Damn fine review in the Torygraph

[Kilkenny Cat]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3814 ... stmas.html

The Pogues: rampaging kings of Christmas

Colin Irwin
17 Dec 2008
The Telegraph
Section: Culture

The Pogues on how their rollicking festive jaunts have become such an annual fixture.

There's a tattooed middle-aged guy with an orange Mohican pogo-ing in frenzied excitement. There are kids on their dads' shoulders waving wildly. There are teenage girls, mobile phones aloft, ready to capture the moment for their chums on YouTube. And the rest of the heaving, beaming mob bounce up and down on the lager-sodden floor chanting "There's only one Shane MacGowan!" The object of their adoration stands on stage in a ridiculous Santa hat absorbing their outburst of love in wide-eyed wonder, muttering something incomprehensible and cackling gloriously, like a demented Sid James.

There is indeed only one Shane MacGowan, and tonight he's in startlingly fine form, looking dapper, sounding strong and even occasionally hitting the right notes as he delivers his own unique, swaggering, slightly unsteady brand of seasonal cheer to Birmingham.

This would have been unthinkable a decade ago, but the Pogues' annual festive tour has become an institution, and when, four encores in, they finally unleash Fairytale of New York – or, as it's popularly known in the bar, "the greatest damn Christmas song ever" – it's like the official starting pistol for seasonal frolics.

At one time, this was the domain of Noddy Holder and Slade and Merry Christmas Everybody, but – 21 years after the original release of Fairytale, when it was denied the No 1 spot by the Pet Shop Boys' Always On My Mind – the Pogues are the rampaging kings of Christmas gigs.

A drunk and wayward MacGowan was sacked by the rest of the band during a shambolic Japanese tour in 1991. Few imagined the Pogues would ever play live again, least of all the band members themselves. But in 2001, a year after the death of Fairytale co-singer Kirsty MacColl, they reunited for a Christmas tour.

Much to the amazement of all involved, they got through it without calamity and followed it with a couple of shows in London and Dublin the following summer.

"We hadn't played with Shane since 1991, but, when we got together, we were all struck by how little time seemed to have elapsed," says the affable Spider Stacey, who now takes on frontman duties during MacGowan's regular shuffles off stage. "We get on well, we always did. Even when we sacked Shane, it was never acrimonious."

They reconvened for another seasonal bash in 2004, and the Pogues annual Christmas tour has gone from strength to strength.

Initially, audiences came to see if MacGowan would make it through the night. Then they came to see if he was likely to make it through another year. Defying all medical logic, MacGowan looks perkier at each outing. It helps that he's backed by a disciplined, now largely abstinent band ("Though I believe Shane still likes a drink," says Stacey sweetly). They're playing better than they ever did.

"Well, the money comes in very handy, but that's not why we're doing it," says Stacey, youngest of the original line-up, who celebrated his 50th birthday on Sunday, and in the final final encore of Fiesta, he beats his head on a tea tray adorned with a large 5-0 to prove it. "We're doing it for ourselves because we love it, rather than going out to promote a new album, which is what usually happened before. It's not a chore, it's a joy. It's a cliché, but the band is like family."

"They're still popular because they put on a great live show, and their songs have stood the test of time," says tour promoter Simon Moran. "These songs will still be popular in 50 or a hundred years' time.

"It's a show that suits this time of year, and it's getting stronger. Last year, they played two nights at Brixton; this year they're doing three. The current state of the economy has had a bad effect on gigs, but it hasn't touched the Pogues."

So one of the most undisciplined, unmarketable, anti-fashion bands of the Eighties have become a heart-warming seasonal phenomenon, a Christmas institution.

The final element of a Pogues revival would be a new studio album. MacGowan has hinted at the possibility, and others around the band would love to see it happen.

Stacey, however, is sceptical. "I'd be very wary. It would have to be really, really strong, at least as good as the first three albums, and it would be hard to recapture that.

"The band's reputation rightly rests on Shane's songs, and I honestly don't know if he's writing at the moment. I'm not saying a new album won't happen, but it won't be any time soon."

Meanwhile, a smiling Ella Finer – daughter of Fairytale co-writer Jem Finer – walks on amid the fake snow to fill Kirsty MacColl's shoes, trading angry couplets and being waltzed within an inch of her life by the irrepressible MacGowan at the show's inevitable teary-eyed climax. And the Pogues continue to touch the hearts of the nation.

"Yes, hopefully we'll be back next year," says Stacey. "We'll carry on as long as we can still do it properly and people still want to come and see us."

The Pogues play Brixton Academy tonight, tomorrow and Sat

-----------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright of Telegraph Media Group Limited 2008

[Fr. McGreer]

Fantasic. Good to hear Spider being so positive and upbeat about the future. New album......
Thanks for posting, Kilkenny.
P.S. great picture on the link.

[Jon]

I'd hope Spider was onto something with his remarks - I had a similar thought this morning, wouldn't it be great if all of these reunion shows led to studio time?

[firehazard]

The Pogues described as "heart-warming" by the Torygraph. The world has truly turned upside down.

[moose]

I'd hope Spider was onto something with his remarks - I had a similar thought this morning, wouldn't it be great if all of these reunion shows led to studio time?

While the fire is still burning, there is hope......

[moose]

The Pogues described as "heart-warming" by the Torygraph. The world has truly turned upside down.

Bit like Johnny Rotten doing adverts for English butter