 instead of their normal 9+.

Setlist
Step Up To The Plate
You're my Jesus
Tangled Up In You
Cut The Line
The Perfect Crime
The World Is Yours
Obsession
Saviour
Tonight I'm Alive
Black Monday
Fading Out Of Love
Black Gold
Siren's Song
+
Come Rain, Come Shine
Watch The River Flow

The Union - Thursday 21st February - Islington Academy

Glad I took the photo early in the set!

A chilly evening in Islington. After a couple of drinks at the Highbury and Islington end of Upper Street, we got to the Academy in plenty of time to see the support slot from Little Angel's frontman Toby Jepson. Playing a selection of solo and band material (all acoustic), he was in good voice although the crowd seemed slightly reluctant to get into full sing-a-long mode.

Then it was time for The Union. Having seen the rehearsal a couple of weeks ago this was a show I was looking forward to. I hadn't imagined it would only last 2 and a half songs! Unfortunately singer Peter Shoulder was suffering from a bad bout of flu and decided he couldn't continue. To be fair, the vocals hadn't sounded bad out front but the band rightly wanted to present their set in the best light. The show is due to be rearranged and hopefully Peter will recover soon.

We were trying to remember other shows I've been to which have been cut short midway through. I remember T'Pau going off twice in the late eighties - once when Carol Decker had nearly lost her voice (and they rescheduled) and once when I vaguely recall she'd fallen over at Hammersmith (I may be wrong on that!). Also Roger Daltrey went off at Wembley Arena in 1989 with the Who, leaving the others to do the encore without him (which led to an excellent Townshend version of Won't Get Fooled Again with full guitar smashing). Gary Moore cancelled after the support had finished, but hadn't started his set. Oh and Little Steven was bottled off at Quo's Selhurst Park gig in 1984! So, unless my memory is going (it is!), this was the first one in the last 20 years of gig going for me.

We briefly met Toby Jepson on the way out and he was very welcoming and happy to have a photo taken with Richard which was nice.

Setlist
Step Up To The Plate
You're My Jesus
Tangled Up In You (half)

Magnum - Thursday 29th November - Islington Academy

Bob Catley and Tony Clarkin keep the nightlight burning

A trip to Islington for the 2nd week running, this time to the Academy to see Magnum. The backstreets of Islington appear be a haven for attractive Eastern European bar staff and this was again the case this evening.

We made sure however, that we arrived in good time at the venue (last time Magnum were here it was so packed we barely got through the door) and secured our regular spot for this venue on the right hand side with a decent view. The setlist for this door has been absolutely static and at first glance may appear slightly biased toward newer material, but from first song to last, the band were at their captivating best. It helps that their last couple of albums have been top notch too.

Bob Catley continues to enthral the audience with the enthusiasm of a man have his age (and full credit for the first time I have ever heard the words "Come on Islington!"), whilst Tony Clarkin's guitar playing is first rate and seemingly effortless. Add in the wonderful Harry James, Mark Stanway and Al Barrow and this is a top rate band. We were slightly puzzled with what could be needed on Mark Stanways laptop/Mac Airbook - not sure they use too much in the way of pre-recorded loops, but whatever issues the roadie was trying to sort didn't appear to affect the sound.

Predictable highlights were "Les Morts Dansant", "The Spirit" and "Vigilante" plus a relatively rare outing for "Day Of No Trust". Cracking stuff.

Richard and I were speculating that over the course of 25 years of watching Magnum, we have never heard them play a cover version live. Not withstanding that they did things like "Runaway Sue" earlier in their career, what other bands of stature can you say that for? A colleague put forward Bad Sabbath as a possibility - if anyone knows of any more or can correct us re: Magnum, I'd be interested to hear!

PS Another "Ling" point easily collected.

Setlist
All The Dreamers
When We Were Younger
Blood Red Laughter
Wild Angels
Brand New Morning
How Far Jerusalem
The Flood
Les Morts Dansant
The Spirit
Dance Of The Black Tattoo
All My Bridges
All England's Eyes
Vigilante
Kingdom Of Madness
+
See How They Fall
Rockin' Chair
Days Of No Trust

Per Gessle - Monday 4th May - O2 Academy, Islington

So, a trip to Islington for Per Gessle - the male half of Roxette, for probably his first ever UK solo show.

The show had been downgraded from the Shepherd's Bush Empire and to be honest, probably suited a venue this size. That said, it was a fine evening of catchy pop tunes, with a fair selection of Roxette classics included. Most of the crowd appeared to be of Scandinavian origin and Per was greeted with true "hero-like" worship. Great fun, although is was a shame that Marie Fredrikson (other half of Roxette) chose the gig in Holland a few days later to be surprise guest!

Setlist (Order not 100% certain!):
DRESSED FOR SUCCESS
DROWNING IN WONDERFUL THOUGHTS ABOUT HER
STUPID
THE PARTY PLEASER
WISH I COULD FLY
SHE DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE
7TWENTY7
I HAVE A PARTY IN MY HEAD
LATE, LATER ON
LISTEN TO YOUR HEART
DO YOU WANNA BE MY BABY?
OPPORTUNITY NOX
DOESN'T MAKE SENSE
CHURCH OF YOUR HEART
DANGEROUS
JOYRIDE
+
C'MON
HEY MR DJ
ARE YOU AN OLD HIPPIE, SIR?
THE LOOK
IT MUST HAVE BEEN LOVE
+
SLEEPING IN MY CAR
(I'M NOT YOUR) STEPPIN' STONE
QUEEN OF RAIN