March 5 & 6 2008: Riviera Theatre, Chicago, IL

[Clash Cadillac]

I thought the Ike Reilly set was very good. If I have the chance to see the band play again, I'll jump on it. I'd like to see how they are headlining a smaller venue.

Ike played the Larimer Lounge in Denver twice last year. Keep an eye out, as I am sure he will be back your way again.

[mjk457]

Can't wait for the St. Patty's shows.Sounds like a great set list.Philip,any chance you'll be doing Rain Street on the 17th? That was the only thing I missed at last years Patty's show,not hearing Rain Street.

[Billy]

RESPONSE: If you are really "totally musically stupid" why are critiquing a musical show???

Does one need to have a degree in musicology to write a personal review of a gig?

No but I think if you feel, as you describe yourself as "totally musically stupid" it is a bit odd you would have such an opinionated "personal review". And if you do then don't mind the response. Not trying to start a war or be rude but you should get your facts straight and at least have some credible basis for a "personal review".

[Billy]

I saw the "fight" as well - it was a few rows in front of me. As fights go, it was pathetic, but it was annoying that instead of having only one large woman standing up and acting stupid, blocking everyone's view, we had several at that time.

As far as standing up... Philip Chevron on at least 2 or 3 occasions singled the crowd to stand. It is a concert!!! Besides, they oversold the place so you could not even enter the main floor SRO, and they would not let you even move around the balcony. It is not the type of show where you passively sit and watch, seems to me you listen and dance!

As far as "large" women "acting stupid" again it is a concert and as far as I could see the on one in front was just dancing and the one in back hit the one in front. So what are you saying is acting stupid, dancing or hitting. Sounds like you have something against large women or think less because they are "large", why describe them in that manner? Again bottom line the trouble makers were properly removed.

[DzM]

RESPONSE: If you are really "totally musically stupid" why are critiquing a musical show???

Does one need to have a degree in musicology to write a personal review of a gig?

No but I think if you feel, as you describe yourself as "totally musically stupid" it is a bit odd you would have such an opinionated "personal review". And if you do then don't mind the response. Not trying to start a war or be rude but you should get your facts straight and at least have some credible basis for a "personal review".

As you say - not to be rude, but you DO know that Zuzana isn't the author of those blogs, right? She's just passing them along.

[Zuzana]

No but I think if you feel, as you describe yourself as "totally musically stupid" it is a bit odd you would have such an opinionated "personal review". And if you do then don't mind the response. Not trying to start a war or be rude but you should get your facts straight and at least have some credible basis for a "personal review".

If you are a music journalist, you should have your facts straight, true. But this is a fan review, originally posted in a personal blog (I copied it here because I think it’s interesting to hear voices from the "outside"). One doesn’t need any credible basis for sharing subjective personal impressions with the virtual world. The reviews by our very own Medusans sometimes consist just of "The show was great!!" – what does it have to do with facts or credibility? And when somebody describes himself as "musically stupid" it is nothing but a fair warning to readers that they cannot expect any profound music analyses.
Of course you can express your own opinion too (and strongly disagree with the "review") – just no need to deny the author the right to write down and share his impressions!

[OrionSafari]

As far as standing up... Philip Chevron on at least 2 or 3 occasions singled the crowd to stand. It is a concert!!! Besides, they oversold the place so you could not even enter the main floor SRO, and they would not let you even move around the balcony. It is not the type of show where you passively sit and watch, seems to me you listen and dance!

As far as "large" women "acting stupid" again it is a concert and as far as I could see the on one in front was just dancing and the one in back hit the one in front. So what are you saying is acting stupid, dancing or hitting. Sounds like you have something against large women or think less because they are "large", why describe them in that manner? Again bottom line the trouble makers were properly removed.

I saw the "fight" as well - it was a few rows in front of me. As fights go, it was pathetic, but it was annoying that instead of having only one large woman standing up and acting stupid, blocking everyone's view, we had several at that time.

