Legendary British band Status Quo has been bringing their unique stamp on the blues to the masses for over half a century. Formed in 1962, the band now has something of a revolving line up, with guitarists/singers Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt being the two mainstays of the group.
A band with an instantly recognizable sound and style to them, they have made many generations of music lovers happy with their back catalogue, having had over sixty top 20 hits in the United Kingdom and garnering huge following in many parts of the world, especially Australia.
Attracting some infamy in the process, a whole new generation has gotten to know the band through their part in an advertising campaign for a certain national supermarket conglomerate.
Whether this is a good or bad thing, it has had the positive effect of introducing the band to a younger crowd, as evidenced by the remarkable age spread at tonight’s concert, which basically from the ages of eight to eighty!
Performing as a five-piece, the early part of the set consisted of rarities and new material off the band’s last studio release, Quid Pro Quo, which pleased the diehard fans in attendance to no end. While continuing the singular Quo sound and style, it was the older material that really fired up this crowd and got everyone to their feet.
The final part of the main set was like a wonderful dream for any lover of rock music. A rather gratuitous drum solo signified the transition from the new to the old with the band’s music. Kicking off with the stomping “Roll Over, Lay Down”, the band basically proceeded to rip the venue apart with an utterly storming version of “Down Down”, thankfully free of its rewritten lyrics for the aforementioned supermarket chain. It was refreshing to be reminded of what a killer track this was.
“Rocking All Over The World”, which will forever be remembered as the song that kicked off the Live Aid concerts in the mid-80s was next. A truly inspiring track, it still sounds as fresh and alive as when it was recorded way back in 1977.
The main set closed out with “Whatever You Want”. It was a truly awe inspiring sight to see in the crowd, entire families head banging and playing air guitar together, as the band went into their patented and forever pleasing stage dancing when they move their instruments and bodies together in time to the music, a move that has been copied by countless bands ever since.
This was a short and sharp ninety minute set that didn’t have an ounce of musical flab to it. What was always so attractive about Status Quo, especially during their peak in the 70s, is that there was always a remarkably down to earth and ‘street’ approach that the band had to the music they made, not disappearing up their own arses and succumbing to utter pretension like many of their contemporaries.
While Status Quo’s set was not one that set out to reinvent the wheel, it did provide just what the punters were after: a night of fun, carefree music from one of Australia’s favourite 20th century band.
