DATES: September - October, 2010 (with new band included!)

[PaulMcC]

I was at last night's show. I'll post a review later. In the meantime, I've posted all the video footage I took on You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=661Gb3_871Q

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nKuX_GBaMg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_AoECGyqHc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MklHhFpvBmk

[James]

Great Paul! Love that Louie Louie.

[PaulMcC]

Shane MacGowan & Friends, The Summit Inn, Howth, 17th September 2010.

Setlist

1. Sally MacLennane
2. I’ll Be Your Handbag
3. If I Should Fall….
4. That Woman’s Got Me Drinking
5. Sunnyside Of The Street
6. Brand New Cadillac
7. Rainy Night In Soho
8. Church Of The Holy Spook
9. Victoria
10. A Pair Of Brown Eyes
11. London Girl
12. White City
13. Her Father Didn’t Like Me Anyway
14. Cracklin’ Rosie
15. Louie Louie
16. The Irish Rover
17. Dirty Old Town

I persuaded a security man to photograph the set-list for me before Shane, and his new band, came on. “Fucking great”, I thought to myself. There were a few crowd pleasers for the ‘neutrals’ in the audience, a few songs I hadn’t heard Shane sing live in years, and some covers.
I knew from their reputation, and some internet research, the band had pedigree. For instance, the bass player (Jack Dublin) and drummer (Paul Byrne) both played with 1980’s band ‘InTua Nua’.

Shortly after 11pm the band, followed by Joey and Shane, took to the small stage. The venue, a nightclub with a capacity of maybe 300 people, was almost full. Shane, wearing a full length coat and sunglasses, went over to his microphone. He shook hands with some people at the front of the crowd and launched into ‘Sally MacLennane’. For some reason, there was no microphone set up for Joey to play whistle. I also noticed that the now customary fan (the air-blowing kind) at Shane’s feet was absent. There was also no resting place for the two pint glasses of water he was carrying. The second song was a great version of ‘I’ll Be Your Handbag”. Okay, there were a few lyrical hiccups but Shane’s vocals were powerful and energetic. During the 3rd song , ‘If I Should Fall’, problems arose. Shane, for whatever reason, couldn’t find the right key for the song or judge his cues. I heard him passing a remark, off microphone, at the end of the song that he had a problem with the key.

Shane had difficulties with cues, keys, and lyrics, throughout the rest of the set. In saying that, when everything came together like ‘Her Father Didn’t Like Me’, ‘That Woman’s Got Me Drinking’, and ‘Dirty Old Town’, it was great. I particularly enjoyed ‘Her Father Didn’t Like Me’. Shane sang the line “Her father was a right c**t anyway” with real venom. I got the impression that Shane hadn’t rehearsed with the band as often as he should have. The musicians had clearly learned the material and I thought they were pretty tight. The sound is far more stripped down than The Pogues. This lent itself to songs like ‘Louie, Louie’ and ‘Handbag’ in particular. From my vantage point, I could hardly hear Sarge on keyboards. On the occasions I could, it was a welcome addition.

Unusually, Shane remained onstage for the whole set. ‘Cracklin’ Rosie’ was listed as the final number but they continued through to the encores without a break.

For the benefit of casual fans, and ambulance chasers, Shane was by no stretch of the imagination fucked up, out of it, or any other description you may care to use. He drank very little and wasn’t smoking at all. I make this point because, in my opinion, the ropey parts of Shane’s performance were down to his reluctance to rehearse than substance abuse.

[Simon]

Shane MacGowan & Friends, The Summit Inn, Howth, 17th September 2010.

Setlist

1. Sally MacLennane
2. I’ll Be Your Handbag
3. If I Should Fall….
4. That Woman’s Got Me Drinking
5. Sunnyside Of The Street
6. Brand New Cadillac
7. Rainy Night In Soho
8. Church Of The Holy Spook
9. Victoria
10. A Pair Of Brown Eyes
11. London Girl
12. White City
13. Her Father Didn’t Like Me Anyway
14. Cracklin’ Rosie
15. Louie Louie
16. The Irish Rover
17. Dirty Old Town

Amazing setlist Love those songs from the snake cd

[PaulMcC]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEwo2VjTTZk

Someone else posted this excellent clip from Howth.

