The Medusa Fora

TOSCS wrote:Can't help but ask why the 'no setlist'? Do you not want anyone to post setlists of the gigs so as not to spoil it for the rest... or just not in this thread specifically?

philipchevron wrote:

TOSCS wrote:Can't help but ask why the 'no setlist'? Do you not want anyone to post setlists of the gigs so as not to spoil it for the rest... or just not in this thread specifically?

Some people have requested a preference not to see a setlist before they attend the show. That is not to say I've got anything against setlists being posted, but perhaps we should signal which threads are "safe" to read.

Jana wrote:Pickled Irishman

I love coming home from a concert covered in bruises. I love the putrid smell of spilt beer and the sweat of 1000 Scottish men. I love the ringing in my ears.

Yes, it's true that the Pogues have to sort of prop Shane McGowan up onstage, it's true that the rest of the band seems in fine form and good health, as Shane sort of bobs and sways and looks as though the image of him standing of his own free will must be some sort of optical illusion. The band glances at him with a bit of sadness, a bit of frustration and embarrassment. My Irish friend says, well, he is a bit of an embarrassment. But the fact remains that the audience is there to see Shane, to see the spectacle and the legend. The rest of the band knows this; this is, I'm sure, the only reason they are working with him again. What's truly astonishing is that EVEN on three bottles of whiskey a day, even though he can barely stand, he's a bit bloated and unwell, nearly knocking on death's door (though he has been for years), even with all this, he can STILL fucking sing. He drank an entire bottle of Powers while performing onstage . . . I should say, he drank an entire bottle of Powers in about three goes while performing onstage (yes I did see him down half of the bottle in one go, and proceed to sing a rousing Irish traditional without hitting a single sour note, without even forgetting any words). So is he embarrassing? Or is he impressive? It's sort of bittersweet, true. I'm sure he hasn't written a song in years, and this is a bit painful when he sings these brilliant brilliant fucking songs, these songs with lyrics and melodies that simply tear you to pieces with their poetic genius, their brutal sincerity. And I know, (we all know), that if he were, by some unlikely chance, to suddenly quit drinking, he would surely drop dead immediately. I'll keep my ticket as a memento to prove the unlikely truth that I did see Shane McGowan perform with the Pogues in 2006, he already about 85% pickled, with dark sunglasses and a pirate shirt, mumbling incomprehensibly but still tearing the house down, and still STANDING, and when he spun around for nearly five minutes at the end of "Fairytale of New York," I was SURE he would fall over. But he never did, he was still standing all the way to the end.

Jim wrote:Missed the support, as usual for most gigs I go to.
I only just had my first pint in the venue in my hand when The clash's "Straight To Hell" kicked in, which for the uninitiated is The Pogues' entrance music.

Quick charge into a good position and the band opened with Streams Of Whisky. Shane was looking good. Well, for Shane. I've seen him much worse, this time he at least looked healthy.
The bastard did get round Scotland's smoking ban though, by mostly ignoring it. He had a fan fairly near him on stage, which was apparently enough to let him smoke.
As a smoker in the crowd, this annoyed me immensly, until eventually myself and my brother decided to ignore that particular law. Given the stench of farts and B.O. from the people just in front of us, no one complained at a couple of ciggies being lit.
Oh yeah, there was a band on, wasn't there?

For the most part the set was the same as last year, which was no great surprise. [At this point, chronology may get the better of me] They did throw in a few songs that haven't been played the last few years though...
Encore was of course Fairytale (with Jem Finner's daughter Ella, looking and sounding lovely, just like last year) and Fiesta .

All in all, a f*cking great gig.

MacRua wrote:

Jana wrote:Pickled Irishman

I love coming home from a concert covered in bruises. I love the putrid smell of spilt beer and the sweat of 1000 Scottish men. I love the ringing in my ears.

