Quireboys + The Karma Effect + Soho Dukes.

The last time Quireboys played at KK’s back in November 2025, I never actually got to see them perform live due to ill health, so I was really hoping that things would be a little different this time around.

There I was that night, stood right at the front of the audience, stage left, leaning against the rails, hoping for a fantastic view of the bands on stage, a few good photos to help jog my memories in years to come, and that my legs would hold out for the duration of the gig… They didn’t.

Part way through the second band, who just also happened to be Soho Dukes that night as well. My back and legs were in bits, despite having my walking stick and the rails in front of the stage to lean on, and I was in so much pain I felt ill… I mean really ill. Both physically and mentally.

Sonia tried her best to plead with a member of security to find me a seat, but the accessibility platform was completely full, and those who had been lucky enough to secure a seat from the small selection of stools scattered around the venue, were never going to give them up for anyone, no matter what. And why should they? You snooze, you lose. Simple as. It’s not their fault I failed to reserve seating on the accessibility platform. It was just something I forgot to do. An email I forgot to send, that’s all.

By time Quireboys hit the stage, I couldn’t cope any more. I needed to go home. I needed strong pain killers, and I needed to rest up.

We did try and sit in the bar area for a short period of time, so at least we could sit and listen to them play at the very least. But the damage was already done, and before we knew it, we were back in the car heading for home.

Another night ruined and another gig spoilt thanks to my ill health.

So fast forward to last Friday evening, and there we were, sat in The Wheatsheaf in Wolverhampton without a care in the world, simply enjoying our drinks whilst listening to our £2’s worth of music carefully selected from the Jukebox, at the same time as the commotion unravelling in the corner of the bar behind us between a number of individuals. A tragic case of he said, she said, if ever there was one. An event which ended up with one vile little waster getting asked to leave the pub after spitting at another customer. And rightfully so. I can’t stand people who spit, especially at other people, but even after ‘she’d’ left the building, the arguing, for whatever reason continued, and we were only to happy to make a hasty retreat to KK’s as it got closer to door opening time.

As we pulled up outside the venue. Kelly and Steve were already at the back of the very short queue waiting to get in, so we just joined them, showed our tickets, did the usual security checks on the way in, and I made my way over to the box office counter to give them my name, because this time I had remembered to send the email, and I had remembered to book accessible seating. Result.

I also advised Steve to enquire as to whether there was an unreserved seat available for Kelly, as she’s on crutches following a knee replacement, and luckily, they managed to get her one, even if it did mean Steve having to stand all night, all-be-it right beside where Kelly was sat.

For a venue that doesn’t sell Guinness, I was glad to see that both Motorhead’s Overkill and Road Crew are now available at the bar. An easy choice instead of having to play Russian Roulette with either of the KK’s ales on offer… both of which are really hit and miss. And I have to admit, the Road Crew was bang on, and will definitely by my KK’s drink of choice moving forward.

First on stage were Soho Dukes, a band who’s music to me, sounds something reminiscent of someone who has taken an 80’s classic glam Rock’N’Roll playlist, and has thrown it into a mixer with a hand full of early 80’s Punk Oi! Classics, not too dissimilar to early Cock Sparrer, The Business, Section 5 and the like, and that can’t be a bad thing. No doubt someone will probably say I’m talking nonsense here, but hey ho. That’s just my opinion and I’m sticking to it.

I really like Soho Dukes. They lift the room and bring a party like atmosphere to the stage, or at least they have the two times we’ve seen them play live. They certainly know how to warm up the room and get the party started, that’s for sure.

Next up was The Karma Effect. A band I’d never heard of before, let alone seen live, so didn’t really have any expectations if I’m honest, but another band Sonia and I really enjoyed… Steve not so much.

They reminded me a little of early Thunder, especially around the Back Street Symphony era, so much so, that I actually went and purchased the only vinyl they had on sale that night, something I very rarely do when seeing a band for the first time. It usually takes me a good few listens before I make the decision to part with my pennies, but I really liked what I heard so decided to take the plunge.

The result?… A very good limited edition compilation LP of piano led rock, also featuring Those Damn Crows, the Kris Barras Band, and Scarlet Rebels. A very good album in deed.

Of course, by this point, I’d already spent way too much money on whatever vinyl Quireboy’s and Spike had available on the night. The stuff I hadn’t already got anyway, and I’m sure Sonia was doing her very best to double the size of her band t-shirt collection… A couple more and she’ll be catching up with me… Not!

After another short interval, a couple of Jack and Coke’s, and a quick catch up with my cousin Neil and his son Jake, who Sonia had spotted lurking at the back of the room. It was time for Quireboy’s to hit the stage.

You know exactly what to expect whenever you go to see Quireboys live… Spike’s ‘official’ version of the Quireboy’s anyway… We try not to speak of the fake Temu version any more. A band I’d never pay to go and see live again so long as I live, and a band I’m not exactly sure exist any more. Either way, there’s only one Quireboy’s as far as we’re concerned, and that was the Quireboy’s we were there to see on Friday.

Now at this point, I’d really love to be able to run through the bands set list from start to finish. To tell you which track they opened with. Which tracks brought back fond memories from my past, and I’d love to be able to repeat some of Spike’s jokes and more humorous ramblings between songs… but I can’t… The fact is, I don’t remember much about their set at all, other than the fact I know I managed to make it to the very end of the show which closed with my all time favourite track of theirs, I Don’t Love You Anymore, and even that’s very hazy.

Why? I hear you ask… Too much beer perhaps?… Maybe too many JD and Cokes?… Well no! It’s neither of those. I’d had a bit to drink yes, but I wasn’t exactly drunk. Far from it in fact. Truth is, this was another night where my epilepsy decided it was going to rear it’s ugly head again… Not one. Not two. But six seizures in all. Four before we left the venue, and another two in the car on the way home, from what Sonia’s told me anyway. At one point it was hit and miss as to whether an ambulance was required. Thankfully, it didn’t get that far.

See, I can remember right up to the very end of the show. Not in great detail. But I can remember it. But then nothing… Nothing until I woke up late on Saturday morning, feeling like I’d just done 10 rounds in the ring with Mike Tyson… My whole body aching from head to toe, with zero recollection of either leaving the venue or getting home, and that’s what scares me.

For every tonic-clonic seizure I have, it’s like losing a part of my life I’m never going to get back.

It’s not like waking up in the morning with a hang over following a heavy night on the ale, trying to remember what stupid antics you got up to the night before, and why there’s a traffic cone or someone’s garden gnome in the corner of your bedroom. It’s not a hazy memory that’s slowly going to come back to you as the day goes on and as the alcohol leaves your system. There’s just nothing. There never will be. All you have is the information given to you by the people who are there at the time. It’s their recollection, and all I can try and do is make sense of it and put the pieces together as they hand them to me. I hate it, but what can I do? It’s just a part of who I am. I don’t have to like it though.

So to those who helped me out on the night (I don’t have to name names, they already know who they are), a massive thank you for being there for me and looking after me.

I should probably take it as another warning, but it’s doubtful I will… There’s way too many bands I still want to see live… There’s still too many gigs and festivals I want to attend, and I intend to do so.

I’m not going to let my health issues get in the way if I can help it. I’m going to try and work my way around things and do what I can, when I can. My epilepsy can do one. I’m not gonna let it ruin or control my life. I’m gonna continue to stick two fingers up at it and carry on regardless.

It’s not going to win. I won’t let it.