Brixton: a personal view (and appeal for NY ticket!)

[sentinel]

I travelled up for the Brixton gig on 22 December with some degree of trepidation and a feeling that I was going to be disappointed. I'd seen the band several times in the 90s, but only twice with Shane. On one of those occasions he had only done a couple of songs then disappeared for the rest of the gig; the second time it was me who was the worse for wear (oh c'mon we've all done it!). Subsequently I saw them twice with Joe Strummer (which was excellent). Then once at the end with several band members missing - the music was still good but it just wasn't the same, and the boos from some of the audience said as much.
Of course their music lived on for me through my music collection and occasionally I would look at a website and see what shane and the popes had been up to. So, when the Brixton gigs were arranged for xmas I jumped at the chance to see the Pogues again and was curious to see how they would sound.
I don't mind admitting that some way into the gig I had tears in my eyes to see the guys whose music had meant so much to me, back, together, but not just going through the motions in a trip down memory lane ending at the bank, but in excellent form and seemingly enjoying it too. There is no doubt that each member of the band is a talented musician in their own right, and yes when Shane left they continued to produce some good music, but with Shane they are complete and a force to be reckoned with.
So please guys, keep it going. Your music means an awful lot to a whole lot of people, and it's clear that it is reaching a new and enthusiastic audience too.
So, I wasn't disappointed in the end. My only disappointment was missing out on tickets for New York as I'd have been there. My friends tell me that I can probably get tickets outside the venue but it's a hell of a long way to go from the UK to find out! (if anyone has any advice on this I would be interested to hear it).
Anyway, enjoy the gigs in the US. You've got a treat in store!

[Guest]

fantastic post. lots of tears of joy in brixton - including mine. god bless the pogues.