I'm not opposed to the standing and the moving around, don't get me wrong - it is a concert after all, like you said. My point is that when you're occupying a seat in the front you have an obligation to those behind you to not continually block their view. Yes, we all stand at times, and we sit at times (in the upper balconies at least). My comment was not to be insulting someone's size - I'm far from small myself. But if the lady in question would have just once glanced behind her to see the poor older couple seated directly to her rear, she may have realized that standing and waving for four straight songs was adversely affecting other peoples' experiences at the show. I was 3-4 rows back and up and I couldn't see around her when I was seated, i can only imagine how those directly behind her must have felt for half the show. I'm tall person, so when I stand I'm effectively forcing those behind me to stand as well. For this reason (not to mention my aging back and knees), I chose to sit for most of the show - standing for parts important to me - the start of the show, Phillip's singing, encores, etc.

Whenever you have seats at a concert or any large event you run across this problem. Usually, a little common sense and courtesy resolves the issue. This was not the case Thursday and it's a shame that much of the show was only heard and not seen. I didn't mean to make this sound like a huge deal with my earlier post, it was only a minor footnote in my enjoyment of the show.

[Billy]

As far as standing up... Philip Chevron on at least 2 or 3 occasions singled the crowd to stand. It is a concert!!! Besides, they oversold the place so you could not even enter the main floor SRO, and they would not let you even move around the balcony. It is not the type of show where you passively sit and watch, seems to me you listen and dance!

As far as "large" women "acting stupid" again it is a concert and as far as I could see the on one in front was just dancing and the one in back hit the one in front. So what are you saying is acting stupid, dancing or hitting. Sounds like you have something against large women or think less because they are "large", why describe them in that manner? Again bottom line the trouble makers were properly removed.

I saw the "fight" as well - it was a few rows in front of me. As fights go, it was pathetic, but it was annoying that instead of having only one large woman standing up and acting stupid, blocking everyone's view, we had several at that time.

I'm not opposed to the standing and the moving around, don't get me wrong - it is a concert after all, like you said. My point is that when you're occupying a seat in the front you have an obligation to those behind you to not continually block their view. Yes, we all stand at times, and we sit at times (in the upper balconies at least). My comment was not to be insulting someone's size - I'm far from small myself. But if the lady in question would have just once glanced behind her to see the poor older couple seated directly to her rear, she may have realized that standing and waving for four straight songs was adversely affecting other peoples' experiences at the show. I was 3-4 rows back and up and I couldn't see around her when I was seated, i can only imagine how those directly behind her must have felt for half the show. I'm tall person, so when I stand I'm effectively forcing those behind me to stand as well. For this reason (not to mention my aging back and knees), I chose to sit for most of the show - standing for parts important to me - the start of the show, Phillip's singing, encores, etc.

Whenever you have seats at a concert or any large event you run across this problem. Usually, a little common sense and courtesy resolves the issue. This was not the case Thursday and it's a shame that much of the show was only heard and not seen. I didn't mean to make this sound like a huge deal with my earlier post, it was only a minor footnote in my enjoyment of the show.

I agree with this, common sense and communication can often avoid a problem and true as well is was a small blip in the scheme of the evening. One thing though the couple behind the women standing was not an older couple it was a younger couple, the guy who started it all and the women with him who initiated the physical part.

Here is the real grief, why did Jam cut off the entire front of the balcony??? It was not anywhere near filled with the special guests. I really try to avoid Jam events as this kind of stuff is common at them.

Anyway, cheers!

[KielceLI]

Hello all. 1st time here and just wanted to say to Philip and the rest of the Pogues that you made my miserable working class life worth living! Can't wait for the 15th in NYC! Should be great.

any chance of Billy's Bones?

