I arrived at the Corporation Nightclub in Sheffield on a sunny Thursday evening just before 7 pm. A crowd of Quireboys fans had already started gathering outside both young and old. They were looking happy and ready to enjoy what was promised to be a great night of good rock and roll music. The security and staff were friendly and helped anyone with a disability or general inquiries.
The entrance to the venue had changed since my last visit, painted in psychedelic patterns, that made the walls look three-dimensional. The concert hall was dark and gloomy, a typical rock venue, welcoming, with a dystopian interior, and an industrial design, combined they create a great atmosphere for music events. The Corporation club is the home for most metal and alternative music events in the city hosting local and internal bands.
So how did the night go?
The show started around 7.30 pm, first on stage was a band called Continental Lovers. A Punk rock glam band. They played a great set and held the crowd’s attention. And I enjoyed them too. It’s nice to see young bands playing, and keeping the Glam/punk rock scene alive, especially since the Seattle Grunge movement of the early 1990s nearly killed it.
CONTINENTAL LOVERS
The main support for the evening was Willie Dowling and the Invisible Band. Willie on piano, accompanied by a bass player, the duo played their way through a nice seven-song set. Highlights were ‘I killed my Imaginary friend’. This song reminds me of Frank Zappa, dreamy and with creative lyrics, minus the Muffin Man. Dowling’s performance went down well with the crowd. Dowling is a successful musician, having been a member of the Wildhearts, Honeycrack, and Dr Hook.
WILLIE DOWLING
Quireboys came on stage around 9 pm, receiving great cheers from their fans. They blasted their way through a powerful and emotional eighteen-song set, Containing old and new songs. The band doesn’t need any introduction to the Rock music scene, with their 1990 album ‘A Bit of What You Fancy’ reaching Gold Certification, with ‘Hey You’ breaking into the UK top 20, and three other UK top 40 hits.
I enjoyed hearing some of their old songs, they reminded me of my youth and brought back some fond memories, of beer drinking, clubbing, and having a good time. Spike interacted well with the crowd, building up the fans into a frenzy of raised hands and he got them singing along, everyone was having a great time. The band functioned well together, telling jokes, and stories. They looked relaxed performing.
The band used the stage well, Spike throwing his mic stand into the air, and dancing around as though he had been drinking from the fountain of youth. The other band members were fun to watch too with their guitar and bass poses. Unfortunately, the drummer was not discernible, as the lighting was bad. It was nice to see Dowling on piano, he’s a great character.
The stand-out performance for me was, ‘I Don’t Love You Anymore’ Spike sang this song so passionately, that I felt a wave of emotion passing over me, and I reminisced, just for a moment. I think some of the other fans did too.
I also enjoyed its 7 o, clock a great bluesy rock tune, and a fan favorite, great for getting the audience moving, and singing along to, and they most certainly did, and so did I, they bought the house down.
I have to conclude that I had a great night, and so did everyone who came along to support the Quireboys and the other bands involved with the show. I recommend seeing them perform in a town or city near you and enjoy some nice bluesy rock and roll.
QUIREBOYS
Setlist:
JEEZE LOUISE
CAN’T PARK HERE
MISLED
SWEET MARY ANNE
RAINING WHISKY
WHIPPIN BOY
TRAMPS &THIEVES
HEY YOU
I THINK I GOT IT WRONG AGAIN
ODE TO YOU (BABY JUST WALK)
KING OF NEW YORK
HAPPY
ROSES & RINGS
THERE SHE GOES AGAIN
7 O ‘CLOCK
LIKE IT OR NOT
I DON’T LOVE YOU ANYMORE
MAYFAIR
