The Quireboys, Lovegun.

Bedford Esquires Lev 2 Saturday 21st December 2013.

In what is fast becoming a tradition here at Esquires, those perennial rockers THE QUIREBOYS pitched up on the main stage once again for a Christmas / end of year bash. The room is naturally heaving. It's almost creaking under the strain at the sheer weight of numbers who are all tightly packed together. An excited chatter suddenly gives way to loud cheers and shouts as the six piece are introduced here, as usual, by Bedford's legendary music maker Mr Bruce Murray. Irrepressible front man Spike smiles broadly before announcing, in his distinctive north eastern accent, those familiar and now immortal words "We're The Quireboys and this is rock 'n' roll". Later on, as a Geordie, he dedicates "Dirty town" from where his heart is based to Bedford. We are now fully underway and Spike yanks the mike stand and hoists it skywards. With the stage lights hung quite low, this theatrical act of showmanship may, one day, end in tears one thinks, Throw in plenty of the obligatory "woo hoo oohs" and with The Quireboys you can never bet "Too much of a good thing".

2013 has been such a positive and eventful year for the band. Their excellent new (it's their seventh studio release) album entitled "Beautiful curse" has been royally received by both fans and the sometimes fickle music press. It's been somewhat of a renaissance year which saw foreign visits and festival dates, as well as the very successful album launch tour. Indeed this reviewer caught their packed out show at Islington Academy back in October. Spike revels being back in Bedford. With hometown boy Guy Griffin and adopted son Keith Weir popular visitors to a local hostelry, the flamboyant bandana wearing vocalist deliciously delights in telling us that "The Ship must be devastated that we're playing tonight". The undoubted star of tonight's show has to be guitarist Paul Guerin who recently got married. Good wishes are sent to him and his wife. Spike dedicates the title track of the new album to the two of them.

A Quireboys gig here at Esquires is usually a combination of their older well-worn favourites together with their newer material. Tonight is no different with songs from "Beautiful curse" nestling in amongst the early nineties showstoppers. I particularly enjoyed "Homewreckers and heartbreakers" and "Diamonds and dirty stones", definite highlights of the modern compositions. Tonight, and on their recent tour, the band have been joined onstage by bassist Nick Mailing (local studio producer and many bands from Bedford) and drummer Dave McClusky (from The Union). Probably the highlight of the whole show is when they perform "Mona Lise smiles", it's such a beautiful song. As on the previous occasions when The Quireboys 'hold court' in Esquires, drinking (and may I say lots of it) plays a big part with this extremely thirsty audience. Spike knows it and jokes with these rapidly squiffy attendees. He too has a pint in his hand and a regular "cheers everybody" rings out after many songs. On "I don't love you anymore" everyone's glasses are raised in the air and hopefully the many photographers in attendance caught this magical moment.

The feel good factor continues at pace, firstly with the rock stars jinxed age of "27 years"! Then from the second album, "Tramps and thieves" is played. The family atmosphere that runs through the evening is encapsulated when Spike (again smiling) says wryly "Nice to see so many ex-drummers of The Quireboys here, why it's almost half the audience"! On a more poignant note, Guy dedicates a song to "Neil and the family" as he recently passed away. It was a touching and reflective moment and is met with a dignified respect. The sheer raucous spirit is saved for last as, at 11 o'clock GMT, we are treated to "7 o'clock"! Cue the manic behaviour. Two encores are presented. First we get the band's new single called "Mother Mary", before the mayhem reaches it's zenith with "Sex party". This song is presented as an extended remix as various ex-members of The Quireboys rejoin the band for ten minutes of whiskey soaked nostalgia. Phew! What a show. Same time next year? I certainly hope so!

Support comes from Bedford's premier classic rock and metal covers trio, LOVEGUN . Robby, Ferg and Sean proceeded to wow the paying public with a set that featured songs from, amongst others, Poison, Kiss and Alice Cooper. The between song banter is at times quite hilarious with a story about Jason Bonham as well as an "armless" joke about Def Leppard. They come complete with spandex and the appropriate over the top poses. Tonight Lovegun gave rock 'n' roll to ya.