Manchester Underperformance !

**Sun Dec 17, 2006 7:56 pm**

thought the band were fantatic last night, having to change structures and tempo's in different songs in different points and managing to keep it together wasnt the easiest of tasks

shane nailed the ballads, but seemed to be singing the other songs at his own tempo regardless of the band which obviously caused some problems, higlight for me would be kitty, but overall i was quiet dissappointed with his performance, not the bands

**Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:47 pm**

After watching the gig at Birmingham on Wednesday when Shane looked focussed and the band were on top form, I travalled up to Manchester last night expecting much the same, unfortunately from the moment that Shane finally made it on stage it turned out to be one of the worst performances I have seen in 20 years of watching The Pogues.
Whether this was down to me building up my expectations after Wednesday or the sad passing of Tommy (god bless you) I don't know, but alot of people paid alot of money and gave up alot of time to watch last nights performace,
Hopefully the reviews will pick up for the rest of the tour and normal service will be resumed shortly for the sake on both the group and the fans,
Finally it was great to meet all you Medusans at Birmingham and Manchester and a big thanks to wwfc pogue for sorting my back stage pass at Birmingham on Wednesday.

**Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:52 pm**

wolvespogue wrote:.... I don't know, but alot of people paid alot of money and gave up alot of time to watch last nights performace,
Hopefully the reviews will pick up for the rest of the tour and normal service will be resumed shortly for the sake on both the group ....

Don't like your tone. Go see a boy band with backing tapes.

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 12:31 am**

Gotta admt I left the gig wondering if it'd be the last year it happens (I REALLY hope it isn't), Shane didn't look well at all. To be fair though, I hadn't seen the news of his friend passing. Maybe this had an impact. I still enjoyed the show though. I'm not trying to be negative! I'm just relaying my thoughts. Dirty Old Town was belted out loud and clear.

The band were of course, fantastic. It really is a treat to see these guys in person.

Long live Shane, I hope he can somehow regain focus and I genuinely hope he is a happy person, and if he isn't, really hope he can be. I so hope I can attend in 2007 and be treated to a performance to blow me, and the M.E.N arena, away.

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:22 am**

jericho64 wrote: I so hope I can attend in 2007 and be treated to a performance to blow me...

I think you might be asking a little too much there, Jericho. Just hoping for another year is about as much as we can do, and I think that's reasonable.

:wink:

Lets just ask for favorable conditions.

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 8:13 am**

just been reading the posts in this thread. i was at the manchester gig last year and thought that was better than this year. this was mainly due to the sound problems and shane's under par performance. i thought he completely messed up A Pair of Brown Eyes. or was it me ?
Having said that, I still had a fantastic night and thoroghly enjoyed myself.
I would rather go to see the Pogues on an off night than most other bands. People who I spoke to on the train going home also said it was a great atmosphere.
roll on next year.

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:41 am**

Well, here are my two cents:

During the first two songs I thought that this might turn into a mess - but only concerning Shane. The rest ( those that weren't missing at the beginning ) performed perfectly imho from the first note of Streams of Whiskey to the last chord of Fiesta. In fact I do think that Shane's problems show the strength of the rest of the band: Being able to rescue songs that Shane is about to ruin seems to be real hard work.

But imho Shane got better and better, having his highlights with Kitty and Auld Triangle. I have to admit they never were my favourits on "RRfM", but the live performance was amazing. Brilliant. The other highlights were 1000s and Tuesday Morning. BTW - My wife was quite impressed by the "elegant and obviously well-groomed hands" of our favourite whistle player.

When Mr. Chevron dedicated "1000s" to Tom McManamon I thought that this might be an explanation for Shane being not in top form during the first songs. Sad indeed.

But it was nonetheless a really good show. Thanks, Pogues. Until next year I hope!

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:30 pm**

how was shane under par? what did he do to warrant a poor performance? he stood there singing what els could he do?

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:05 pm**

Shane's performances are never under par. It always seems he becomes more focused as the show goes on. When I saw them in Atlantic City, it seemed he just got better as the night when.

