Hector has a stopover in Manchester in order to see IQ perform in Bury. Two years ago I stayed in Bury at t-Travelodge which was not a good idea without a car. With trams running from Bury to Manchester until around midnight, the Northern Quarter called once again.
I travelled alone, nobody else fancied the trip to to see the British Prog Rock Band which I have held in the highest regard since the mid 1980s. Instead of my usual lunchtime arrival permitting the Two Curry Model, today there would be one Curry only. Spice Lounge (56-58 Shudehill, Manchester, England M4 4AA) has been passed often in recent times being on the western periphery of the Northern Quarter at Shudehill. This is a Restaurant proper, the only one I have found in this area, and therefore markedly different from the plethora of Curry Cafes that inhabit the Northern Quarter. Spice Lounge is more upmarket, and has the ambience that many prefer. Spice Lounge had never been visited prior to today as it opens too late and closes too early, i.e. no lunchtime or late night openings. I arrived at 17.10, the first customer of this Saturday night session. Ten minutes later another six diners had arrived, we were not used as window dressing nor clustered.
The Chap who greeted me showed me to a table and brought the Menu. A young lady appeared from behind me to take a drinks order. A small bottle of Sparkling Water was ordered, large was available. She mentioned Poppadoms, Hector was not playing today. If they were being offered then just bring them.
Was today – Chicken Curry Day? Hector was determined to avoid a plateful of Lamb, yet Sabji Gost (£11.45) was the first Dish considered. At least Vegetables would provide a distraction from Meat and Masala. Fish Jalfrezi (£12.65) also looked Interesting – Cod for a change, and no mention of Capsicum. Finally, the term – Deshi – had me won. Veg Deshi Bhuna (Apna Style) (£12.25) would surely show me what Spice Lounge is capable of. That a Vegetable Curry would cost more than a Meat and Vegetable Curry puzzled, but not as much as the Bread prices. Has someone here been to Aberdeen? £1.85 for a Chapatti, £3.45 for a Paratha? No way! Jeera Rice (£3.25) suddenly felt like good value. The same Chap took the Order, as ever I gave the usual caveat re Capsicum and asked to hold on to the Menu for further study.
The Waitress brought the Sparkling Water (£2.25). I recognised the brand – Voss. Marg and Hector were once stung at The Jewel in The Crown (Aberdeen) when we were charged a ridiculous sum for a 750ml Bottle. So, Aberdoom prices for Bread, but not Water.
Further study of the Menu revealed no more Dishes that would have attracted, this was a decidedly Mainstream Restaurant. The décor was quite – Contemporary – to adopt the language of the Menu, posh enough, and a full range of Drinks were available. Marg would certainly prefer to have her Curry here than the venues I usually drag her too whilst in Manchester.
Spotting the Menu still on the table, another Chap came to take my Order, was this Mein Host? The food was brought by the original Chap.
Garlic Rice – he said as he placed the Curry and Rice on the table. I could see some Cumin Seeds protruding from the boat shaped serving. I spread the Rice across the plate, a sensible portion, this I should manage.
Veg Deshi Bhuna (Apna Style)
As Vegetables Curry goes, this had the appearance of one of the very best. The mass of Vegetables was shrouded in a decent Thick, Blended Masala which was in no way excessive. This was a very large portion, The sprinkling of Fresh Coriander covered some of the large pieces of Potato, but other large pieces of – something light – had already caught my attention.
Khadu, I have not bought in ages and is rarely served in a Restaurant. Cauliflower, Onion Strips, Peas, Sweetcorn, Courgette and Carrots were also present. I took my time before deciding the diced Vegetable was in fact Carrot, perhaps it wasn’t.
The lack of Seasoning was evident from the start. Patience would be required to see what Flavours would emerge. The Spice left a sharpness at the back of the throat yet was not too demanding on the palate, a bit rough then. My mind drifted towards Euro-Curry and some venues I have visited where they use packets of Spice Mix, and perhaps use too much, as I have done at home at least once. Hopefully this was not the case at Spice Lounge, but one has to wonder what they did to their Base Masala to make it – Deshi.
There was Cabbage – Only Bangladeshis put Cabbage in Curry – I was told by Dawn at Sarina’s (Queensbury-Bradford). It did feel to be a Vegetable out of place, more Khadu please.
I waited for more Flavour to emerge. The Cumin Seeds in the Rice never hit the palate. Clove, Cinnamon, Herbs, were all reported missing. There quite simply was nothing distinctive about this Curry in terms of Flavour. Here was another classic Mainstream Curry, enjoyable, nothing to excite.
I left a Soupçon, frankly, I was bored at the end.
The Waitress brought three slices of Orange and a hot hand wipe. Had I not gone up to the Bar to pay, Chocolate would have followed. Spice Lounge is a pukka Restaurant.
The Bill
£16.15 The same Chap took the cash, meanwhile another Chap was behind the counter, Mein Host?
