Date: 6 December 2011
Originally published in: The Star (UK)
Written by: Sean Bruce
It’s December, so it’s winter weather, the irritating countdown to Christmas and time for Quo to hit town. Their Quo Fest tour also brings regular tour mate Roy Wood, writer of one of the best Christmas tunes in Rock And Rollin’ Christmas, which goes down a storm tonight, plus the lovely Kim Wilde, best remembered for 1982 hit Kids In America.
With their 29th studio album, Quid Pro Quo, charting at number 10 this year Quo’s star has risen higher yet again – after 44 years they can still sell well. But they bound on stage straight into a rendition of Caroline to the cheers of a mature crowd, many sporting blond Rick Parfitt wigs.
Francis Rossi remains main orchestrator of their live show, leading familiar choreographed moves, including head banging that many mimic. It’s a magnificent 90 minutes filled with crowd favourites from a back catalogue of over 60 charting singles, Mean Girl, Paper Plane and In The Army Now getting early airings.
Joint frontmen Rossi and Parfitt are always the main focus but the other Quo members; the excellent Andy Bown on keys since 1976, John ‘Rhino’ Edwards on bass since the mid ’80s and relative newcomer drummer Matt Letley, who has served since 2000, are the backbone which allows Francis and Rick to do the business front and centre.
A mass singalong to Down Down precedes set closer Rockin’ All Over The World before an encore when Wilde and Wood join the Quo for a Christmas melody as they finally call time, until next year.