Half Empty Arenas?

[Fr. McGreer]

Paul Scully, has been doing the thankless job of mixing gentle acoustic instruments in with roaring electric ones for 23 years. It is such an extrordinarily complex job, and up against not just the acoustic quirks of the venue but also the individual eccentricities and needs of the individual musicians, that it is remarkable it is done at all, much less done well. If you are not happy with the sound at a Pogues gig, move, you're in the wrong place in the venue. or possibly you have cloth ears. Nobody could create the Pogues live sound like Paul Scully, and nobody ever has, Nick Robbins thinks Paul Scully is a genius. So do I.

I was chatting to Paul after the Belfast gig (i listened to the second half of the gig from in front of his desk) he was delighted that the first night's sound was so good. I thought they sounded the best ever. His collegue on the lighting desk is also very good, most of the lighting was done manually, listening to the beat of the music and tapping along in time. Brilliant watching both of them working (if your also an anorack like me).

[philipchevron]

Paul Scully, has been doing the thankless job of mixing gentle acoustic instruments in with roaring electric ones for 23 years. It is such an extrordinarily complex job, and up against not just the acoustic quirks of the venue but also the individual eccentricities and needs of the individual musicians, that it is remarkable it is done at all, much less done well. If you are not happy with the sound at a Pogues gig, move, you're in the wrong place in the venue. or possibly you have cloth ears. Nobody could create the Pogues live sound like Paul Scully, and nobody ever has, Nick Robbins thinks Paul Scully is a genius. So do I.

I was chatting to Paul after the Belfast gig (i listened to the second half of the gig from in front of his desk) he was delighted that the first night's sound was so good. I thought they sounded the best ever. His collegue on the lighting desk is also very good, most of the lighting was done manually, listening to the beat of the music and tapping along in time. Brilliant watching both of them working (if your also an anorack like me).

Yes indeed, while praising the staff (it saves on Christmas bonuses) let's hear it also for the great Mr Ian Turner (lighting design).

And, while we're at it: Ross Duncan (Tour Manager), Gerry Wilkes (Production Manager), Alice Martin (Production Assistant),
Dave Guerin (Monitors/Onstage Sound), Alan “ Buddy “ Goulding (Backline tech), Tony Bateman (Backline tech), DJ Scratchy (Sounds), Joe Cashman (personal assistant to Mr MacGowan), Reuben Pinkney (Rigger/SM), Iain White (Sound asst), Julian Hicks (Sound asst), Pete Clifton (Sound assistant), Andy Melleney (Lights assistant), Will Thomas (Lights asst), BJ Lewis (Band Bus driver), Mike Moulds (Crew Bus Driver), Paul Brooks (Truck Driver), Jim Robertson (Truck Driver) and especially Fiona MacKenzie (Catering) and Scott Fyffe (Catering) without whom all the others might easily starve.

Not forgetting:

James Walbourne (Guitar), Ella Finer (Vocalist), and the Brass Section, who can now be named: Daniel Gale Hayes, Pete Fraser and Ian Williamson

Clare Utting at the Booking Agency, Dick Hayes at Entec Sound and Lights, Cath at RiMA Travel, David Coumbes at Fly By Night Trucking, Paul Hattin at Phoenix bussing, Ian at GLS Lighting, Morgan Hughes at Firebrand Live (Merchandising).

Mark Addis and Anthony Addis, you are kings among men.

[Jon]

Raises a glass to 'The Staff'

[Fionn MacCool]

Yes indeed, while praising the staff (it saves on Christmas bonuses) let's hear it also for the great Mr Ian Turner (lighting design).

And, while we're at it: Ross Duncan (Tour Manager), Gerry Wilkes (Production Manager), Alice Martin (Production Assistant),
Dave Guerin (Monitors/Onstage Sound), Alan “ Buddy “ Goulding (Backline tech), Tony Bateman (Backline tech), DJ Scratchy (Sounds), Joe Cashman (personal assistant to Mr MacGowan), Reuben Pinkney (Rigger/SM), Iain White (Sound asst), Julian Hicks (Sound asst), Pete Clifton (Sound assistant), Andy Melleney (Lights assistant), Will Thomas (Lights asst), BJ Lewis (Band Bus driver), Mike Moulds (Crew Bus Driver), Paul Brooks (Truck Driver), Jim Robertson (Truck Driver) and especially Fiona MacKenzie (Catering) and Scott Fyffe (Catering) without whom all the others might easily starve.

