Manchester Underperformance !

[IrishRover]

wwfcpogue,ya know better than anyone else why oi haven't been at pogues gigs..
ya also know oid be there at every gig if oi had a chance(oim victim of geography and well aware of the fact that not everyone is lucky enough to be born where pogues are usually performing)..
number oi toimes smn attented gigs doesn't goive roight to express opinion more than smn else, tis inner devotion that counts really; oi don't moind to see different opinions, oi just don't agree with judging the Pogues in the way expressed in previous posts, too harsh judgement if ya ask me

[Plastic Paddy]

I attempted to put my thoughts down on paper today after deliberation but it has turnied into a bit of a ramble. Apologies if you think it is shite:

Not really the best of weeks for me.

My Great Aunt died last week - she gets buried this week
My son had a consultant’s appointment last week - he has a procedure this week.
My car displayed an engine “get this sorted before I blow up” warning light last week - It goes to the garage this week.

All of these items do not make happy reading for me. Some were minor, but the common theme for them all was that that The Pogues gig at Manchester was sandwiched between the start and finish of them. The gig was to be a happy spot in a depressing period, especially after seeing the set lists from Glasgow and Birmingham. One of my lasting regrets is that I never saw them play during the Red Roses era, my first live encounter being whilst on the If I should Fall tour. Kitty, Streams of Whiskey, Auld triangle and either Poor Paddy or Waxies Dargle all on the same set list this year? Phew.

We travelled up in our other car (having a super pub lunch on the way in Macclesfield), got lost on Portland Street and eventually found the hotel by 4pm. Whilst waiting for my mate to come up from London, we settled into our small (cosy?) room and got ready.

We eventually headed out at 5pm, and after a quick pit stop at McDonalds for my mate, headed off to find a pub. This was our first mistake. None of us has an in depth knowledge of Manchester. We never got to find Mulligans and never got to meet other Medusans, another year gone without putting faces to names. We wandered around for a bit getting closer and closer to the arena and stumbled on Waxy O’Conners – a pub we went into last year and, although it is perhaps not the best pub in the world, we knew we would get a good evening off to a decent start with a bit of Irish music and a pint of Guinness. Unfortunately the management at Waxys had misinterpreted the “How to run a pub” guide and had employed 2 bar staff to satisfy the 3 deep bar scrum rather than the 4-6 that may have been required. 2 pints later we gave up and went outside and wandered around in the light drizzle.

My wife and mate, being Saw Doctors fans, escorted me into the Arena for 7pm. 2 pints and three tee shirt purchases later we repaired to the standing area and enjoyed an excellent gig by Galway’s finest. “Green and Red of Mayo”, “N17” and “Hay Wrap” were superb whilst the boys genuinely seemed to be touched that so many Pogues fans had been bothered to attend. Whilst the arena was barely 1/3 full at the beginning of the set, by the end I would estimate that ¾ was full with the majority enjoying the atmosphere. By and large the guys seemed to perform the warm up job excellently, the only downside was that the roaming barmen did not have enough beer to satisfy the thirst of the assembled throng.

Between sets, the 10 deep mass at the bar elbowed, nudged and swore until they had got their beer. This time there seemed to be enough bar people behind the partition but it appeared that only 3 knew what to do.

The Pogues came on but immediately the first song seemed to sum up the evening for the faster songs. The music was excellent, the team seemed to put more energy than usual into the songs but where they were energetic, Shane seemed lethargic at best.

They did some belting songs. I can now die happy after hearing Kitty – yes, I did cry a bit. Dirty old Town is always a winner in my book, and the band was superb with Young Ned, Tuesday Morning and Thousands. The Auld triangle was hauntingly tremendous – to me the winner, which in a set that includes Kitty is a personal accolade I never thought I would admit to. The fact that the lads did not do Poor Paddy or the Dargle is perhaps telling. The synchronising of music and lyric was the problem, never quite meeting on the faster songs (and I class anything faster than Fairytale as fast.)

Towards the end, the assembled throng around me were beginning to mumble their frustrations. I worry about the first timers at Manchester. My friend won’t be back - more fool him I say but understand that people like him won’t want to see performances like that. The last two years were excellent and to judge the band on last weekend would be unjust. Some, like me and I suspect all of the medusa fora, will always return, but the majority of the crowd would and could not be criticised if they decided to spend their money on an extra Playstation 3 game next year.

Leaving after Fiesta was a subdued ceremony. There was no usual celebratory atmosphere that may be put down to the performance, just sadness and despondency.

My last worry is that the band seemed not to enjoy the evening either. To consider yourself a professional and turn out a collective performance like that must be frustrating and it showed with the band members. Spider seemed on the verge of slapping someone by the end of the night and Andrew did not bother to wait for the drums to finish reverberating before he left the stage.

I paint a bleaker picture than perhaps I should. The band did Kitty and some other older classics not touched in a while and I’m led to believe that other shows this Christmas have been tremendous. This part of my week was not the worst part, seeing a coffin in a church is not a pleasant experience especially at Christmas. Even though the gig was not as good as expected, its still a lot better than watching soon-to-be-forgotten Karaoke X factor or cricketers dancing, and next year, the gig will be the best ever.