Yes, it's true that the Pogues have to sort of prop Shane McGowan up onstage, it's true that the rest of the band seems in fine form and good health, as Shane sort of bobs and sways and looks as though the image of him standing of his own free will must be some sort of optical illusion. The band glances at him with a bit of sadness, a bit of frustration and embarrassment. My Irish friend says, well, he is a bit of an embarrassment. But the fact remains that the audience is there to see Shane, to see the spectacle and the legend. The rest of the band knows this; this is, I'm sure, the only reason they are working with him again. What's truly astonishing is that EVEN on three bottles of whiskey a day, even though he can barely stand, he's a bit bloated and unwell, nearly knocking on death's door (though he has been for years), even with all this, he can STILL fucking sing. He drank an entire bottle of Powers while performing onstage . . . I should say, he drank an entire bottle of Powers in about three goes while performing onstage (yes I did see him down half of the bottle in one go, and proceed to sing a rousing Irish traditional without hitting a single sour note, without even forgetting any words). So is he embarrassing? Or is he impressive? It's sort of bittersweet, true. I'm sure he hasn't written a song in years, and this is a bit painful when he sings these brilliant brilliant fucking songs, these songs with lyrics and melodies that simply tear you to pieces with their poetic genius, their brutal sincerity. And I know, (we all know), that if he were, by some unlikely chance, to suddenly quit drinking, he would surely drop dead immediately. I'll keep my ticket as a memento to prove the unlikely truth that I did see Shane McGowan perform with the Pogues in 2006, he already about 85% pickled, with dark sunglasses and a pirate shirt, mumbling incomprehensibly but still tearing the house down, and still STANDING, and when he spun around for nearly five minutes at the end of "Fairytale of New York," I was SURE he would fall over. But he never did, he was still standing all the way to the end.

SOURCE

Jim wrote:Missed the support, as usual for most gigs I go to.
I only just had my first pint in the venue in my hand when The clash's "Straight To Hell" kicked in, which for the uninitiated is The Pogues' entrance music.

Quick charge into a good position and the band opened with Streams Of Whisky. Shane was looking good. Well, for Shane. I've seen him much worse, this time he at least looked healthy.
The bastard did get round Scotland's smoking ban though, by mostly ignoring it. He had a fan fairly near him on stage, which was apparently enough to let him smoke.
As a smoker in the crowd, this annoyed me immensly, until eventually myself and my brother decided to ignore that particular law. Given the stench of farts and B.O. from the people just in front of us, no one complained at a couple of ciggies being lit.
Oh yeah, there was a band on, wasn't there?

For the most part the set was the same as last year, which was no great surprise. [At this point, chronology may get the better of me] They did throw in a few songs that haven't been played the last few years though...
Encore was of course Fairytale (with Jem Finner's daughter Ella, looking and sounding lovely, just like last year) and Fiesta .

All in all, a f*cking great gig.

SOURCE

MacRua wrote:

Jana wrote:Pickled Irishman

I love coming home from a concert covered in bruises. I love the putrid smell of spilt beer and the sweat of 1000 Scottish men. I love the ringing in my ears.

Yes, it's true that the Pogues have to sort of prop Shane McGowan up onstage, it's true that the rest of the band seems in fine form and good health, as Shane sort of bobs and sways and looks as though the image of him standing of his own free will must be some sort of optical illusion. The band glances at him with a bit of sadness, a bit of frustration and embarrassment. My Irish friend says, well, he is a bit of an embarrassment. But the fact remains that the audience is there to see Shane, to see the spectacle and the legend. The rest of the band knows this; this is, I'm sure, the only reason they are working with him again. What's truly astonishing is that EVEN on three bottles of whiskey a day, even though he can barely stand, he's a bit bloated and unwell, nearly knocking on death's door (though he has been for years), even with all this, he can STILL fucking sing. He drank an entire bottle of Powers while performing onstage . . . I should say, he drank an entire bottle of Powers in about three goes while performing onstage (yes I did see him down half of the bottle in one go, and proceed to sing a rousing Irish traditional without hitting a single sour note, without even forgetting any words). So is he embarrassing? Or is he impressive? It's sort of bittersweet, true. I'm sure he hasn't written a song in years, and this is a bit painful when he sings these brilliant brilliant fucking songs, these songs with lyrics and melodies that simply tear you to pieces with their poetic genius, their brutal sincerity. And I know, (we all know), that if he were, by some unlikely chance, to suddenly quit drinking, he would surely drop dead immediately. I'll keep my ticket as a memento to prove the unlikely truth that I did see Shane McGowan perform with the Pogues in 2006, he already about 85% pickled, with dark sunglasses and a pirate shirt, mumbling incomprehensibly but still tearing the house down, and still STANDING, and when he spun around for nearly five minutes at the end of "Fairytale of New York," I was SURE he would fall over. But he never did, he was still standing all the way to the end.

SOURCE

Eckhard wrote:For those who'd like to know in advance:

Will someone please open a "Spoiler-Thread" with setlists?

Mark_Wafc wrote:


Ah, you can tell its Christmas again. Not because of the decorations and Tree’s up, or the cards being passed around or the music on the radio or even the impending dreadful TV schedule but because we’ve now got a week long review of Shane’s health to come!