What was your first Pogues gig?

[Mike from Boston]

was it Lash Lariatt & The Long Riders?

There's a blast from the past... I think I still have a LL&LR 10" stashed around here somewhere.

I first saw the Pogues in Boston in '91 I think... don't remember the venue. Shane was still in the band when I bought tickets, but by the time the show arrived it was Strummer. I was a bit torn, since I'd never seen either of them, but it turned out to be the only time I ever saw Joe play, so I guess I should consider it lucky.

Of course, it didn't matter much in the end, since like typical 19-year-olds my friends and I drank a half-case of Guinness and a bottle of Jameson, and I spent most of the show in the toilets heaving my guts out--I distinctly remember hearing 'London Calling' through the wall as I sat with my head against the porcelain... remember, kids, alcohol makes you cool!

That show was at the Orpheum Sep 30 1991. There is a link to the review on Medusa under Pogues in Print. Written by Jim Sullivan (who I just dissed in another post). Great show, pretty sure they did Straight to Hell, Brand New Cadillac and I Fought the Law, too.

""OK," said Pogues lead singer-guitarist Joe Strummer, midway through the band's sold-out set Saturday night at the Orpheum. "I'm deep inside the mind of Shane MacGowan right now." The Pogues etched out dark, disturbing chords, beginning "Turkish Song of the Damned." First line: "I come, old friend, from hell tonight."

link here: http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-7679500.html

[Joker]

My first Pogues gig was in Germany.It was 1991 and I was a kid.Spider was on the vocals.This time I felt in love with The Pogues.

[villajohn]

[quote][/quote]My first POGUES gig was at Digbeth Civic Hall in Birmingham in December 1984.I am edging near the 200 gig mark,which i would have achieved but for serious illness,injury and the band calling it a day in 1996 ,GIGBETH was a memorable night and there were plenty more to follow,but little did i know then......

[Marja]

Groningen,Oosterpoort,NL .DECEMBER 1995,a much revamped POGUES played a really great set.My friend remarked that the accordian player bore a striking resemblance to Charlie Sheen,which did not go own too well with him,when she spoke to him during the aftershow,James McNALLY, was that his name?Several of the band ,crew and several fans went to the local IRISH PUB O Ceaillghs for a great booze up,where it appeared that half the town seemed to be there.This went on all night,i sat on the lap of this crazy,but interesting English guy,who i later went out with for nearly 3 years,a memorable night in more ways then one,for sure!

[careybhoy]

For sure it was Rock City in Nottingham, 1986.My bro and I bought tickets from a tout outside and they turned out to be (very bad) forgeries! It was dark and we had a scoop or two! A fellow Pogues fan kindly sold us a couple of tickets he had spare at face.Great gig and we saw the tout out in the street after the show and chased him up the street! A few gigs later,sure it was 1987 at Brixton Academy (St Patrick's Day) we ran into the band in the pub nearly next door (Canterbury Arms) and couldn't believe our luck, remember taking my first blasts on the gob iron that day and now play a lot of Pogues numbers on guitar, bouzouki and stuff. Can honestly say that the Pogues changed my life, infinately for the better, thank you boys (and girls)!
Do messrs Chevron and Hunt still follow Forest when they can? Will be at Sheffield again on December 12th.The Dog and Partridge on Trippets Lane might be a good pre gig spot to gather as there will probably be a few musos there and dare say a few warm up Pogues songs will be recited! See ya there!

[philipchevron]

Yup. Our penance is infinite, me and Darryl.

[20 Year Fan]

saw them in 91' with Strummer in L.A. actually went to see Strummer & said, "hey this band is pretty frickin good". started listening to the MacGowan Pogues 4 years ago & just got back from driving 400+ miles round trip to see them @ the Wakefield in San Francisco. i don't know how rowdy the rest of their gigs are but SF was insane. 200-300 people slamming from start to finish. Shane was awesome, sounded awesome. The encore was unbelievable. A fellow fan even passed me a Beer & something else in the lobby before the show. Best concert i've ever seen, period. Can't wait to see them again.

[mevido]

27-11-1988, Essen, Germany. I will never forget it.

[texican]

1988. 'Twas the Dublin Christmas show at the Point Depot.

I also saw the guys in Cabridge with Joe S (requisat in pace) and later in Montreal.

Can't wait to see them in Dallas!!

[Paul_R]

Glasgow O2 Academy, 10th December 2009

[cagliostro]

I kept having near misses in the 80's with coming in town somewhere I was visiting, like say California, and picking up the local paper for what shows were playing and either finding out they had played the night before or would play the day after I would be leaving. One of my biggest regrets was not just staying an extra day.
In 2006, I heard the Pogues were playing nowhere nearby, but had recently been dumped by my cold-footed fiance, and decided by Christ I would finally see them. I came upon a short-term windfall (grandfather's properties sold off) and I figured I owed it to myself. I arranged to stay in Boston with a friend of my ex's, and bought the scalped ticket for $169. The flight cost something like $200+. Then stupidly I though the person I was staying with would enjoy my ex more than mopey ol' me, and so I invited her along, bought her ticket and we met out there. The entire time in Boston was pretty much listen to the two of them talk and feeling especially left out and crappy, but the Pogues show was just her and I. It was pretty much a saying goodbye for us. I held my shit together until one of the last songs, which was Rainy Night In Soho, and that song absolutely destroyed me. It was definitely the best version I had ever heard of that song as well.
We had been together and saw Shane and the Popes in Colorado when they swung around a bit after Kirsty's death, and it was incredible the difference between the two, which really goes without saying.

[Guest]

My first live encounter with the Pogues was the Bizarre Festival at Loreley (St. Goarshausen, Germany) in 1989. Originally, INXS was supposed to be the headlinder act, but they had to cancel their appearance, because their drummer had broken his arm. So the Pogues became top of the list.

It was a wonderful gig. Extraordinarily brilliant from the first to the last song. I remember the fans dancing Pogo to any of the songs, even "Dirty Old Town". Shane was in a great mood, just like the rest of the band. Well, they had lots of drinks on stage (right, Philip? ), but the music and atmosphere were both unbeatable.

I bought a shirt at this concert with the cover of the "If I Should Fall From Grace With God" album. I wore it intensely for more than 15 years until it was so washed out and torn that I finally had to say "goodbye" to it, which I still deeply regret.

[Clarrie Gimmett]

My first POGUES gig was at thE LORELEI,but i am sure that it was in 1988,i was studying at Freiburg at the time,i came over from OZ to do Philosophy,waste of time that was!But seeing SHANE and Co was for me, a big thrill,seen them quite a few times since,back home ,one great show,the other pants.I love THE POGUES.....

[PistolPaddyGarcia]

My first concert I have 14 years experience in Germany. Unfortunately, Shane this time, not more singers of the Pogues. to see play, but I was glad Joe Strummer with the Pogues together

[Talita]

Amsterdam, Dezembre 1995 at the Paradiso,a strange looking line up played a pretty good show.I reckon that most of the audience liked it also,as most of them got up on stage after the last encore!Somehow me and my friends ,all girls ended up backstage,apparently a guy handed us 'invites for an aftershow',we later discovered his name was Andy and he said he was The Pogues tour manager.We only stayed for a short time,backstage,but we met most of the band and again we met Andy,who put us on the guest list for Rotterdam ,the next concert.Only 2of us made it to Rotown,but that was an even better show,but no stage invasion!