[Paul]

Just get on with it. I thought it was a great gig, band were fantastic and a great crowd. Thanks for turning up in what must have been hard times for the band.

At least he never did a Ronnie.

[Guest]

the only thing that spoilt the gig for me was the sound,or lack of it.for £32 in what is supposed to be a 1st class concert venue,the m.e.n sound and mixing people should be ashamed of themselves.you could hardly hear shanes vocals where i was sat.seen the pogues twice now at the m.e.n and twice at the apollo,definetly the apollo is better suited to the pogues.ah well rant over.on a happier note ,me and my mate went in Corbierres in st annes square what a result ,easy to get served,fantastic jukebox,and the best looking girl ive seen in ages.great pub.
merry xmas.
steve.

[CraigBatty]

...All of these items do not make happy reading for me. Some were minor, but the common theme for them all was that that The Pogues gig at Manchester was sandwiched between the start and finish of them. The gig was to be a happy spot in a depressing period...

My condolences for the loss of your great-aunt.
I hope that your son is OK, and that the procedure goes well.

[Pyro]

Irish Rover: Yes, punk rock isn´t all about playing all the same - I agree here. But - it needs some energy. I´ve seen some Pogues videos (from 91 to reunions, and what I will say applies to many Popes gigs too) - it seems to me like the band is getting better and better (that 91 last gig in Japan - Young ned of the Hill is SO great, as well as Thousands etc.), while Shane gets worse and worse - I don´t mean he sometimes misses a note, or starts a little late, I mean he is mumbling, not singing, and it lacks energy.

I am fairly sure that thousands of Shane´s fans will be sailing to kill me now, but I think I just say truth - and if someone doesn´t want to see it, it´s his choice.

[Niall]

i enjoyed saturdays gig regardless of the problems that there were. also, it was great to meet all the medusans in mulligans. see some of you guys on thursday

[DaveG]

i enjoyed saturdays gig regardless of the problems that there were. also, it was great to meet all the medusans in mulligans. see some of you guys on thursday

I got waylaid in the German market, think I am addicted to gluhwein. Before we knew it, it was 8pm. Maybe next year!

[Hamlad]

I enjoyed the gig on Saturday, I thought like most that the first three songs
did'nt go well but from then it picked up, the band were excellent and Dirty Old Town brought the house down, My lasting memory is watching from the top of the seats as the whole arena went crazy at the end during Fiesta.

I am a bit dissapointed though that it seems to be the worst performance
of the tour in front of the biggest crowd.

Will I be back next year - try and stop me!!

[whistle player]

I think it's only fair to point out that we had only just heard that Tom had died and Shane in particular, was hit vey hard by the news. Again, not an excuse but a reason.

God Bless you Tom, rest in peace.

Spider

[IrishRover]

while Shane gets worse and worse - I don´t mean he sometimes misses a note, or starts a little late, I mean he is mumbling, not singing, and it lacks energy.

well oi loike Shane even more for that koind of expression - lack of clear singing ain't disadvantage for Oirish punk rock
oi understand what ya and others who expressed similar views expect to hear.. for me its much more, oi think oi could never say sth loike that

Spider, oi agree with ya! Band people aren't machines and should not be considered as bunch of instrument players expected to play the same and perfect every toime they get on stage.
Personal feelings influence stage performance, thats normal, thats good, natural.. and beeing honest thats the punk rock way! Oi loike better to see less "performance" and more honesty, better is essence than pretending although yar not feelin' ok or whatever is in question.
God bless Tom! RIP

[browneye]

Can't believe all the petty moaning about the gig, sure Shane seemed to have problems keeping up with the fast songs and it took him three songs to get into his stride but get a grip, some would say it's a fucking miracle he's stood there at all. The wife and I had a great time, a Pogues gig is about so much more than a perfect note being heard.

Regards

Browneye.

[DownInTheGround]

I think it's only fair to point out that we had only just heard that Tom had died and Shane in particular, was hit vey hard by the news. Again, not an excuse but a reason.

God Bless you Tom, rest in peace.

Spider

Just curious did cancelling ever cross anyones mind. i can understand why such a loss effected your perfomance, and i am sure if the rest of the crowd had heard the news the reviews would be far more mympathetic

ripx

[dawsonn]

Irish Rover: Yes, punk rock isn´t all about playing all the same - I agree here. But - it needs some energy. I´ve seen some Pogues videos (from 91 to reunions, and what I will say applies to many Popes gigs too) - it seems to me like the band is getting better and better (that 91 last gig in Japan - Young ned of the Hill is SO great, as well as Thousands etc.), while Shane gets worse and worse - I don´t mean he sometimes misses a note, or starts a little late, I mean he is mumbling, not singing, and it lacks energy.

I am fairly sure that thousands of Shane´s fans will be sailing to kill me now, but I think I just say truth - and if someone doesn´t want to see it, it´s his choice.

Its not that hes getting worse and worse. It all depends on how pissed he is and how much effort he decides to put into the performance. I think on saturday he was more pissed than usual or tired and thus didnt put as much effort into the performance. I was equally as pissed so I didnt really mind.

[Y MOCHYN DU]

I payed over £200 for the night inc hotel for 2 people more if you count the drinks t shirts etc....The band can put it down to a bad night but where does that me? out of pocket and pissed off...any chance of a refund? thought not