Brixton Show Dec 18 & 19th 2007

**Sat Dec 22, 2007 2:45 pm**

Without the Oyster, there is no Pearl.

- Eric Cantona (possibly)

**Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:28 pm**

On the point about Shane fucking up songs. They're (mostly) his songs to fuck up.

Also I went to the 18th gig, I thought Shane was in splendid form as the rest of the band were - Sorry you didn't enjoy the gig, you should have researched a bit more.

**Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:46 pm**

Simon Maguire wrote:On the point about Shane fucking up songs. They're (mostly) his songs to fuck up.

Also I went to the 18th gig, I thought Shane was in splendid form as the rest of the band were - Sorry you didn't enjoy the gig, you should have researched a bit more.

Yeah, I think you are right - I should have been prepared for him to be in a state but I honestly thought if The Pogues are on the road, Shane would tone it down a bit. The comments here suggest he's always that pissed when he performs so lesson learned I guess!

It is a shame though not just because it spoils the songs but also because he ain't gonna be around for much longer if he doesn't pull it together.

**Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:53 pm**

Anonymous wrote:
Simon Maguire wrote:On the point about Shane fucking up songs. They're (mostly) his songs to fuck up.

Also I went to the 18th gig, I thought Shane was in splendid form as the rest of the band were - Sorry you didn't enjoy the gig, you should have researched a bit more.

Yeah, I think you are right - I should have been prepared for him to be in a state but I honestly thought if The Pogues are on the road, Shane would tone it down a bit. The comments here suggest he's always that pissed when he performs so lesson learned I guess!

It is a shame though not just because it spoils the songs but also because he ain't gonna be around for much longer if he doesn't pull it together.

You haven't a fucking clue about anything, do you? Happy Christmas. Please go see James Blunt next year. And for the next 60.

**Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:59 pm**

Anonymous wrote:
Simon Maguire wrote:On the point about Shane fucking up songs. They're (mostly) his songs to fuck up.

Also I went to the 18th gig, I thought Shane was in splendid form as the rest of the band were - Sorry you didn't enjoy the gig, you should have researched a bit more.

Yeah, I think you are right - I should have been prepared for him to be in a state but I honestly thought if The Pogues are on the road, Shane would tone it down a bit. The comments here suggest he's always that pissed when he performs so lesson learned I guess!

It is a shame though not just because it spoils the songs but also because he ain't gonna be around for much longer if he doesn't pull it together.

Piss poor post mate, the Pogues are the Pogues thats why we love em' so much!

**Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:04 pm**

I don't think some of the replies here are helping. Saying "ah but that's The Pogues for ya!" and stuff is inaccurate. The band are always bang on point, and even Shane was grand as far as I recall (okay the first night I would have been in a worse state than him anyway).

What''s more, I go to live shows for the atmosphere. Every year, in the middle of Dirty Old Town, Rainy Night and FTONY, I turn around and just look & listen to the crowd singing and it's fucking beautiful. Then I look up at the stage at the big fucker in the coat and think "that's Shane Mac-fuckin-Gowan, after all he's done for music over the years, and all he's done for himself, he's still fuckin here. Fair play to him". And then I get on with enjoying the best night of the year, every year.

Next time take a bloody iPod with you and listen to the album versions.

**Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:56 pm**

TOSCS wrote: Every year, in the middle of Dirty Old Town, Rainy Night and FTONY, I turn around and just look & listen to the crowd singing and it's fucking beautiful.

Could not agree with you more!

I still get a buzz when 'Rainy Night' starts up, standing in the crush of swaying, singing strangers.....THAT'S why we keep going back - sharing the moment, gloriously happy and sad at the same time...

See you all in NYC and Boston!

**Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:18 am**

fatbloke wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Simon Maguire wrote:On the point about Shane fucking up songs. They're (mostly) his songs to fuck up.

Also I went to the 18th gig, I thought Shane was in splendid form as the rest of the band were - Sorry you didn't enjoy the gig, you should have researched a bit more.

Yeah, I think you are right - I should have been prepared for him to be in a state but I honestly thought if The Pogues are on the road, Shane would tone it down a bit. The comments here suggest he's always that pissed when he performs so lesson learned I guess!

It is a shame though not just because it spoils the songs but also because he ain't gonna be around for much longer if he doesn't pull it together.