[Fr. McGreer]

Shane MacGowan & Friends, The Summit Inn, Howth, 17th September 2010.

Great review Paul! Maybe some of the hicups will have been ironed out for thursday's gig. Then again maybe not

Great setlist, i can't wait till thursday now! Last time i heard him sing Cracklin' Rosie was March '94 in The Grand in Clapham, London. 1st major gig with The Popes.

[mats]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEwo2VjTTZk

Someone else posted this excellent clip from Howth.

Thanks for the link Paul, hope you had a great time. The same guy also posted some photos on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6IgqtJ5 ... re=channel

[rumsodomyandthelash]

Thanks for a great review, this sounds brilliant, hopefully there will be new stuff and maybe a few gigs in England

[PaulMcC]

Shane MacGowan & Friends, The Summit Inn, Howth, 17th September 2010.

Great review Paul! Maybe some of the hicups will have been ironed out for thursday's gig. Then again maybe not

Great setlist, i can't wait till thursday now! Last time i heard him sing Cracklin' Rosie was March '94 in The Grand in Clapham, London. 1st major gig with The Popes.

Yeah, I hope so too. I'm seriously contemplating going on Thursday. The high spots of Friday night, "Her Father", "Louie, Louie", and "Handbag" are tempting me to invest another few quid into my 25 year study into the work of Shane MacGowan!

[James]

You're doing the Lord's work, Paul.

[PaulMcC]

You're doing the Lord's work, Paul.

Yes, it's either that or I should have been despatched to the funny farm years ago!

By the way, I just remembered something. Shane & the Popes opened their first show (12th July 1993) with 'Sally MacLennane'. I wonder is that some class of omen?

I nearly missed their set that day. When I arrived in Tramore I couldn't get a running order for the different stages from anyone. One of the festival crew reassured me that Shane & the Popes would be on in the evening. Armed with that info I headed off in search of inebriation and music. I was in a tent listening to Soldat Louis performing when I heard the start of 'Sally Mac'. Upon realising it was a live version I legged it to the Main Stage where Shane & the Popes were playing.

[Fr. McGreer]

Shane MacGowan & Friends, The Summit Inn, Howth, 17th September 2010.

Great review Paul! Maybe some of the hicups will have been ironed out for thursday's gig. Then again maybe not

Great setlist, i can't wait till thursday now! Last time i heard him sing Cracklin' Rosie was March '94 in The Grand in Clapham, London. 1st major gig with The Popes.

Yeah, I hope so too. I'm seriously contemplating going on Thursday. The high spots of Friday night, "Her Father", "Louie, Louie", and "Handbag" are tempting me to invest another few quid into my 25 year study into the work of Shane MacGowan!

To really excel in any subject you care to mention, it's ALWAYS important to do thorough research See you there for a pint so?

[PaulMcC]

Shane MacGowan & Friends, The Summit Inn, Howth, 17th September 2010.

Great review Paul! Maybe some of the hicups will have been ironed out for thursday's gig. Then again maybe not

Great setlist, i can't wait till thursday now! Last time i heard him sing Cracklin' Rosie was March '94 in The Grand in Clapham, London. 1st major gig with The Popes.

Yeah, I hope so too. I'm seriously contemplating going on Thursday. The high spots of Friday night, "Her Father", "Louie, Louie", and "Handbag" are tempting me to invest another few quid into my 25 year study into the work of Shane MacGowan!

To really excel in any subject you care to mention, it's ALWAYS important to do thorough research See you there for a pint so?

Yes, I'd like that. If you want to PM me we can arrange something?

I heard, not via any source connected to Shane, that the 250 tickets haven't been sold yet. Perhaps the number of competing Arthur's day gigs, the ticket price for this show, and the fact that many Pogueaholics would have shelled out for their Christmas Tour tickets have affected sales.

[PaulMcC]

http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/navan ... by-mcgowan

'The Meath Chronicle' newspaper reports that Shane didn't make his scheduled appearance with Ms. Shannon last Saturday night. Seemingly, he cancelled at short notice.

[PaulMcC]

I'll post a review when I get a chance. In the meantime, I posted some footage on You Tube. Sorry for the quality. I went for lower definition and longer clips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3NSMBnPk5g

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU8e5qaxxMY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HupXXEE6W8s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_41wmBmAM1c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sw0Z78Y7Y5s