For the fist time i watched the band properly having driven to the gig and therefore had no alcohol. In the past whenever i've seen the pogues i've been wasted (i am not wasted all the time, just when the pogues play..and other selected evenings!) So i decided to get a ticket stood upstairs. I got in earlyish and got a good spot at the front leaning over the railings. The Venue is a small one, i'd say capacity 1500 ish and the crowd was very very young age wise, possibly the youngest crowd i've seen at a pogues gig. Jeez in the line to get in outside i felt old, and im only 27! Anyway, i watched Urban Voodo Machine very different and not my cup of tea to be honest but there you go. There seemed to be a fair few of their own fans in there when i got in.
The placed filled up, it was sold out, and the pogues came on stage about 8.30 - what a fucking show. The setlist was as previous gigs on the tour, with poor paddy in the encore instead of star of the county down. Cotton Fields is a great little addition. Shane sang like i've never seen him sing before, seriously. He was word perfect almost. You could even tell what he way saying between songs...somtimes
i've never seen him have so much interaction with the audience and other band members, he also hardly touches whatever is in those glasses as the side of him and his dancing with spider early on is quality...however i dont think the Victorian Undertaker look will catch on! Where the hell does James get his energy from? He never stops. I was fucked just watching him. Spider plays every show like he's doing it for the first time ever and looks like he's enjoying himself more than the audience, he was in great form! Jem and Daryll are so cool and laid back its untrue..and as for Terry Woods; is there anything this guy cant play? I've come to the conclusion that if all other pogues came down with flu and couldnt do a gig they could just stick Terry on there on his own and he'd sort it no problems! The guy is a legend in his own right. He looks like he's having a ball up there. I didnt see much of Andrew as he was at the back and didnt sing in the Encore. But the drums sounded bob on as per usual! There was no James on guitar tonight so Terry (who else?!!) and i think Jem did the duties when needed. I didnt notice a great deal of a difference to be honest in the sound, i know someoneone at one of the other gigs was moaning about it.The Brass section is an interesting twist and i'd be interested to know what other fans thought about it, i liked it. It gives some of the songs a real different sound. In Fairytale for example, it drowned out Spiders Whistle. Shane looks like he's really taken with them anyway, during Rainy Night in Soho while he wasn't singing he spent the rest of the time looking at them in a strange way!!! Oh happy birthday to one of them aswell!
One final point, It was nice to hear Irish Rover back in the set and touching to hear Shane dedicate it to Ronnie.
I thought i'd post this review on here after this gig, because after Manchester and Birmingham i shall be plastered and have spent the evening jumping around like a lunatic at the front...so i wont see much of what i saw tonight. But you know what? Im glad i saw it.
They are without doubt at the top of the game at the at the moment and we are lucky to have them around.
See you in Manchester and Birmingham
PS. i have a load of clips on my phone, if anyone can tell me how they can go on youtube i'll stick them on. I have no idea about those sort of things.
Cheers