Piss poor post mate, the Pogues are the Pogues thats why we love em' so much!

The Pogues are just a fantastic fucking band and from my first gig in 1986 to Manchester lastweek never once have they let me down when seeing them live. Honest fucking music, hence my post saying the Pogues are the Pogues, what you see is what you get......total honesty!
I love em'........

**Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:20 am**

Fuck!

Do I sound like a fucking teeny bopper now and not some 30 something bloke?

Ah well.....who cares?

:lol:

**Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:21 am**

Ah now, I'd say the fact your first gig was in 86 rules out the teenry bopper thing... I wasn't even born!

**Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:47 am**

lol.....lol..... :lol:

Cheers

**Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:01 pm**

TOSCS wrote: I turn around and just look & listen to the crowd singing and it's fucking beautiful. Then I look up at the stage at the big fucker in the coat and think "that's Shane Mac-fuckin-Gowan

Exactly!

**Sun Dec 23, 2007 9:51 pm**

Marke998 wrote:I went to the above gig and would like to share my experience here.

The gig kicked off with half a dozen songs from The Holloways. The music was ok but the sound quality was poor and distorted. When they left the stage we sat in anticipation of the main event. We sat, we waited. We sat, we waited. The evening dragged on whilst some god-awful music in a foreign language assaulted our ears. Every now and then people shuffled about the stage. Occasionally, this was timed with the end of a song (was that the national anthem of Uzbekistan they just played?) and the crowd would cheer in anticipation of the band coming on. But no, they’d got other things to do which, I suspect, included trying to sober up Shane McGowan enough to get him on stage. So we sat and waited. We sat, we waited.

After about an hour and 20 minutes the band appeared. Someone shone a light and helped McGowan shuffle over to his microphone. He was so pissed he could barely stand let alone sing. He mumbled into his microphone and then started singing. Well, that’s not entirely true. What he did was to drunkenly slur into the microphone occasionally in approximate time with the rest of the band and occasionally in a way that sounded somewhere close to singing but was really just drunken shouting. It was shit.

The evening progressed with more terrible drunken singing, mumbled words and forgotten lyrics whilst the rest of the band continued to produce the really brilliant sounds I associate with the Pogues. The crowd loved it. I couldn’t understand why anyone would cheer the band whilst Shane continued to wreck tune after tune but I guess atmosphere and a lot of beer during the interminable delay before the band came on must have had the desired affect on the audience.

Throughout the performance Shane constantly knocked over his microphone stand and threw the song sheets and lyrics he had before him onto the floor. He didn’t know which song was going to be played next and the band had to nurse him like a sick child throughout the whole show. At one point a member of the band commented ‘Well, it’s better than being dead.’ True but only just.

They gave us two encores and the crowd went wild at the opening bars of Fairytale of New York. People were singing along and dancing in the aisles. They brought on a guest singer to duet with Shane and I have never felt so sorry for an artiste as I did for her when Shane mumbled and fucked up his part. He ruined the song but still the adoring fans cheered, danced and sang along.

When it was all over, I felt robbed. The Pogues had come to put on a show and give the crowd a great time. Somehow, they pulled it off but I cannot see how they can expect to keep a fan base when the lead singer is such a mess.

I knew Shane was ill before I bought my ticket and I expected him to be a bit drunk. But he was so pissed that he couldn’t perform and he let the band and the audience down time after time. That show made the band thousands of pounds but I for one didn’t get value for money.

I have always wanted to see The Pogues and was really looking forward to the gig but I will never see them again. Sober up Shane and give us what we deserve in return for buying your music and supporting you throughout all these years.

Mark.

**Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:15 pm**

I was there at Brixton on the 19th, another wonderful evening thank you all so much. I just wish I could see the band more than once a year, either in Ireland or in the UK. I am very grateful to those people who put their videos on you tube to allow us to remember how special every Pogues gig is.

**Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:52 pm**

Well i went to see The Pogues in Manchester and the show was sensational!!!! everybody on top form including Shane. Ive just got my tix for the New York shows, cant bloody wait. best wishes to the band for xmas.. get well soon Phil!!

Brixton Show Dec 18 & 19th 2007

Re: Brixton Show Dec 19th 2007

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