Great Show In Philly 3/13/08

[bellybuttonlint]

Every joint and muscle in my legs, back and shoulders is aching and my head weighs two hundred pounds. What the hell am I doing awake this early?

Oh that's right, I'm getting old, I can't just sleep it off anymore.

Shane seemed a little wobbly and sounded a little ragged at first, but somewhere after his "Tuesday Morning" break, he kicked into gear. Thought he was going right off the stage early on in the show.

Standouts were Dirty Old Town (best vocal performance of the night), Sick Bed, Bottle of Smoke, Rainy Night in soho, Kitty, Sally, Greenland Whale Fisheries (never would have guessed they would dig that one out. My brother actually asked, "dude are they writing together again, you think?" I had to remind him that it was on "Red Roses")
And I think that's the first time I ever heard "Dark Streets of London" live. Very cool.

Nothing from "Peace and Love"? Am I remembering that right? Things are still a little fuzzy, but if I think I had a great time.

[rainynight]

Dear Pogues,
The show last night was amazing. This was my third year in a row seeing you and best so far. Every song made me want to cry. Kitty and Dark Streets of London were stand-outs for me. Your shows are a celebration of life. For that, I cannot thank you enough. Keep spreading the joy. You guys are the best.

[lexo]

i just registered just so i could echo the two posts above this one.

brilliant show

i was going to list highlights, but i'd end up listening every song in the set

the boys sounded energized, sound was great, performance was magnificent, set list was varied and fantastic

wonderful seeing phil chevron playing & his thousands are sailing broke me up a bit. shane came back on stage and was obviously moved by phil because he came over with a big smile on his face and kind of gave him something resembling a clumsy grinning drunken high five

shane is a trip. i don't know how he keeps it together but he does.

great crowd. great night.

i just wonder if spider's right leg gets sore where he's constantly smacking that flute against his leg in rhythm when he's not playing

[Charles]

Repeal Of Licensing Laws
Streams Of Whiskey
If I Should Grace Of God
Majestic Shannon
Turkish Song Of The Damned
Pair Of Brown Eyes
Dark Streets Of London
Tuesday Morning
Sayonara
Kitty
Sunnyside Of The Street
Repeal Of Licensing Laws (again)
Body Of An American
Boys From County Hell
Love You Till The End
1000's Are Sailing
Greenland Whale Fisheries
Dirty Old Town
Bottle Of Smoke
Sick Bed
-------------
Sally McLellan
Rainy Night In Soho*
Irish Rover
--------------
Star Of The County Down
Poor Paddy
Fiesta*

* - there were 2 guest horn players - couldn't make out their names, don't know if they've been on the whole tour.

Got Repeal to open - Shane was missing. It was played a second time I guess to keep the list in order...I don't know if we lost a song because of it. Great to see Phillip back singing 1000's. I thought it was a great show.....can't wait for 3 nights of Roseland......(hope we get Transmetroploitan one night )

[Matt50]

Awesome show last night, got in without a hitch, thank god. (The wristbanding method is extremely easy to bypass, just walk away while theyre doing your part of the line.) We started in the balcony and then moved down onto the floor when The Pogues came on, a little shakey start with Repeal seeming like an udible until they found Shane, took a few songs to gte back into the groove, but it seemed like by Dark Streets; which was my first time hearing it live and amazing; Shane had pulled it together. On a personal note, it was so great to see Mr. Chevron back in action and looking as healthy as ever, standing with his hands in the air during the Repeal breakdown, both takes on that song may I add, and of course during Thousands. It seemed like it took the crowd awhile to get into it after the uneasy start, but it felt like, for me, that somehwere close to Body of an American everyone in the place was on board. I am very much looking forward to Saturday and Monday in NYC, I will definatley be waiting nice and early to get a spot on the rail for those, I was just thankful that I was able to get in last night, see everyone tomorrow night!

[PhillyPogue]

The show last night at the Electric Factory was amazing ! I was stunned to see Phil Chevron, thought he was still recovering. And Shane was more coherent than the past 2 years when I saw them, looks like he dropped some pounds as well. Amazing set list, although disappointed they did not do "Faerytale"

[philipchevron]

I was stunned to see Phil Chevron, thought he was still recovering.

Yes, well....he is.

[sheva]

Warning - this is going to be a long post, and an emotional one at that. It's what happens when you stay away too long.

You don't think the Pogues could come to my hometown without me in the audience, do you?
Well yes, it did happen last year, thanks to a vicious ice storm and an equally vicious fever visited upon the other half. That's why I was convinced that this year some other calamity would occur to prevent me from going. Kept waiting for that other shoe to drop, it never did, and so last night found me in place, front and center, ready for joy.

