In between the time it took for new romantics to become old news and for house music to take over homes, it’s hard to believe that a duo brought skiffle back, reaching the top ends of the indie charts and receiving backing from John Peel and Morrissey amongst others. Armed with a double bass, a guitar and ribbon ties, Terry & Gerry’s blend of washboard beats and political poems proved to be a successful, if slightly short-lived, formula.
Almost three decades on from appearances on The Old Grey Whistle Test and The Tube, Terry & Gerry reunited for a John Peel memorial tour, and have since decided that the world is ready for skiffle once more. Lead vocalist Gerry Colvin is a hugely energetic character, clearly thrilled to be back on stage with his original partner in crime and reliving ’50s influenced ‘80s tracks to a crowd in the next century.
Covering the miner’s strike (‘Butter’s On The Bread’) and American politics (‘Kennedy Says’), these are serious songs delivered with a whimsical take on the issues, while ‘Joey’ documents the overdose of a troubled friend and is a genuinely touching track (“Gone like water through your hands, all of Joey’s hopes and plans”). ‘Clothes Shop’ closes their set (“This was our big hit,” declares Gerry) and will no doubt provide a highlight of their Glastonbury appearance in the Acoustic Tent this year. For something a little different but strangely familiar, make your way there if you’re lucky enough to have a ticket.
Few bands have been as many different things as Status Quo. From psychedelic beginnings in the late ‘60s, hard rock in the early ‘70s and now, following decades of reliable doo-wop influenced rock – for fans of denim at annual December tour dates (“Panto Quo”), Quo have gone acoustic. Or, to put it correctly considering their love of a pun, Aquostic.
The switch from electric guitars to acoustic ones is a stark contrast to their recent “Frantic Four” shows, which saw original members Alan Lanaster and John Coghlan join Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt for two tours, including a stop at Wembley Arena, playing only the heavy material from ’70-’76, while fans of the band’s later, wedding disco friendly material could still catch that formation of the band in between these tours.
Tonight, however, it’s all about their acoustic reworkings of hits from all line-ups. And it’s definitely all about the acoustic guitar, with six of them on stage at one point (even the drummer picks one up for some tracks), however, with sixteen people on stage (the band, a string section, backing vocalists, an accordion player…) there’s bound to be some repetition. With over 100 singles to choose from, Quo have been guilty of repeating their sound before though, and tonight is no exception.
In fact, it’s the earlier, sometimes ignored material that is more successful in its new guise. Debut single ‘Pictures Of Matchstick Men’ could be early Bowie covered by latter day Ray Davies, while ’And It’s Better Now’ and ‘Down The Dustpipe’ blend Ceilidh folk with Western ho-downs – the guitar solos swapped for harmonicas. ‘Rock’N’Roll’ and ‘Rock ’Til You Drop’ provide, ironically, two of the most tender, reminiscent moments, while ‘Rockin’ All Over The World’ is given added gusto with the guitar outro traded for a “Na na na na” chorus. As for, ‘Whatever You Want’, ‘Down Down’, ‘What You’re Proposing’… Even Aquostic can’t polish these ones.
With anecdotes about viagra and funerals, all delivered by Rossi – giving his best ‘70s comedian impression but often calling on Rick for the details, it’s clearly aimed at an older crowd, but credit to the band for reworking their catalogue. There are moments when the sound is so full and rich that it’s impossible to believe it’s the same band who poured ‘Margherita Time’, and there are moments when it sounds so samey that it’s difficult to tell if you’re listening to a medley or not, but it’s Quo doing acoustic. And it’s actually QUO.K.
Words:
Dan Bull
Images:
Robert Gershinson
Dan Bull
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