12 Things I Learned Last Night1. It's a tricky thing arranging to sell spare tickets via the interwebs. You can never quite know whether it will work out in real life. But the smile on someone's face when you do manage to meet and hand over the ticket they wanted is priceless. Hope you enjoyed the gig, mate. By the way, I still have one spare standing ticket for sale. Face value to anyone who wants it.
2. It's possible to arrive at Nandos, order and eat a meal, and get out again within approximately fifteen minutes. Even if you have to be taken up and down in possibly the world's slowest lift.
3. The O2 Arena is a big corporate soulless shed of a venue. But The Pogues can make it rock! (Even if you do still miss Brixton.)
4. The wheelchair access at the Arena is way better than at Brixton, and the viewing's better. And one of the nice girls there will bring you drinks at any point during the evening if you ask. Sadly you do have to pay for the drinks, but hey.
5. Frank Turner is even better live than I remember him. I need to see him again soon.
6. Young Ned Of The Hill should be an integral part of any Pogues gig, and Mr Woods needs to be persuaded of this.
7. Shane does a grand version of Thousands Are Sailing, but I really miss Mr C singing it.
8. You get a very good class of fake snow at the Arena, and plenty of it.
9. However hard I try, I can never remember a whole setlist unless I write it down at the time. Setlist please, anyone?
10. You can never leave a Pogues gig without overhearing someone on their mobile saying, "Shane MacGowan was totally out of it. He kept having to go off stage and other people had to sing." Even when Shane is on damn fine form, and even though part of the joy of the Pogues is that different band members sing different songs, for goodness' sake.
11. The strangest revelation of the night was that it turns out that
I am actually Fr McGreer's dad.
Well, you never quite know about these things, do you? But it was good to see my long-lost only son after all these years. And I suppose that makes me Grandfather McGreer.
12. The Pogues are the best band in the world. (Actually I knew that already.)
Thanks to the band for a truly great night. Happy Christmas.
Likes the warm feeling but is tired of all the dehydration.
) "OH MY GOD HE IS SOOO DRUNK!". Get back to your Kings of Leon gig, wench!
