Liverpool-Live

On a freezing cold December night, 80's New Wave sensation Kim Wilde, the grand elder statesman of British music and one of the top 10 Brummie musicians ever, Roy Wood, and the reason the 3000 plus fans had braved the night's weather, Status Quo, rocked the Echo Arena and gave the audience a reason to start celebrating the festive season early.

Kim Wilde was joined on stage by a fantastic band which included Kajagoogoo's bass player Nick Beggs, the only man who can look resplendent in a leather kilt on stage. Nervous, evidently, but as charming as she was alluring 30 years ago, there was no way Kim could disappoint the crowd. She played a superb cover of the Motown classic, 'You Keep me Hanging On', the Christmas hit 'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' and of course the smash 'Kids in America'. It was truly inspiring to see Kim Wilde roll back the years and see the audience appreciate her set.

Roy Wood's pedigree is as long as his famous beard. The Move, Wizard, E.L.O. and his own solo career, the man has had more hits than others can ever hope to ever achieve. The likeable Brummie did the impossible and had the entire audience on its feet for the whole of what was essentially a support slot. This was no support performance though. Planned to perfection, the set list encompassed songs from almost every era. 'Blackberry Way', 'Fire Brigade', 'See My Baby Jive', 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day' and some superb new tracks took the Echo Arena by storm.

They have their critics and there are those that will knock them no matter what they do but the guys who make up Status Quo know how to entertain a crowd. They realise what's important to their audience and they understand fully how to deliver a set that contains some new exciting material whilst retaining the core of their substantial back catalogue.

Rick Parfitt and Francis Rossi have been making hit records longer than most and the music they play is infectious. The crowd that had stood, danced, weaved and jived through Roy Wood and his impressive band had no chance to catch breath as the stirring guitar refrain of 'Caroline' echoed through the building and had the audience back on their feet.

The crowd of all ages were singing their hearts out and performing air guitar riffs to classic tracks such as 'Wanderer', 'Paper Plane' and the chilling 'In the Army Now'. Status Quo got it just right in balance of old favourites and tracks from their new album Quid Pro Quo which included a cracker in 'Two Way Traffic'.

The band finished off a night of high entertainment and some very sore feet with tracks such as 'Roll Over', 'Down Down', the stirring 'Whatever You Wan't and 'Rockin' All Over the World'. Status Quo will never ever be labeled cool and that doesn't matter, they never need to be. There is no pretension, no fleeting accolades that need to be given their way. Quo Rock, that's all that's needed to know.