The Medusa Fora

Ok here it is my report ( opinions) from the Spider Stacy and the Filthy Thieving Bastards show !
The venue was a trip Cafe Du Nord on market street in San Francisco a Tiny place below the Swedish American Hall was at one time a speakeasy during the prohibition era the stage was tiny the sound was loud and the warm up acts where ok the Groovie ghoulies where pretty good they did a great version of “a new england” I believe its a Billy Bragg tune however the version by Kirsty is the best I’ve heard.

The first band up was ” the Rock _n _roll adventure kids” a three piece band that was more on the silly side for my taste.
Btween sets Cafe Du Nord also features a back room peep show for a buck (I missed that) and a couple of Hefty go-go dancers positioned in two spots 'twas very cool to see some real women being fun and sexy and not an ounce of silicone anywhere to be found. Although, the cellulite was very much in attendance. As for the thieving bastards they went on after midnight. (At the end of the set yours truely began screaming and calling them "the fucking filthy thieving bastards" to coax them out for an encore !) It did seem to give Spider a chuckle being called a fucking filthy thieving bastard maybe I touched a nerve? Spider was in great shape and form all around and a great showman sustaining a stage presence that of a veteran.

I didn’t grab a set list but if they played 15 songs 10 where pogues tunes. As I told Spider "This might be the closest I’ll get to seeing or hearing the pogues live here in the USA", So, I must say, I was very satisfied. It was fucking brilliant, Spider is ACES ! here are a few of the songs (not in order) the ones I can remember at the moment.

A pair of Brown Eyes, Boys from the county hell, Sally Mac, (the irish classic ) Dirty old town ~g~ Jessie James, Waxies Dargle, Irish Rover, Sick bed of Cuchulainn, Transmetropolitan, Greenland whale fisheries,...............

The sound was pretty good for a small joint but the whistle was difficult to hear at times, the vocals where washed out in a few spots but, that being said all and all it was comparable to a Great Popes show with Shane. I met some great people including Spider and his lady and they where both the sweetest people I could ever want to meet. Spider signed my copy of "The Lost Decade" and introduced me to a friend of his "Rudy" anothr really nice guy who from what I gathered from the conversation was a close friend to Joe.
I also met the guitarist from the Irish Band The HOOKS and his lovely girl friend, he told me that The HOOKS have opened for the POPES ( I'm not sure with or without shane) I will be in contact with him about future shows.

I have a few photos that I can e-mail they are a bit grainy due to low lighting and I have a couple taken with Spider after the show up stairs at the Swedish American Club. Spider told me that the Pogues will be doing another Christmas tour again in 2005 in the UK and Ireland as for the U.S. when I asked he said, "you never know"

All in all it was a very memorable event They are playing again In Fairfax, CA this thursday April 7 GO !! I would be there in a flash if I was not going camping in Big Sur for the next week If you get a chance to see Spider and the Bastards GO! and tell em Hank sent ya.
And Thanks to the list for the heads up on this gig after all what are friends for!