Pat McManus - Thursday 24th April - Half Moon, Putney

Brief review:  An evening in the company of the extraordinary Pat McManus. A guitar virtuoso, he is known as "The Professor" for good reason. As you know, I like guitar based rock and have a number of guitar heroes. But in terms of technical ability, Pat must be towards the top of that very long list. He plays the fiddle too. Rich and I have a phrase as frustrated guitar "players" - he is "annoyingly good"! Tonight's show featured a higher number of covers than normal including excellent versions of Crossroads, Jumping Jack Flash, The Stumble and Walking By Myself.

He must enjoy playing the Half Moon too as he seems to be here every six months or so.

Venue and View:  Seated (with no table) a few rows back on the left hand side

Pat McManus - Sunday 1st September - Half Moon, Putney

Brief review:  These shows with Pat are becoming reasonably frequent. His excellent guitar and fiddle work is demonstrated on a variety of solo material, older Mama's Boys favourites and some excellently curated covers paying homage to some of the great blues guitarists.

Venue and View:  Front left, standing

Pat McManus - Wednesday October 4th - Half Moon, Putney

Brief review:  The man known as "the Professor", Irish guitar genius Pat McManus again graces the Half Moon. Playing a range of material from across his career, there is a focus on many of the highlights from his time in the Mamas Boys. Fitting tributes were also played to lost friends including Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore

Venue and View:  Front left, seated.

Pat McManus - Wednesday 16th November - Half Moon, Putney

Brief review:  Return trip to see Pat at the Half Moon again. Missed the first song which meant getting a place to stand without blocking others was a little tricky, but it worked out OK. Different set from earlier in the year, but still very good.

Venue and View:  Just behind the tables, on the right

Pat McManus - Wednesday 16th March - Half Moon, Putney

Brief review:  Pat used to be in a band called Mama's Boys who I saw many, many years ago! He is an excellent guitarist and better than average vocalist too and his blend of Irish infused rock and blues draws a natural comparison to his contemporaries Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore.

A recommended evening out if you enjoy that style of music.

Venue and View:  Reasonably quiet in the back room, so decent view from the right hand side

Quireboys - Thursday 3rd May - Borderline, London

A Thursday night at the Borderline - a great venue to see a band like this, but arguably slightly too small as it will invariable be sold out which makes it slightly uncomfortable and a real "mission" to make it to the gents at the back of the venue and back to a spot on the floor.

Guitarist Paul Guerin and Spike were spotted at the Pillars of Hercules pre-show and we were quite surprised to see Spike with no drink in hand.

We got into the venue early to see Irish guitarist Pat McManus - ex Mama Boys - of whom I have a couple of dusty singles. He was pretty good, albeit a little self indulgent at times, but his Gary Moore tribute  Belfast Boy was excellent. Pat would also return later to add fiddle to half a dozen or so songs in the Quireboys set.

The Quireboys were predictably good. Spike pretending he was drinking diet coke (unlikely it would appear), but he did seem reasonably sober, with not too much inappropriate rambling between songs. Despite a couple of old favourites missing, it was good to have a mixed up set and to be honest, whatever they play will go down a storm in a small venue like this. Another good night out!

Setlist

Tramps & Thieves

There She Goes Again

Hey You

Misled

Too Much Of A Good Thing

Roses & Rings
White Trash Blues
One For The Road

Last Time

Louder

Mona Lisa Smiled

This Is Rock 'n' Roll

Mother Mary

Sweet Mary Anne

7 O'Clock

I Don't Love You Anymore
Dirty Town