Good thing I was ready.

OK, let me get this over with right here and now, although some of you already know it - I love Philp Chevron. There, I said it. It's not a crush (that's still and always for Shane); it's that wonderful unique love you feel for someone you don't actually know and yet you've let into your heart. When I learned the news about Philip's health last year I was stunned as we all were, and prayed for better news and better times. I wondered if we'd ever see him play again and felt somehow that we would, that no matter how things looked at that moment it was going to be alright. I knew that seeing him with the band last night would be a joyous and emotional experience, and oh was it ever. For there stood Mr. C, a bit paler and even thinner than one would think possible, but blessedly whole, looking absolutely beautiful in suit and hat, quite neatly singing and playing the hell out of his guitar. I cried through most of the the first three songs and felt compelled to recite the Shehecheyanu, the Jewish prayer said at the beginning of holidays and special occasions, and whenever something that has not happened for a while, happens. It felt most appropriate and fitting; here it is in English:

"Blessed are You, O Lord our G-D, Ruler of the universe, who has kept us in life, sustained us, and brought us to this moment"

Not that this was a solemn occasion. Please. It was the Pogues, as hard charging as ever. Did they deliver a spot-on performance, not a note out of place? Yes they did. Did they cause a ruckus, raise the roof, and get every body and soul gathered there moving as one? Yes they did. Was there ever a doubt they'd do it? Not for one moment. And Shane? Looked jes' fine, sounded even better, if a bit subdued. Still one of the loveliest profiles around.

When I wrote about the December '05 UK shows here, oh so long ago, I mentioned how fine the Pogues look onstage. Two years on I was struck yet again by this. I'm not talking about their individual appearances - it's more than that. I go to several concerts a year - less than in my youth but still manage to get around. And I don't think there's any band that is so wonderful to watch, or who looks so good. I still can't quite figure out what it is, most likely a combination of factors, but it becomes almost like theater - very loud, visceral theater.

So, a perfect night, or almost perfect. Having survived being down in front at Pogues shows in Brixton, Glasgow, and NYC on St Patrick's Day, I thought last night in Philly wouldn't be any more difficult. Oops. The pushing, shoving, moshing, etc proved to be a bit too much (although it wasn't so much of a mosh pit as a slosh pit). Well, glasses and long hair (which I stupidly forgot to tie back last night - guess it has been too long) do make one vulnerable, and at the age of (oy) 50 my patience for these shenanigans has started to wear thin. I hung in for the set, then moved back a bit for the encores. That turned out to be a good move, as I wound up watching from the steps and had a lovely view of the complete ensemble. Tossed myself back into the crowd for Fiesta - why not?

Thank you gentlemen. Thank you G-D, the spirits and modern medicine. Bless you Philip and all who travel with you.
And much love to the boys onstage and everyone who comes out to see them.

[DzM]

Yay! It's our wayward Sheva! Pleased to be staying.

And how does one pronounce "G-D"?

[sheva]

And how does one pronounce "G-D"?

One doesn't.

[DzM]

And how does one pronounce "G-D"?

One doesn't.

Oh yeah. I tend to forget that.

And again! Yay! It's Sheva!

[dublinrambler]

Truely brilliant night in Philly last night, BIG thanks to Philip C. for everything. Great to see him back on stage,as mentioned here already. Nice set-list, pretty good crowd,the opening act were good,a few arseholes booed them on their last song and shouted various insults at them,beisdes that though a stellar evening. The drive back to New York was'nt too much fun though....still,roll on sunday!

[lexo]

the opening act were good

[dublinrambler]

the opening act were good

ok,i'm trying to be nice, but really, they were'nt THAT bad...i've heard a lot worse,though that last one they did "dirty little monkey" was EXTREMELY annoyingly bad

[Titus Pullo]

I was stunned to see Phil Chevron, thought he was still recovering.

Yes, well....he is.

Mr. Chevron,

Let me add to the chorus of well-wishers when I say it was great seeing you in Philly last night. "Thousands Are Sailing" is definitely my favorite Pogues song, and I shouted every word along with you - not that you needed the help! You sounded great.

This question may have been asked on a previous forum, but how does the band determine the setlist? The reason I ask is I keep hoping that "Lorelei" will find its way onto the current setlist. There are some of us out here who would love to hear it live.

Again, thanks for an enthusiastic, brilliant, amazing show, and it was great seeing you back onstage.