Iain

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:28 pm**

if the Pogues play the hollow MEN ARENA next year me and plenty of others will vote with our feet if they can play 3 nights in London they could do a couple of nights at the Apollo/Academy for U2/RHCP etc the bigger venues suit but not Shano you can only milk the cash cow so many times

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 4:51 pm**

must come in again on this ,the pogues where as always ,a great live band ,shane was well below par ,and i still maintain that ,with any board such comments do rub some members up the wrong way .ive followed the bhoys and shaneo for all their careers always will ,i have given the bhoys all my support and following all this time ,but saturday ,shane was not too good .i will continue to follow the pogues till i die , i guess we all will ,but sometimes the truth as to be told .i didnt staret this thread ,but felt i needed to put my two cents in .shane is still a ledgend to me ,always will be

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:09 pm**

Eric V wrote:
wolvespogue wrote:.... I don't know, but alot of people paid alot of money and gave up alot of time to watch last nights performace,
Hopefully the reviews will pick up for the rest of the tour and normal service will be resumed shortly for the sake on both the group ....

Don't like your tone. Go see a boy band with backing tapes.

Eric I am sorry if my comments have upset you or offended you in any way, All I was doing was giving my honest view on how the gig went on Saturday, Believe me The Pogues are my all time favorite group and I have been watching them now for 20 years and unfortunately Saturday was a big disappointment to me, all the best and happy christmas wolvespogue,

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:46 pm**

Oi understand different people have different views and expectations from the Pogues and Shane.
Oi have to express me feelings about this cause oi think somewhere between loines is the very wrong interpretation of Oirish punk rock music!!!
Me reaction is very emotional cause oi had very bad personal experience with people who saw one band as bunch of people playing good and thats all - trust me nothing is further from the truth and me attempts of gathering good crew is Serbia is an obvious example.

Eric gave noice comparison in a way, TIS VERY WRONG to expect Shane, Pogues(or anyone else playing what oi consider to be IRISH PUNK, humbly oid put meself in this category as well) to play loike on tape every toime, to have voice loike a dove or sth, to be a boy band, posing on stage, to hear what ya hear at home on CD... oi struggled against similar views during attempts of gathering me own crew and oi know how very insulting these expectations can be! If ya loike Oirish punk bands loike The Pogues, then ya must see the broader picture!!!

One band, loive performance... greatness is not just beats and woires!
People who want to hear sound perfection every toime should think about
what they're really into, the main question is what Pogues and Shane mean to you? is it just bunch of sounds, beats, woires, voice that you expect to hear? or is it more, is it much woider, loife philosophy, attitude, expression, atmoshpere, special message?
oi know what me answer is. And trust me oi met dozens people thinking that just playing sounds good makes one Oirish band great - NO.

Oim sure if Shaneo reads this and he probably does, he can't be happy with many goiven comments about hes performance.. Hem and Pogues don't deserve this!

Oirish punk ain't boys band, don't expect it to be that!

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:45 pm**

The mans mate has just passed away, put it into perspective- if one of your good mates died would your performance at work be 100%? I know mine certainly wouldn't and i couldn't face so many people.

First few songs weren't Shanes fault, he even said something along the lines of "turn the fucking mike up" .

Shane i still love ya

What ruined it for me was some lowlife thieving bastard at the front pinching my mates wallet................CUNT

**Mon Dec 18, 2006 7:46 pm**

nice post rover but..........youve never seen them ,we can ,and are entitled to an oppinion .we give the pogues our greatest attention everyday of our lives ,cause we love them ,critisism comes with praise .we know the pogues are human ,and can have off days ,such posts ,i hope will be taken in by phillip and put to good use !!.shane is a ledgend to us all ,but at this time ,needed to be told what our thoughts where ,he was below par .these threads are not slagging our bhoys off ,once a pogue fan ,always a pogues fan .iwill continue to be there no doubt

Manchester Underperformance !

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