The Aftermath
I approached the new Chap with the Calling Card. He summoned the Chap who had served me – The Main Boss. Introducing myself as coming from Glasgow yet explaining that Curry-Heute covers many countries, I was asked:
Have you been to Bangladesh?
No, but I have been to India and Sri Lanka.
We are Bangladeshi – I was informed.
That explains the Cabbage, only a Bangladeshi Restaurant would put Cabbage in a Curry.
There was no challenge to this, more surprisingly there was no discussion of the Curry I had just eaten.
This & That is around the corner, a feast for six quid. I also looked at Aladdin, Rice and Three Vegan choices for under a fiver. Had today not been a Saturday, Hector of course would have been at Kabana. This is what Spice Lounge is up against.
Tram 4 goes from Shudehill to Bury
The Legendary Christmas Bash 2018 – is the name for the Mini-Tour which concluded at – The Met – Bury, this evening. It is four years since Hector was last at The Met with Marg in tow, that was in the months after the release of the last IQ album – Road of Bones. That gig is reported here after an excellent Curry at Dera (Manchester). As mentioned above, Hector was here alone two years ago but did not write a review of the gig, this was the day that Jaki Liebezeit of Hector’s all time favourite band – CAN – passed. IQ basically perform at The Met annually, now that I know how easy it is to get here by public transport, watch out for 2020.
Tonight’s performance at – The Met – was sold out as always. This is as far north as IQ travel, I did see them supporting Mike and The Mechanics (boke) in Edinburgh once upon a time in the Paul Menel era.
IQ took to the stage at 20.20 and kicked off with The Darkest Hour (Ever, 1993) followed by Frequency (Frequency, 2009). Pete Nicholls on vocals announced that he was suffering from the cold and therefore his vocals may well be restricted. This is not the first time he has said these very words on a Bury stage. 2018 was a year of anniversaries, most importantly the twenty fifth anniversary since IQ reformed to release their fifth album – Ever – with Pete back on vocals and the legendary John Jowitt taking over on Bass from Tim Esau. 
Ever – does not have a weak moment, every song is well composed with recognisable haunting themes, Guitar and Keyboards shining on each composition. It would be easy to say this was IQ’s finest hour, however, Hector’s first visit to Bury was for the World Premier of their next (double) album – Subterannea, a true Meisterwerk. By 2016, Tim was back and Neil Durrant became IQ’s third keyboard player. Somewhere in time, the original drummer, Paul Cook rejoined also. So we had a very settled line-up this evening with four out of the five original members of IQ on stage.
Fading Senses (Ever, 1993) continued the theme of the evening then we were told that the most recent album The Road of Bones would also feature tonight, cue the title track – The Road of Bones (The Road of Bones, 2014). This and Ever I find to be the best albums in the modern era of IQ.
The Seventh House (The Seventh House, 2000) is a long-ish track at some fourteen minutes. Fourteen minutes of disjointed themes stuck together, I never really got into this album. The legs, how long can the legs stand it? Bietigheim Bissingnen, the Monsters of Rock (2016) featuring Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and more, was the first time Hector realised there was a limited time to standing on one spot.
A Missile – was introduced, a track from the next album due at the end of the year, in time for Bury 2020? This song had a strong Synthesiser element and very little Guitar. Given the accompanying animations on the everpresent three screens, does this mean it is finished?
I always have difficulty remembering which is my favourite track from – Ever – but next up was Leap Of Faith (Ever, 1993) which could well be it, followed by the more gentle Came Down (Ever, 1993). From the Outside In (The Road of Bones, 2014), the opening track from that album was up next followed by the final song from Frequency – Closer (Frequency, 2009) which means that Hector’s favourite from that album – Ryker Skies – would not be played tonight. I have seen it performed at all IQ gigs I have attended since its release, so have done well. Pete did mention that tonight was a – Greatest Hits – night. I often wonder how bands who have never had a hit get to know what is their best stuff. Maybe that is why I write these words.
Until the End (The Road of Bones, 2014) followed by Further Away (Ever, 1993) brought the main set to a conclusion. After the customary short break there were two songs performed in the encore. Headlong (The Wake, 1985) goes back to their second album, a fine change from performing the title track … I cannot remember the final song.
The set lasted just under two and a half hours which is a long time to listen to IQ. As I have written before, Pete’s vocals are by far preferred to Paul Menel’s who featured in the late 1980s, but Pete’s range is limited making the vocal parts to the material sound too similar at times. What makes IQ Hector’s favourite British Band is the strength of the arrangements, Guitar, Bass, and Keyboards. Cue the vocal-mellotron sound.
So nothing from Subterannea (1997) and Dark Matter (2004). To hear (nearly) all of – Ever – performed this evening made the journey more than worthwhile. I feel that the remastered version of – Ever – may be this year’s birthday present.
Extracts from Spice Lounge Menu
