The Medusa Fora

I should qualify my 'creatively dead' comment - obviously the band individually are all very competent musicians and have gone on to do very interesting projects, but lets face it, as a creative unit the band are totally finished. They are just rehearsing their back catalogue on the nostalgia circuit like a lot of bands do nowadays - and theres nothing wrong with that. Its great that they do what they do and still play, but lets not kid ourselves about where they are creatively.

I hope the band don't go too far down the enormodome route, as they risk doing a lot of damage to their brand. But anyway, I guess its their choice. I just can't face the prospect of overpriced bottles of carlsberg and over zealous stewards enforcing health and safety rules, i'd rather just get drunk in my local irish pub and put the pogues greatest hits on the jukebox. each to their own i guess.

As I've said before I am in support of "neilh" and after his last post its like we were seperated at birth ! We obviously both love the pogues but dont want the spirit forgotten or diluted. Somebody said at least the music recently had been spot on, but surely that was never the most important thing? Lets not forget the punk roots ! I dont want the pogues to be remembered as what they are now, because they where untouchable

neilh wrote:I should qualify my 'creatively dead' comment - obviously the band individually are all very competent musicians and have gone on to do very interesting projects, but lets face it, as a creative unit the band are totally finished. They are just rehearsing their back catalogue on the nostalgia circuit like a lot of bands do nowadays - and theres nothing wrong with that. Its great that they do what they do and still play, but lets not kid ourselves about where they are creatively.

I hope the band don't go too far down the enormodome route, as they risk doing a lot of damage to their brand. But anyway, I guess its their choice. I just can't face the prospect of overpriced bottles of carlsberg and over zealous stewards enforcing health and safety rules, i'd rather just get drunk in my local irish pub and put the pogues greatest hits on the jukebox. each to their own i guess.

Our......... brand?.......is all I'm gonna say about that.

So you pick up on "our brand" but thats probably how this bloke works day to day! You do get his meaning ? Me personally I'm factory fodder I dont use those phrases but I get it

Our......... brand?.......is all I'm gonna say about that.[/quote]

Thats the music business, i'm afraid, or rather my take on it. No different - when it comes down to it - to any other business. I'm just pointing out that there was something brilliant and authentic about the Brixton gigs that was severely absent from the Liverpool Echo Arena gig. People went and bought friends and whole new generations discovered the band, it happened to me, and I saw it with my own eyes with people I know over the past four years.

I'm just saying that I'm not sure that this process will transfer over to a sterilised enormodome environment, if my Liverpool Echo Arena experience was anything to go by it could indeed have the opposite effect. I'd like it to work, but I just don't think it will.

Look pal, there were people who thought the Pogues were selling out by upgrading from the Bull and Gate in Kentish Town Road, so when I see people questioning our "authenticity" I metaphorically reach for my gun. Authentic of what? Authentic of a shambolic bar band that became one of the finest groups in the world by ignoring everyone else's idea of what they "should" be doing?? Or was that another band?

Part of the reason for the stage invasion at the Dominion in 1985 was to remind us where we came from. We get it. We know people prefer more intimate venues but it's not always possible and in this case Brixton was unable to offer consecutive nights. But in the end, we're just a band and we just play in venues, some of which are more attractive than others. The Pogues are one of the few bands in the the world who can turn your living room into London and London into your living room, it's just not a big fucken deal. What makes a great gig is a great band with a great repertoire who are also blessed to have one of the best audiences in the world.

All the same, don't think I'm not grateful for your advice.

Mr chevron I see your point but unfortaneately you did say earlier you no longer wanted to haul your sorry asses around a frozen UK. But as a 50 plus year old i do for a variety of bands and pay for the privilage! Anyway I hope all enjoy really, Merry pougemass I know its early but soon be Paddys day and maybe things could change

Guest wrote:Mr chevron I see your point but unfortaneately you did say earlier you no longer wanted to haul your sorry asses around a frozen UK. But as a 50 plus year old i do for a variety of bands and pay for the privilage! Anyway I hope all enjoy really, Merry pougemass I know its early but soon be Paddys day and maybe things could change

Actually, it was Spider who said that but I think you'll find he was not entirely serious.

Sorry Mr Chevron for the misqoute fair enough I'd go New orleons me self Enjoy no hurt meant Love the bones of the boys

Mr.C , cos I love you all so very dearly , I will also be in attendance on the 20th in London ! Still euphoric after Paris , wild horses couldn't stop me !!! Now, lets just see if I can reclaim the rail as my own !!

Fair enough and good luck. I'm sure it'll be a great night for a lot of people, but I suppose that personally I'm just going to draw the line and not go. It's not a protest about authenticity or selling out or anything else, as you probably can tell I don't really have those kinds of beliefs about the music business. All I'm saying is that i'd rather have really good memories of brilliant shows over the past few years that have had a huge influence on my life, I guess its just a personal preference or something. And as I also said, I don't mean any disrespect to you and the band by these comments, the kind of venues that you play is entirely your prerogative.

I have never seen the value of predicting something will be bad before I experience it. There's only two possible outcomes. Either it surprises you by being good or you have the smug satisfaction of saying, 'see I told you so,' which isn't that satisfying when you think about it.

carmens827 wrote:Mr.C , cos I love you all so very dearly , I will also be in attendance on the 20th in London ! Still euphoric after Paris , wild horses couldn't stop me !!! Now, lets just see if I can reclaim the rail as my own !!

If not, we'll build you a special rail. P x

First ever gig for me. No expectations, just making sure I dont keel over with excitement between now and Dec 20th. All very innocent really.

Luimneach Cailin wrote:First ever gig for me. No expectations, just making sure I dont keel over with excitement between now and Dec 20th. All very innocent really.

First ever gig, or first ever Pogues gig?