Sitting down Pogues gig

[Guest]

What would people think to an all seated Pogues gig at somewhere like Liverpool Philharmonic or Bham Symphony Hall? Would you go to it? Or would it lose the atmosphere of having a mosh pit, beer throwing, etc. These are the kinds of venues The Dubs, Christy Moore plays and perhaps allow fans to truly sit and appreciate the music rather than being knocked about all over the place? Or is a seated venue simply not in the spirit of the band?

[Mick Molloy]

I don't even like the seated gigs of Christy and the Dubs. I want to sing and dance at a gig, whatever artist it is

[Clash Cadillac]

What would people think to an all seated Pogues gig at somewhere like Liverpool Philharmonic or Bham Symphony Hall? Would you go to it? Or would it lose the atmosphere of having a mosh pit, beer throwing, etc. These are the kinds of venues The Dubs, Christy Moore plays and perhaps allow fans to truly sit and appreciate the music rather than being knocked about all over the place? Or is a seated venue simply not in the spirit of the band?

The Boston shows at the Orpheum were all seated shows. It worked out nice for taking the kids, however the atmosphere was definitely a bit tamer than other venues I have been to and I do recall hearing someone say The Pogues would not be playing that venue again for this very reason.

[philipchevron]

As a general rule, we only play seated venues if there is no immediate alternative. We discovered quite early on in London - first at the Hammersmith Odeon (now the Apollo) and then at Wembley Arena that configurations in which the majority of our audience is obliged to sit or stay put either by bye-law or security whim, are inherently dangerous for the audience and, therefore, upsetting to us. We have come to learn that we know better than any Venue Security what we and our audience need, and no amount of nonsense from the Chief of Security about his 50 years' experience in the job counts for anything against the personal experience of the terrifying Wembley Crush 1988, especially as it was so soon followed by a real live football stadium disaster in which 96 people lost their lives and which was witnessed at first hand by two of The Pogues.

As mentioned above, the Boston Orpheum and its patrons tend to present an extremely low risk, but it is still a bit fucken weird to be watched by people standing in their seating areas.

[Jon]

I recall a show at the Birmingham NEC, may have been Grace Of God tour, (support by Fleadh Cowboys (or something) and featuring the Special Beat) where the seated venue was thoughtfully patrolled by overzealous security guards, especially at the front of stage where the 'dancing' takes place.
My mate was in the seated area and I was with a girlfriend in the 3rd row.
Somewhere near the end of the support, we arranged the seating plan and by the second Pogues song the security had obviously been told to stop throwing people out of the venue for giving ourselves room to dance. Cue a mexican wave of chair moving that I'd never seen the likes of before or since.

The only merit for a sit down Pogues show would be if the band were seated and playing their slower songs or different arrangements (as Bad Brains used to do)


Random thought - I saw the Dropkick Murphys playing in a Brisbane club, the inhouse security advised people to "Dance Safely"

[Southie777]

I have been to one Boston Pogues show each March the last three years... In '06, I went to one of the Orpheum ones and while I hated having to sit down, I was just so happy to be seeing The Pogues live for the first time that it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would... Then, in '07, they had shows at Avalon (general admission, standing up) and the Orpheum (sitting)... I jumped at the chance to see them at Avalon, so I could actually move around and get into the music... MUCH better experience... Then in '08, it was back to just the Orpheum, so I took what I could get... It is probably my favorite concert ever because they sounded SO good... Again, the whole sitting thing sucked, of course - but the band sounded so good that it didn't matter nearly as much as I thought it would... That said, I am very excited that it is at the HOB (the old Avalon) this year, so that we can move around and get into the music again... '08 was the best concert because the band (Shane included) were so tight... But '07 was the most fun because the atmosphere was so much better because people weren't forced to sit around on their hands... So, I already have my tix for this year and am fired up and hope to have the perfect combination of the band sounding great and the atmosphere of the crowd being able to get more into things...

[mickeyjoe]

My brother still reminds me to this day of an all seating pogues gig at the apollo in manchester in the mid to late 80's,again being run by excitable security,where the crowd in the lower section decided they did indeed prefer to stand and tried their level best to remove the seating themselves. Any memories Monsieur Chevron or is my brother spinning me fables as point scoring as i was too young to attend!???

[philipchevron]

My brother still reminds me to this day of an all seating pogues gig at the apollo in manchester in the mid to late 80's,again being run by excitable security,where the crowd in the lower section decided they did indeed prefer to stand and tried their level best to remove the seating themselves. Any memories Monsieur Chevron or is my brother spinning me fables as point scoring as i was too young to attend!???

That´s pretty much my recollection of it as well.

[Low D]

Frankly, i'm surprised most venues don't incoporate both sitting & standing better. I mean, is it too much to think some folks will want to dance like freakish idiots getting electroshock (sorry, maybe that's just my personal style) and some would prefer/need to sit?

I sprained my ankle badly when i was 18, and sat for my first time for a non-stadium gig (Concrete Blonde, at the Concert Hall aka Masonic Temple in Toronto, who have a large floor and a lovely 3-sided balcony with benches) and was amazed at the difference. Nowadays i generally split my wild dancing with some serious watching, and enjoy both greatly. But it's amazing how many venues can't sort it out.

[phro37]

i totally agree with everyone. half of the fun of live, high energy gigs resides in the chance encounters and comradery created when you're allowed to roam from one side of the room to the other. you get to meet more people and share more smiles.

[IrishRover]

no need foir em' chaoirs, us koids need space; but twoiuld be noice to see soimeoine oinventoin' boittle hoilders foir safely guardoin' the rare oild stuff duroin' the enthusoisastoic jumpoin' of the croiwd

[Joker]

Is there any chance to see The Pogues Unplugged?

[Zuzana]

Is there any chance to see The Pogues Unplugged?

Surely. Just cut all the cables in the venue...

[firehazard]

Is there any chance to see The Pogues Unplugged?

Surely. Just cut all the cables in the venue...

Just don't try blowing up the sound desk by throwing beer into it...

[Whiskey Tango]

Is there any chance to see The Pogues Unplugged?

Surely. Just cut all the cables in the venue...

Leave light cables alone or they will see nothing anyway