Pogues at Lokerse Feesten, Belgium, 12th Aug

[Mark_Wafc]

THERE IS A GOD!

everything crossed you will be on stage with the rest of the lads( and lass) phil, any word of dates yet?

oh and no Brixton???

My mistake. There'll always be BRIXTON. Don't push me for dates yet.

Cheers, look forward to the tour and seeing you there

[Clash Cadillac]

There'll always be BRIXTON. Don't push me for dates yet.

Johan, if you get enough Medusans together you could hold Philip down and use the business end of a red hot glowing cigarette to make him start talking...

I think Donald Rumsfeld is out of work and could be brought in as a consultant for additional lip loosening techniques.

Seriously, I am happy for all of you Medusans across the pond.

[firehazard]

Whether I will be there for the December shows remsins an open qustion, but I can tell you thst the date sheet now includes the followng Cities: NEWCASTLE, GLASGOW, NOTTINGHAM, MANCHESTER, BIRMINGHAM, BELFAST and DUBLIN

Woohoo!
I shall start saving me pennies right away. And hoping above all that you will be there, Mr C.

[Mike from Boston]

This was posted to the FOS mailing list. Maybe someone could translate
to English!?

back to Lokeren gig,
I write a detailled review (French en Dutch) on my website :
FR version :
http://www.musiczine.net/fr/index.php?o ... &Itemid=40

NL version :
http://www.musiczine.net/nl/index.php?o ... &Itemid=40

[DzM]

Also got posted here:

viewtopic.php?t=7084

[fluke]

This was posted to the FOS mailing list. Maybe someone could translate
to English!?

back to Lokeren gig,
I write a detailled review (French en Dutch) on my website :
FR version :
http://www.musiczine.net/fr/index.php?o ... &Itemid=40

NL version :
http://www.musiczine.net/nl/index.php?o ... &Itemid=40

That's a good review!

[O'Blivion]

Here's a "translation" via Babelfish:

For this last day of the 33èmes Lokerse Feesten, the organizers had chosen eclecticism by programming with the same poster the Irish folk of Pogues, the US grunge of Lemonheads and the punk Batavian of Heideroosjes. At Pogues one has to expect all the surprises. Sometimes as good as the feelings of good Guinness carried to the lips in the moist heat of an Irish pub. But often as bad as the depressions centered above the green island. Thus, the last time that they occurred complete in Belgium, it was in 1991... in Pukkelpop. Probably the worst benefit awarded by their singer Shane MacGowan. A few months later, its own group did not hesitate besides to transfer it. The fans will remember this show a long time, during which the musicians did not have of cease to shoot glance MacGowan soaked with alcohol and under the influence with illicit substances. Supported by its foot of microphone, it is hardly if it still could fredonner one or the other bit of song. The combo then carried on its road without its chanteur/compositor. Several years of continuation. And circonstanciellement, Joe Strummer came to lend strong hand to them. As at the time of a Gantese festival to which your servant had assisted. On its side, Shane had painfully tried to continue in solo. Then flanked of a new group: The Popes. Under this formula it had occurred in Vooruit in 1996, at the time of Schwung festival in Roulers in 1998, but had cancelled also twice: with the festival folk of Dranouter (where Pogues could have been more logically programmed this year) and at the time of the Nights of the warehouse of Luxembourg. It is consequently completely comprehensible that the presence of Pogues (joined together) on our Belgian ground remains an event awaited but at the same time very hypothetical. Hypothetical, more especially as the band of Irish jolly fellows are programmed with 23h45. What leaves them much time to taste our good national beer in slides... Then will come (and in which state?), will not come? Never two without three! After the two fixed prices declared by Shane MacGowan, at the last minute... In addition, it is the 13th time that I assist with one their sets, this evening. This figure was to carry me well chance... On the blow of 23h45, one has what to be reassured: the band unloads and its singer follows, hardly staggering. From the very start of the show, it is obvious that all the troop, including its leador, is in great form! The show begin with traditional "the Streams of Whiskey" and "Yew I should fall from grace with god". What to make move crowd. But also fredonner in ch?ur the "Broad majestic Shannon" and another "Pair of brown eyes" which follow. Proof of its vitality, Shane MacGowan assied never on the stool located behind him, if is not there to deposit its invaluable beverage; and it only leaves the scene to yield the relay to Spider Stacey for "Tuesday morning" or Terry Woods in "Young ned of the hill". The pogos and other farandoles are connected, involving young people and less young people, Wallons and Flemings, fans Belgian and come sometimes by far... After a good hour in concert, and a "Sick bed of Cuchulainn" during which environment still assembles notch, the band takes leave of the public. Without believing in it too much, this one however claims a recall. Pogues are in a good day. And they even will be shown very generous with regard to the assistance in their holding a good batch of surprises. The musicians change all role. Shane passes to the vocal backing, and it is the beater Andrew Ranken which reserves the microphone to interpret "Star of the county down". Two titles later, each one puts c?ur at it on a "Fiesta" definitively enclosing one in the best concerts granted by The Pogues to date. (NDR: opinion unanimously divided on the forums of its fans). Spectators of Lokeren, and its framework bucolic, did not have anything to envy this evening Brixton Academy and the preceding meetings of Christmas or Saint-Patrick. And many the aficionados come from on the other side of the channel will have a very good memory of their mini-trip in Belgium, more especially as the show in Sweden two days before had been described as execrable. Moreover, the next date envisaged in a festival English folk was already had a presentiment of as cancelled. When I said to you that with The Pogues one had to expect all! The absent ones from Lokeren missed what is likely, each time, to be the last good occasion (considering the health of Shane Mac Gowan) to re-examine the group of reference of Irish punk/folk.

[Simon Maguire]

Awesome setlist. Nice to see Kitty working its way in there.

I'm bummed out that Mr. MacGowan isn't taking over vocals on Thousands Are Sailing though. I know that's Mr. Chevron's song, as well it should be, and he should sing it, but in the absence of Mr. Chevron, I do not understand why it has to be outright removed from the setlist. It is an absolutely beautiful number, to an extent regardless of who sings it. And it's not like Mr. MacGowan didn't do a pretty smash-up job singing it on the album.

I'll be at the Wiltern shows regardless and am greatly looking forward to it.

Best wishes to Mr. Chevron, as well.

Thank you for your good wishes.

I think Spider has mentioned elsewhere that "1000s r sailors" has not been "outright removed". My understanding is that it was rehearsed but not so solidly that it could withstand the chaos that led up to the Sweden show and it was not therefore risked for the gig. It's always been a tricky one to re-routine because I sing it in C and Shane does it 4 semitones below, all of which must be transposed for an already quite complex orchestration. I believe the intention is to return the song to active service in October, with Shaneo singing. He'll do it well, he's yearned to since 2001. Getting it back from him will be the hard part.

Philip, I think thats bloody excellent news. I don't give a monkey's who sings it as long as it gets its run out, one of the great Pogues songs around.