POGUES at WILTERN - 18-20 Oct 2006

[georgecat]

I honestly thought the crowd was way more calm than the grove audience. I think I only got hit in the head twice last night . Thats enough to keep me happy. I wish I was going tonight.

I think it's fair to say that one's perception of how old, young, crazy, sedate, drunk, sober, friendly, aggressive a Pogues audience is depends enormously on which part of the house you are stationed. I see you all and......well, I hang on to my hat.

Yeah calm because more people last night knew the songs and sang along instead of shoving each other.

[deadmanshake]

But last night I DID get 4 hugs in one night from Spider. Tonight I'm going for 5!! hehehe
YESSSSSSSS

Well, I'm still walking on air over the one I got on Wed. I will say Im jealous though.

See you tonight!

[LittleCupcakes]

And I believe that the word you're looking for is "whore."

I stand corrected. Now that I think of it, you did cop an outrageous feel (in front of a Pogue, no less)

[DzM]

And I believe that the word you're looking for is "whore."

I stand corrected. Now that I think of it, you did cop an outrageous feel (in front of a Pogue, no less)

We were all thinking of Heather at the time. It's just unfortunate that your heaving man-bosom got in the way.

[daneiam]

ts hard to think about seeing a show like the pogues in LA.in 2006 I had to get the tickets-but on my way to the wiltern i wondered if i had made a mistake-i'm older , so much has changed since their music was important to me. And LA ?!, palm tree's and sunshine-the land of Jim Morrison, blond hair /suntans and surfers is hardly the place see an irish band of street punks-better to see them in the rain . The last time I went to a pogues show was 20 years ago - we.. started drinking bushmills at 8 a.m. that day- me and a trumpet player named Spike- Shane Macgowan couldn't make it so Joe Strummer fronted the band-by the time they hit the stage we were blind...loaded. Boots went up and fists flew I burst Spikes mouth and he bloodied my nose. The next morning I found him on the stoop , locked out and sleeping in the rain. Here I was 20 years later hoping to capture the magic of being young enough to think that if I was tough enough I would win- I could punch my way through to something..The Wiltern was packed but it still felt fake -shane stumbled around like a demeted toddler trying to knock the mike stand over in vain - but he roared like lion on the SICK BED OF CULHICAIHN and when he spoke he hissed like a snake and somewhere in the second or third song i connected...the theater filled with ghosts of the past - good, tough boys I came up with that weren't around anymore. OLD MAIN DRAG, TURKISH SONG OF THE DAMNED, IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE WITH GOD - Spider and Shane swapped vocal duties and I was gone- the crowd sang every word to DIRTY OLD TOWN.. and ANOTHER RAINY DAY and the magic was back. Then in the final moments a kid pushed past the barrier as Shane danced in the the snow on stage to FAIRYTALE of NEW YORK. He punched his way past the security and grabbed hold of the stage-his free hand winding through the air like a rodeo rider-the song went on and three or four goons piled on him but he held his spot , dumb enough to try and fight his way up-and held his own as the band played on and the crowd swayed-the whole house was on its feet . The magic was back and yeah things are a lot different than they were back then - better? no- just different. I'm glad I was.. in the balcony last night- and in the pit at the commodore ballroom 20 years ago - and that I got to see both sides of the story...and was here to remember it.

[DzM]

Wow.

This review is ... well ... wow. This is darned poignant. Thanks for sharing it.

[Zuzana]

Two great pics from the 18/10 and 19/10 shows:

Spider
Shane & Ella in the swirling "snow"

(uploaded at Flickr by sunggnus)

[badattitude]

Saw first two nights and loved them both. Thought Wednesday was a bit tighter for the band, did'nt see shane drinking anything but water (at least on stage)

[badattitude]

Since my first post went through, I'm gonna finish. First two nights were tremendous, tonight had Dylan tix so against my better judgement went to the Forum. Two songs in I say to my friend 'Lets go, we can still catch the Pogues'. Well........we stayed to the end. 10:40 pm we're in my car hauling ass down la brea ave. because I'm gonna see the rest of the Pogues show,damn it. Get to Wiltern at 11:00, park car, run to theater front door, and people are just starting to stream out. Tonight ends early for some reason. Ask a girl if the show is over and she says it is for her. Did they end with Fiesta? No, played earlier in the set she says. What did they end with I ask. "Victoria?", she says. I'm thinking they did'nt play a Kinks song did they, deciding it may have been Sally Mac. At least I gave it a try. Was in the balcony both nights and had to go to the back rows, so I could dance around without bothering the stiffs sitting on their asses. Could'nt have been happier in the front of the pit, plenty of room to move around and sing since it was'nt quite sold out either night. Wednesday night saw Shane only carry water bottles on stage and smoke many cigs, unlike Tuesday nite when he brought out many red plastic cups throughout. Could'nt even try to pick a better show, both great. Sally Mac, Brown Eyes, Majestic Shannon, Lullaby, Main Drag, Sick Bed etc etc. Could'nt ask for anything more. Ok, maybe Albert Bridge, lol. Thanks to the Pogues for coming to Calif and putting on such moving shows. I can only pray they come back again........

[nboldock]

That is indeed an excellent post. Thanks daneiam.

[pogues24]

It seems the setlist is still the same as it was when I saw them back in March earlier this year in Atlantic City. The only notable difference is The Boys From the County Hell, in Atlantic City they played Rain Street instead. Oh yeah, didn't Andrew Ranken sing The Star of the County Down at the West Coast shows, cause that was one of the many highlights from the show that I saw.

Iain

[philipchevron]

It seems the setlist is still the same as it was when I saw them back in March earlier this year in Atlantic City. The only notable difference is The Boys From the County Hell, in Atlantic City they played Rain Street instead. Oh yeah, didn't Andrew Ranken sing The Star of the County Down at the West Coast shows, cause that was one of the many highlights from the show that I saw.

Iain

Andrew's laryngitis has slowly improved and we all hope to hear that coastal baritone back in action in December.

[blakemoreln2]

People were leaving after the first encore! We were about 2/3 back and were screaming at them "it's not over" but off they went.. People, the shows not over if the lights are still down and Joey and crew are adjusting mikes and tuning guitars. Wow....I can't imagine..they missed Fairytale and the best version of Fiesta one could ever hope for...

[joshroush]

I know they suck, but its the best I could do with a disposable camera. I didnt want to risk losing my nice one. So heres the best of what I took.

[CraigBatty]

Nice one Josh, cheers! Lovely shot of Miss Ella dancing with Shane.