The Medusa Fora

JamesStVincent wrote:Longtime viewer, first time posting! Anyway, I just got through the book and thought it was great. In the chapter on the first NYC trip, there is mention of the band going to Hoboken NJ. Just wondering if anyone knows if they played at the legendary club Maxwells in Hoboken? Great small club that's been around forever.

Yes, I'm pretty sure that's the name of the place we played, It's still there?

It's still there! I moved from NJ to Phoenix AZ, and whenever I go back to NJ, I make sure to visit Maxwells. Great club, and they treat bands well, as my band has played there numerous times.

That must have been a great show, The Pogues at Maxwells.

Thank you Philip, and thank you for that 2006 show in Las Vegas. It was one of the best concerts I've seen in my life.

LittleCupcakes wrote:I just ordered mine from Amazon (just $25.40), but it'll take a month or two to get here (so they say).

Sounds like a ripper.

Wow! I just received my copy today, a mere 10 days after I ordered.
Good work, Amazon!

Just finnished and thought it was a wonderful read.I was also entrigued how they captured the true meaning of being London Irish and how the Pogues enabled us to hold our heads up high and give our cousins over the water something to be jealous of.They were and will always be our band.

All Band members should be proud of their achievements and I personnally
would like to thank them for helping me to discover whom I am also my kids
are now attending the gigs and I do hope that Shanne's promise of possibly new material is not just a pipe dream.

Keep up the work as long as you can you will always have a audience that wants to listen.

Carol kindly supplied transcript of an interview for the book, most of which never saw light of the day as has been cruelly edited out and down. Original version can be found here

MacRua wrote:Carol kindly supplied transcript of an interview for the book, most of which never saw light of the day as has been cruelly edited out and down. Original version can be found here

Nice read, thanks Macrua!

Thank Carol!

Wow, most curious indeed to read Joey's views! Thanks Carol and MacRua!

Good read so far, though as others have stated Ms Clerk's prose style leaves much to be desired.

LittleCupcakes wrote:Good read so far, though as others have stated Ms Clerk's prose style leaves much to be desired.

Before I cite Benno, just one question, are you sure you didn't confuse Ms.Clerk with Ms.Clarke?

MacRua wrote:

LittleCupcakes wrote:Good read so far, though as others have stated Ms Clerk's prose style leaves much to be desired.

Before I cite Benno, just one question, are you sure you didn't confuse Ms.Clerk with Ms.Clarke?

That's what I was thinking. On the contrary, I found Ms. Clerk's prose style very pleasant to read, after reading too many biographies where the author's voice is really intrusive and they insist on giving their own opinions about every event or band member... (Or they just use too many flowery metaphors, like Bob Spitz's book on The Beatles... )

I finished the book earlier today (after having to put it down halfway through weeks ago to get university work out of the way) and should say I enjoyed it. Obvious focus on the band as a writing, working and traveling unit but also a large and detailed amount of individuals' adventures and insights. How one takes on the task of creating a history of a group of 8,9,10,11,12...who knows how many "members", is a tough thing and I thank Carol for doing it.

MacRua wrote:

LittleCupcakes wrote:Good read so far, though as others have stated Ms Clerk's prose style leaves much to be desired.

Before I cite Benno, just one question, are you sure you didn't confuse Ms.Clerk with Ms.Clarke?

I am/was referring to Carol Clerk, author of Pogue Mahone: The Story of the Pogues.

I've just finished up, and I quite enjoyed it overall, and learned a great deal as well. Ms Clerk certainly brought a great deal of material to bear, and I particularly enjoyed hearing from "fringe" figures like Shanne Bradley and Frank Murray.

So what do you find lacking in / irritating about the prose style? Just curious.

Zuzana wrote:So what do you find lacking in / irritating about the prose style? Just curious.

Sorry for the delay in replying-I haven't been on the boards as much lately.

I often found that, perhaps amplifying/counterpointing a previous post, that the text was rather too straightforward, especially but not exclusively in the short biographical sections. Those pieces read more like history (it is history of course, but I'm not at school) than rock and roll. I suppose some might prefer that approach, but I found myself quickly skimming those pieces rather than paying rapt attention. I can't quite say how to improve upon them (I'm a drinker, not a writer), and I'm certainly not implying I could do any better.

Then conversely, we'd see some too-cute stylisitics, like carelessly-tossed-around adjectives and adverbs. I marked this passage from Gudbuy T'Shane: "The Pogues were still packing a jubilant punch, with an unflagging 24-song set..." I obviously understand the the point, but it's overly cutesy to use an old turn-of-phrase like "packing a punch" and gussy it up with "jubilant" so you don't sound banal.

But really these are quibbles, and overall I enjoyed the (quicker than I thought) read.

Congratulations on the "promotion" by the way!