Washington Post review of DC gig

[Zuzana]

The Pogues
Saturday, March 11, 2006; Page C04
Christopher Porter

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Astooped, whiskey-bottle-toting Shane McGowan appeared to be 47 sheets to the wind when he took the stage with the reconstituted Pogues at the 9:30 club on Thursday. McGowan walked up to his mike, opened his toothless mouth and said, "Blargh garhde darlgzane argha." In fact, he pretty much said nothing comprehensible other than the slurred song titles he struggled to read from the set list posted at his feet.

McGowan's legendary bad habits are what made his band mates kick him out of the Pogues in 1991, but he's somehow still alive today -- if just barely. With his choppers gone, McGowan's jaw has the scrunched-up shape of a weathered accordion bellow, and his singing has morphed from rough-voiced crooning to mush-mouthed gargling. It was sad to watch this genius of song reduced to a shuffling fool (think Ozzy Osbourne), and it was awkward to witness how the audience roared at McGowan's every slug from the whiskey bottle and his every unintelligible utterance.

Even so, the more McGowan chugged, the better his singing became -- such dark irony. And as the nearly two-hour, 26-song concert progressed, the Pogues, too, played with more focus, energy and joy. Their punk-informed, trad-Irish ensemble sound still shoots sparks.

The capacity crowd likely couldn't have cared less that they were watching a ravaged human being perform; the chance to hear amazing McGowan songs such as "A Pair of Brown Eyes," "A Rainy Night in Soho" and "Old Main Drag" overrode any such concerns.

The highlight was, of course, "Fairytale of New York," one of the loveliest songs McGowan ever penned. Ella Finer, the daughter of Pogues banjoist and guitarist Jem Finer, crooned the female parts originally sung by Kirsty MacColl, and she more than held her own. With confetti "snow" falling down on them, Ella and McGowan joined together for an awkward dance during the song's concluding section. It was a sweet moment in an otherwise bittersweet concert.


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© 2006 The Washington Post Company

[CraigBatty]

That makes me cry inside. Go raibh míle maith agat, a Zuzana, le do phoist.

[dave 81]

That is a bit depressing reading that. Probably an accurate observation..........unless this guy was drunk too.

[Heather]

That is a bit depressing reading that. Probably an accurate observation..........unless this guy was drunk too.

I agree. Thanks Zuzana.

[rumsodomyandthelash]

Typical journalist view of Shane, i dont give a fuck what he says and i know Shane dont either
Shanes happy , the paying crowd are happy
Bollox to the papers

[Aineen]

Personally, I don't expect Shane to come bounding out like a 20 year old. Those of us who have followed Shane and the Pogues have a pretty good idea where they're at, so there shouldn't really be any surprises, should there??

[philipchevron]

I wish I could square this person's idea of Shane with the man who was happy and joking in our dressing room from 8 pm last night, who made me shed a tear (again) during FoNY, who claims he is "serialising" the lyrics of Sunnyside Of The Street on stage, who can balance full glasses of gin on his head after consuming several of same, who can conduct a two hour discourse on the relative merits, as to quality of tobacco and classiness of packaging, of now-defunct brands of Irish cigarettes and who can hold forth on Irish tailors between encores. I wish I could, but I can't.

Some people are "47 sheets to the wind", others just blow.

[Heather]

Bollox to the papers

Here Here

[Maija]

Nomatter if Shane never had a drink again that'd always come up. The media just loves reinforcing clichees.

who made me shed a tear (again) during FoNY

Saw that in London in '04 and that made me, a hardcore "I don't cry at concerts and demonstratively smoke during ballads"-kind of gal, respond in kind. Twas sweet.

[Quincy Dan]

What is truly sad is that this "journalist" occupied a space in the venue better given to a true fan of the band.

[fluke]

that's just the reaction I needed Mr C. Looking forward to see this for myself again..!

[CraigBatty]

I wish I could square this person's idea of Shane with the man who was happy and joking in our dressing room...
Some people are "47 sheets to the wind", others just blow.

Glad to hear, glad to hear.....

[rumsodomyandthelash]

I wish I could square this person's idea of Shane with the man who was happy and joking in our dressing room from 8 pm last night, who made me shed a tear (again) during FoNY, who claims he is "serialising" the lyrics of Sunnyside Of The Street on stage, who can balance full glasses of gin on his head after consuming several of same, who can conduct a two hour discourse on the relative merits, as to quality of tobacco and classiness of packaging, of now-defunct brands of Irish cigarettes and who can hold forth on Irish tailors between encores. I wish I could, but I can't.

Some people are "47 sheets to the wind", others just blow.

As allways bang on Mr C
Like i said bollox to the tosser journo's

[maureen]

I wish I could square this person's idea of Shane with the man who was happy and joking in our dressing room from 8 pm last night, who made me shed a tear (again) during FoNY, who claims he is "serialising" the lyrics of Sunnyside Of The Street on stage, who can balance full glasses of gin on his head after consuming several of same, who can conduct a two hour discourse on the relative merits, as to quality of tobacco and classiness of packaging, of now-defunct brands of Irish cigarettes and who can hold forth on Irish tailors between encores. I wish I could, but I can't.

Some people are "47 sheets to the wind", others just blow.

Well said Philip!
As you often say, the journalists are drunk....they're probably just jealous 'cause THEY can't balance full glasses of gin on their heads!

[dublinrambler]

journos are wankers for the most part