They all played an important role, but I noticed, mostly on their first album, the accordion was very present in most of the songs. I've found it personally to be essential to the sound.

[quote="gav"]Reading all of this got me thinking, what (if there is one) is the most important instrument in the pogues?[/quote]

Gotta be the hurdy gurdy 8)

Reading all of this got me thinking, what (if there is one) is the most important instrument in the pogues?

I grew up in Nova Scotia (see also Cape Breton and Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie MacMaster et al) and have no aversion to the fiddle. However though it is appreciated where it was used in Pogues music, it's not missing where it wasn't used.

I think in the case of the Pogues, the accordian is a better choice.

[quote="daveynate"]When I was looking to join THE MIGHTY REGIS, [...] keyboard accordion; 6 months later, I ws onstage full time and pissed as hell I didn't learn an instrument as a kid.

http://www.myspace.com/themightyregis[/quote]
Incidentally - I caught you guys after Cranky George on Tuesday. You were really a lot of fun. Great show!

And I think I scared your guitar player by recognizing her at The Pogues' show at the Wiltern last night and telling her in person the same as above - Great show!

I can chime in on this one (a little late, sure) because I speak from actual experience. When I was looking to join THE MIGHTY REGIS, without knowing how to play anything, the first thing I tried was the fiddle. After a few months, it became blatantly obvious that, with solid practice, I would be able to join the band in about 10 years. Next came the keyboard accordion; 6 months later, I ws onstage full time and pissed as hell I didn't learn an instrument as a kid.

Cheers,
Dave
http://www.myspace.com/themightyregis

I chose my words carefully. "None of us can play the fiddle", I said, "not even James". At no point did I say that James was deterred by this. But if you really must hear James using the violin effectively, try "Junk Theme" on the [i]Sid 'n' Nancy [/i]soundtrack.

I rarely play the tune on guitar, except inasmuch as the rhythm part occasionally contains some of the melody, as happens in things like Lullaby Of London and Rainy Night In Soho but is very discreet, as I like it to be. There's enough tune-merchants competing for space already. I see myself as the midfield general. The four note phrase in the second verse of Thousands Of Sailors after "the blackbird broke the silence" is the closest to explicitly playing a tune as I ever wanted to get. That said, there's quite a bit of guitar stuff in [i]Straight To Hell[/i], notably Rabinga, Rake At The Gates Of Hell and L'Amoria. And USA, Blue Heaven, Lorelei on [i]Peace And Love[/i]. I play a conventional-ish guitar solo on the track the Pogues did with Kirsty for one of her albums. The One And Only??

so I guess that photo in the "Hell's Ditch" booklet of him playing one in the middle of field was staged...?

I'm in agreement that the Pogues found the right mix of sound as far as melody instruments, with James' piano accordion, tin whistle, banjo, and sometimes Terry's mandolin. Mr. Chevron, how often did you play melody on the guitar? seems you mostly stuck to rhythm stuff, at least until later works.

also thought I'd point out that numerous bands feature various combinations of melody instruments and it's not uncommon to find fiddle, accordion and whistle played simultaneously (or with other instruments like pipes, banjo and flute.

and as long as someone mentioned Sharon Shannon, I thought I'd give a plug for her - one of my favourite traditional Irish musicians - check out the recently released album "Tunes" featuring Sharon's button accordion, Frankie Gavin (one of the foremost Irish trad musicians around) on fiddle, Michael McGoldrick on flute and whistle and Jim Murray on guitar - one of the best traditional releases of the past year.

[quote="metsaen"]You will all end up drinking gin at The Chestnut Tree Cafe far away from charming smiles and pogues tunes![/quote]
Ah, but who shall be selling whom? And will their be some kind of international perswon-selling parity of exchange rates? Hmmm? :wink: :lol:
I LOVE you, Big Brother. (NOT the fecking TV show, the omnipresent Gubmnit Man).

[quote="metsaen"]You will all end up drinking gin at The Chestnut Tree Cafe far away from charming smiles and pogues tunes![/quote]
The Chestnut Tree Cafe or The Meet Cafe... It's just staging posts.

[quote="Revsta"] In my opinion the button accordion is a backup instrument, where as the big Hohner piano accordions like James plays really can carry the lead melody[/quote]

?!

You've obviously not listened to enuf/the right button accordion. sharron shannon would be one place to start. she's done a few stellar tracks with steve earle. her own stuff is amazing. button accordion takes the lead melody, or co-lead w/ the tenor banjo, on a lot of the popes' "crock of gold" stuff to lovely effect. "more pricks than kicks" and "st. john of gods" come immediately to mind. too much more to mention (but prompt me and i will).

that said, i have nothing against piano accordion (except that i failed in my attempt to learn it, tho i can still squeak out a mean "amazing grace"). i love the pipes & the fiddle tonnes, but i agree that the pogues found the right mix of insturments for the pogues' sound.

hey, planxty didn't have a fiddler either, and nobody attacks their "credibility" as traditional musicians (except, of course, for all those people who did just that when planxty started, but planxty are still regarded as amongst the best of irish music, and where are all those whinging complaining wankers now?)

You will all end up drinking gin at The Chestnut Tree Cafe far away from charming smiles and pogues tunes!

... accompanied with my heartfelt gratitude and the most charming smile ever. Which will make you forget about everything (means of payment included)

[quote="MacRua"]Next time I'll ask "lend me your card..."[/quote]
...and I'll purchase, pending approval from the MindControlAuthorities, a vaporous alchoholic downloadable solution of no less than 4.5% strength for your ingestion, if you so desire? :wink:


[i]First thing we do, is kill all the lawyers.[/i] - With apologies to Willy Wobbledagger.

Next time I'll ask "lend me your card..."