[Doktor Avalanche]

I'm not opposed to the standing and the moving around, don't get me wrong - it is a concert after all, like you said. My point is that when you're occupying a seat in the front you have an obligation to those behind you to not continually block their view. Yes, we all stand at times, and we sit at times (in the upper balconies at least). My comment was not to be insulting someone's size - I'm far from small myself. But if the lady in question would have just once glanced behind her to see the poor older couple seated directly to her rear, she may have realized that standing and waving for four straight songs was adversely affecting other peoples' experiences at the show. I was 3-4 rows back and up and I couldn't see around her when I was seated, i can only imagine how those directly behind her must have felt for half the show. I'm tall person, so when I stand I'm effectively forcing those behind me to stand as well. For this reason (not to mention my aging back and knees), I chose to sit for most of the show - standing for parts important to me - the start of the show, Phillip's singing, encores, etc.

Whenever you have seats at a concert or any large event you run across this problem. Usually, a little common sense and courtesy resolves the issue. This was not the case Thursday and it's a shame that much of the show was only heard and not seen. I didn't mean to make this sound like a huge deal with my earlier post, it was only a minor footnote in my enjoyment of the show.

I saw The The a while back on their Dusk tour at Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. It's a fine venue and has seats. A few numbers in, I couldn't help myself and NEEDED to dance. Realizing everyone behind me was seated, I scrambled out the aisle and was busy getting down, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Yup - security. She said "do you want to sit down or do you want to leave?" I sulked back to my seat. After that song, Matt Johnson (who obviously noticed, as I was only a few rows back) asked everyone to stand up, and with few exceptions, everone did. Problem solved.

[Billy]

I saw The The a while back on their Dusk tour at Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC. It's a fine venue and has seats. A few numbers in, I couldn't help myself and NEEDED to dance. Realizing everyone behind me was seated, I scrambled out the aisle and was busy getting down, when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Yup - security. She said "do you want to sit down or do you want to leave?" I sulked back to my seat. After that song, Matt Johnson (who obviously noticed, as I was only a few rows back) asked everyone to stand up, and with few exceptions, everone did. Problem solved.

YEAH YEAH YEAH

That has always been the spirt of the concert to me ROCK AND ROLL!!!

[CMG]

Yes!!!
Dance Move Live. That's the spirit of the event. You can sit at home and listen on CD's If Your there live, for Christ's sake, (during Lent,) be Live! If P. Chevron can stand, sing, and play with medical issues, You can move too!
Great Show Great Shane!

[Billy]

Yes!!!
Dance Move Live. That's the spirit of the event. You can sit at home and listen on CD's If Your there live, for Christ's sake, (during Lent,) be Live! If P. Chevron can stand, sing, and play with medical issues, You can move too!
Great Show Great Shane!

That is funny CMG, you sound like my kinda gal. I remember when I was young I never had to worry about standing or sitting - I was always falling at concerts, falling in, falling out, falling in love, but mostly just falling down.

[Billy]

RESPONSE: If you are really "totally musically stupid" why are critiquing a musical show???

Does one need to have a degree in musicology to write a personal review of a gig?

No but I think if you feel, as you describe yourself as "totally musically stupid" it is a bit odd you would have such an opinionated "personal review". And if you do then don't mind the response. Not trying to start a war or be rude but you should get your facts straight and at least have some credible basis for a "personal review".

As you say - not to be rude, but you DO know that Zuzana isn't the author of those blogs, right? She's just passing them along.

If you are going to "pass along" don't pass along poison and mis-information. What I am talking about is this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iUEwB4ME3I&NR=1

Now if you can listen to that and then still say or "pass along" a statement like "Back in the day, before he rotted away from boredom and booze, he was barely passable as a singer" then I guess I am just mad. Joyce, Behan, Poe, Garcia, Beckett, the list goes on, were they all just drunks and madmen? The media in general and the casual word of mouth with its half truths, suppositions and disinformation is what leads to things like Iraq. So all I say is, careful what you "pass along".

[Billy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=au30c9ZMIPg&feature=related