Not forgetting:

James Walbourne (Guitar), Ella Finer (Vocalist), and the Brass Section, who can now be named: Daniel Gale Hayes, Pete Fraser and Ian Williamson

Clare Utting at the Booking Agency, Dick Hayes at Entec Sound and Lights, Cath at RiMA Travel, David Coumbes at Fly By Night Trucking, Paul Hattin at Phoenix bussing, Ian at GLS Lighting, Morgan Hughes at Firebrand Live (Merchandising).

Mark Addis and Anthony Addis, you are kings among men.

Just on the subject of thanking peripheral staff and the like, I was speaking to the guy who had the Free Palestine stand in the Brixton Academy foyer. He said 'the band' ask him to run it at the gigs. Just wondering if there was any truth in that, and if so I applaud the gesture!

[AndrewOG]

Raises a glass to 'The Staff'

Yes, kudos to all of them.

[philipchevron]

Yes indeed, while praising the staff (it saves on Christmas bonuses) let's hear it also for the great Mr Ian Turner (lighting design).

And, while we're at it: Ross Duncan (Tour Manager), Gerry Wilkes (Production Manager), Alice Martin (Production Assistant),
Dave Guerin (Monitors/Onstage Sound), Alan “ Buddy “ Goulding (Backline tech), Tony Bateman (Backline tech), DJ Scratchy (Sounds), Joe Cashman (personal assistant to Mr MacGowan), Reuben Pinkney (Rigger/SM), Iain White (Sound asst), Julian Hicks (Sound asst), Pete Clifton (Sound assistant), Andy Melleney (Lights assistant), Will Thomas (Lights asst), BJ Lewis (Band Bus driver), Mike Moulds (Crew Bus Driver), Paul Brooks (Truck Driver), Jim Robertson (Truck Driver) and especially Fiona MacKenzie (Catering) and Scott Fyffe (Catering) without whom all the others might easily starve.

Not forgetting:

James Walbourne (Guitar), Ella Finer (Vocalist), and the Brass Section, who can now be named: Daniel Gale Hayes, Pete Fraser and Ian Williamson

Clare Utting at the Booking Agency, Dick Hayes at Entec Sound and Lights, Cath at RiMA Travel, David Coumbes at Fly By Night Trucking, Paul Hattin at Phoenix bussing, Ian at GLS Lighting, Morgan Hughes at Firebrand Live (Merchandising).

Mark Addis and Anthony Addis, you are kings among men.

Just on the subject of thanking peripheral staff and the like, I was speaking to the guy who had the Free Palestine stand in the Brixton Academy foyer. He said 'the band' ask him to run it at the gigs. Just wondering if there was any truth in that, and if so I applaud the gesture!

I have never once, in the past 7 years, taken myself out to the Brixton Academy foyer, but I have always been under the impression that it rivals the offices of the Socialist Worker some years. Which is fine by me, but I don't actually know how it gets that way.

Personally, I'm still reeling from the anti-Clause 28 flyer (signed by all 8 Pogues) myself and (Specials/After Tonite manager) Rick Rogers organised at the Town and Country in 1988, which was widely felt by fans to be The Pogues having a laugh/taking the piss, though this may have owed something by the Thatcher government's fucking with the numbering system of their own iniquitous laws - by March 88, Clause 28 had moved up to being Clause 29 and, though it reverted at Clause 28/Section 28 later, the Pogues flyer was published as "STOP CLAUSE 29".

[Jon]

Chumbawamba also did a song relating to Clause 29, I seem to remember.

They probably also had a problem with half empty arenas

[stalyVegasBoy]

Raises a glass to 'The Staff'

and a dozen more besides....