Artist:  Spike & Friends

Venue: The Borderline, London

Date:  14 November 2004 

This was a bit of a bonus to our weekend away as we didn’t find out about the gig until earlier in the afternoon as we walked pasted the venue.

But it was well worth it as this is the first time I've seen Spike since the Quireboys ill fated support slot on the recent Whitesnake tour ... but more of that later.

As The Borderline slowly filled up it was noticeable that this was also an impromptu gig for quite a few people in the audience.  I also found out that many had only found out about tonight off the Quireboys web site.

As Spike explained to us all, the purpose of tonight's gig was purely to promote his new solo albums, which are due for general release in February next year.  That and he thought it would be a good idea to get a few friends around to jam. 

Opening up tonight's set with 'Rise Above' and 'She's a Rolling Stone' and the Frankie Miller song 'Be Good to Yourself, and with fellow Quireboys Paul, Keith and Pip on stage to help him along.

The set includes and excellent rendition of 'True Friends', a track Spike dedicated to all the Geordies in the crowd.

Some of the crowd started asking about the recent Whitesnake shenanigans to which Spike replied he wasn't drunk enough to go into details yet, but if a few brandy's came his way he might spill the beans!  And sure as eggs is eggs, the brandy's started to appear as if by magic from various members of the audience. 

The music continued with tracks of the forthcoming albums 'It’s a Treat to be Alive' and 'Talk of the Town'.  But the night wouldn’t be complete without a couple of Quireboy's classics.  'I Don’t Love You Any More' and a track I hadn’t heard live for a while, the excellent 'Mayfair'.  To finish off the night the band did '7 o'clock'.

As to the subject of the sacking from the Whitesnake tour I'm afraid for libel reasons it must remain between those of us who there tonight but I'm sure it will all be made public knowledge soon enough.

 

 

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