Their music goes down well which is quite an achievement as the Status Quo audience isn’t known for its patience with support acts.

Jovink is smart enough to put the emphasis on rock and not on their show. They repeatedly state that they’re honored to be Quo’s support act calling them their heroes. The Dutchmen’s music can be best described as a mix between Quo and AC/DC. A boogie and blues influenced type of hard rock that seems timeless.

When the show element takes over part of the audience loses interest but when they do what they do best, and that’s rock, they really get the crowd going. They’re not overwhelmed by the size of the Hall and their performance is convincing. They do play a little too long though, which makes the larger part of the crowd go quieter in the end.

Status Quo
With their best album in years in the pocket Status Quo are even more self-assured than ever. The show opens with the intro of the new Heavy Traffic album. The sound of cars and trucks driving by and a radio presenter giving traffic info to the listeners. At the end she speaks directly to the audience and makes clear we’re not going anywhere for at least one and a half hours. Then the noise grows and the band comes up.

While the crowd roars Rick Parfitt walks to the front of the stage, plants his feet a yard apart and starts “Caroline”. The crowd cheers louder, starts clapping and jumping up and down. Beer flies through the air and as the band joins Parfitt the Music Hall turns into one big rock and roll party. This is Quo in optima forma.

The first part of the show consists mainly of 70’s rockers like “Forty Five Hundred Times”. Quo knows what the people want to hear. Not before the middle of the show they play four songs from the new album. In pars of two: “All Stand Up/Solid Gold” and “Heavy Traffic/Creepin’ Up On You”.

It’s amazing, and for the fans even comforting, how these songs fit in with the old songs singer Francis Rossi always refers to as ‘The hardcore stuff’. The album has been received quite well in the press but playing the songs live is the real test: Will the fans accept the new material? Well, they do. And rightfully so.

During the nineties of the last century Quo had difficulties in writing stuff that the fans could relate to. Somehow it just didn’t rock as one might expect. Now it seems they have found a way to do what they want and satisfy the fans as well. It’s more straightforward rock ‘n’ boogie than the adrenalin-boosting hard rock from the seventies but it’s unmistakably fresh and powerful.

Apart from the four new songs and a couple of hits from the eighties they play the ‘hardcore stuff’ from the seventies. It makes the crowd go wild. Too bad they always play a medley. I personally hate medleys. Especially as they always play “Railroad” and “Most Of The Time” this way. Of course, if they want to please everybody they’d have to play for eight hours straight with a three hour encore but medleys... no.

The choice of songs tonight was a little predictable. All the hits and a couple of live classics. Good to see Andy Bown back on stage. He’s missed out on the last two tours due to an incurable illness of his wife. He seems to be really enjoying himself on stage. Highlight of the evening is a stretched version of the semi-acoustic “Gerdundula”.

When the band returns for the encore they end the evening in an anti-climax as they play a medley of old rock ‘n’ roll hits. Quo themselves enjoy playing those songs which is reason enough to play them. Apart from that they do play songs like “Bye Bye Johnny” and “Let’s Dance” very well. But they shouldn’t end the show with it and definitely not in a medley.

(Review: Walter de Korver
Pics: Sebastien Sam)