Ooo, I played Celtic Connections this year...was ace. We're a group of drummers that generally play lots of noise(but very well) and we were asked to play as part of Martyn Bennet Day.Woohoo, our first payed gig!

by El Roberto of [url=http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.horror]alt.horror[/url]
<blockquote>... so here's me sitting on the floor of Glasgow's Barrowland ballroom on Friday night, STINKING of CHEAP LAGER and bemoaning the fact that the supposed headline act hasn't turned up for his own gig, then - lo and behold, THREE AND A HALF HOURS LATE, onto the stage staggers everyone's favourite TOOTHLESS, GIBBERING CRETIN. No, not Whitelady, I'm talking Mr Irish Rover himself, MacGowan.

What can I say? Absolute drunken MAGIC - opened with "If I Should Fall from Grace with God" and that was me for the next hour and ten, jumping around like a WHIRLING GINGER BEHEMOTH to the GIN-SOAKED CELTIC ANTHEMS... I was suprised at how well his voice held up - maybe something to do with the PINTS OF MARTINI that he had attached to his mic stand - although I'm not exaggerating when I say that his in-between song banter was more akin to THE SOUND OF AN ELEPHANT'S VAGINA DURING INTERCOURSE than that of a musician announcing his next melodic gambit. Even finished with "Fairytale of New York", and there wasn't a fucking dry JAP'S EYE in the house after that.

One of those gigs that made you PROUD to NOT BE ENGLISH.</blockquote>

the fiddler was Clare from Dundee according to someone who met her! Hope they keep her.

The setlist (originally posted by Scott at [url=http://www.shanemacgowan.com/cgi-bin/gbook/gbook.cgi]PRS forum[/url]):

If I Should Fall From Grace With God
Greenland Whale Fisheries
Rock n Roll Paddy
Back in the County Hell
Road to Paradise
Dirty Old Town
Popes Instrumental
Pair of Brown Eyes
Body of an American
Sally MacLennane
Broad Majestic Shannon
Sick Bed of Cuchulainn
Irish Rover
Rainy Night in Soho
Fairytale of New York (with Cait)
Bottle of Smoke

Correct me if i'm wrong, but I believe, since the show was through celtic Connections, they had a guest fiddler, from Glasgow? (This bastard here can't confirm if it was a fiddle or not :P )

Anyway, the guest musician (on certain songs) was a young woman named Laura McGee (might not be spelled this way?). Lucky lass has the name surname as me! :lol:

sounds good, did they have a fiddler?

Unfortunately, I can't yet comment on the booze! :P

However, i'm with you there, that the Barrowlands is a great venue, my top venue in Glasgow. The idea of the Carling Academy taking its place makes me wanna puke.

Errrr.....back to the point! :D

The show was full of energy, and Shane is a great performer. . Standing 2 or 3 feet away from him...lucky bastard I was! :D

Awww, I attended Shane's Celtic Connection gig at Barrowlands last year.
Such memories, that gig is only second to The Pogues reunion gig.

I love that town.. and The Barrowlands is the best venue I know of.
Do they still serve those delicious McEwans draught?

'Fraid not, but I remember some of the songs anyway. It was a top show. My first experience of Shane and co. in concert, and it's one i'll not soon forget.

If I Should Fall From Grace With God
Sally MacLennane
Rock 'n' Roll Paddy
A Pair Of Brown Eyes
The Body Of An American
Sick Bed Of Cuchulainn
Streams Of Whiskey
Dirty Old Town
Irish Rover (would have been the last song before the encore)
Rainy Night In Soho
Fairytale Of New York

That's all I can recall.

I wasn't too familiar with much of the Popes' material, apart from that on [i]The Crock of Gold[/i].

The band were great, though, as was the atmosphere. Shane's casual timing only raised the suspense. The band didn't hit the stage 'till about 11pm, but it was well worth the wait! Fantastic show!

Has anyone got the set list from the gig at the Barrowlands last night? Unfortunately the drink effected my memory of what order things were in! Brilliant gig though, really really good!