Review: Status Quo return to Wolverhampton Civic Hall

Less than a week after last Thursday's concert - which was actually the reunited Quo's 'second' Wolverhampton gig, after this one, announced first, sold out in minutes - it was another night to savour.

And it was business as before as former drummer John Coghlan and bassist Alan Lancaster, joined Quo stalwarts Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt to treat the Wolverhampton Quo army to a real blast from the past, with a set-list built largely around their classic 1977 Live! album.

Some fans may have been left a little puzzled by the exclusion of Quo classic Caroline, but they revelled at the inclusion of a headbanging Down Down, a song which was mysteriously dropped from the Live! album even though it was recorded at the time.

Fans leaving last night's concert could pick up their own double CD of the gig as a souvenir and what a set - kicking off with Junior's Wailing and taking in fan favourites like In My Chair, Is There A Better Way, Forty-Five Hundred Times and Most Of The Time.

It was as if the Quo-lite that the band has veered into at times - producing the likes of Marguerita Time and, er, All Around My Hat - had never existed. This was business as it was meant to be . . . the proverbial heads down, no nonsense boogie, with the fans roaring their approval.

There has been talk of the band not quite hitting its stride on some of the earlier dates on this reunion tour, a little ring rusty. But last night there was no sign of that, there was a wall of sound and energy pouring off the stage as the band took its leave with The Doors' Roadhouse Blues, Quo's own Don't Waste My Time and Chuck Berry's Bye Bye Johnny.

Review and photos by Ian Harvey