Brixton 08

[Clash Cadillac]

Here's a few photos anyway

Hey, what happened to the photo of you and Miss Walshy? I did notice she seemed to be hugging Spider's tray a little more fondly than you.

[Kilkenny Cat]

setlist same as other gigs?

Pretty much the same as elsewhere I think. Greenland Whale Fisheries was sung somewhere in the middle of the set. Shane had a lot of trouble remembering the verses though.

That's cos he was still singing "Cotton Fields", we think.

Philip, I think you're right. Go to about 6 mins 16 secs of video and Shane suddenly think's it's "Cotton Fields". Thankfully, Spider gets it all back on track.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=u3KOLX_f9tM

[Fionn MacCool]

Here's a few photos anyway

Hey, what happened to the photo of you and Miss Walshy? I did notice she seemed to be hugging Spider's tray a little more fondly than you.

Ask her and could you blame her? The tray was in better shape than me! Now that people know who the gobshite jumping around in a Celtic shirt lashing pints was, I'd like to extend an apology for my behaviour...

[Fr. McGreer]

setlist same as other gigs?

Pretty much the same as elsewhere I think. Greenland Whale Fisheries was sung somewhere in the middle of the set. Shane had a lot of trouble remembering the verses though.

That's cos he was still singing "Cotton Fields", we think.

Philip, I think you're right. Go to about 6 mins 16 secs of video and Shane suddenly think's it's "Cotton Fields". Thankfully, Spider gets it all back on track.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=u3KOLX_f9tM

I'm trying to decide whether that's the saddest thing i've ever seen or the funniest........

[Pioneer]

Can someone please help me find an accurate setlist from Friday's gig for my records? I'm desperate! Many thanks in advance!

[MJ1]

Can I just back up what has been said about Friday. For me, the best 'reunion' gig that I have seen, wonderful, wonderful stuff, and probably better than a good many gigs from 'back in the day' as well. Thanks to all for a great night.

[James]

Fuck, that was a good night. I'll say more when I can think again. For now, it was the best gig I've ever been to, and wicked to meet TOSCS and Miss Walshy.

[Heather]

Just returned from Brixton. What a fantastic night that was, it was great to meet so many medusan's I have not met before, Maldoror (if it wasn't for him I'd have never found The Canterbury Arms), Johan, Matts, Per and at long last and after missing her last year in Belfast, Miss Walshy.

Did not leave The Canterbury until about 8.45pm, just arrived at the academy as DJ Scratchy was finishing his set. The crowd was fantastic, the band just had the best sound that I'd heard at a Pogues gig for a while. I found myself dancing with complete strangers and at several points ended up in the mosh pit. The whole set just flew by and before you knew it, it was over. It was great to back at Brixton again and if that was the last Pogues gig I ever see for whatever reason, I'm glad it was a good one, I've come home with some really good memories, I'm so happy, only thing was even though James Walbourne was on guitar I still missed Philip singing Thousands Are Sailing.

Fantastic, just the best, thank you Pogues for a really good night.

[Fionn MacCool]

Fuck, that was a good night. I'll say more when I can think again. For now, it was the best gig I've ever been to, and wicked to meet TOSCS and Miss Walshy.

Great to meet you as well big fellah. Jaysus we were in some heap lol smoked about 15 fags on the bus home, and I don't even smoke

Good to meet Malador as well (or matador, as i kept calling ya!), in addition to the Swedes. mats I think you bought me a pint or 2 - remind me next year!! Hope all the non-locals made it home safe and sound.

I'm so happy, only thing was even though James Walbourne was on guitar I still missed Philip singing Thousands Are Sailing.

Yeah I really miss Thousands as well, such a bloody great song.

[Simon]

Just got Back from London. After the first gig the 18 i was convinced it could not get any bether But the next day was out of this world. Never seen Shane perform bether then that day. And James what a musican and showman may your snow angels never hmm melt!! A big bonus watching the popes with special guest MR. MacGowan at the Jamm after the gig fantastic to hear church of the holy spook song by Shane again. Thank you to all the friendly people i meet at the Jamm and Canterbury Arms. See you there next year Mr. Lade and Aslak and co.

[John Powers]

We went to see the 19th and 20th gigs in Brixton and they both were absolutely magnificent. Maybe the 20th was even better, but that might be because I was then more able to relax and watch the gig than on friday, when I might have been too excited about the fact that I was there to see it in the first place.. But maybe the fondest memory is seeing Shane guest starring with the Popes in such a small venue as the Jamm is. I feel very privileged for having been there.

[left]

So, after like, what? Seven? Eight? years of painful awaiting and various failed attempts to go to a Pogues gig, due to young age, strict parents & any other business, I finally got to see my favourite band ever in Brixton, on the 18th and 20th of december.

18th: got there early enough to get to the front row. Before arriving to the academy I met that guy from Sweden (Mike? Hope you found the medusans pub you were looking for!) who had a map of Brixton and the academy. I had forgotten my own, and was fucking SCARED of being in the wrong place.
After hearing and overall -seeing- a good show by the Urban Voodoo Machine it begun. Shane wasn't probably in his best form from the beginning and had some problems with quite a few songs, but anyway, in the first row you don't even hear exactly what's being played, and you've other things to care about, like random German guys trying to steal your place ( ), or the crowd pushing from behind to the extremes, so that if you were in the middle right under Shane, you suddenly aren't anymore. But hey, whatever, this is not opera.
I enjoyed the show in the end, and got some good laugh (throwing bottles at the singer is not funny, but when that bottle gets straight in his pocket, well, that's priceless) but after leaving the academy I wasn't so happy as I thought I would be after my first Pogues show ever.

- time randomly spent in London -

and finally 20th: this time I've got a seating ticket upstairs, no more rib-cracking in the front for me, after all I'm already 22... getting old!
Got some hard times finding a good seat without that railing in the way, then decided there are no good seats and got straight to the front. Very much appreciated the first band, Mumford and Sons? Very particular and powerful sound and feel.
So, after that it started, a little bit late, one of the very, very, very best shows I've seen in my short life. Not much to say about it, Shane was nearly perfect, the band was indeed perfect, and the sound too. Just at some point the fire alarm set off and interrupted for a minute or two the concert, during which we've been well entertained of course (I seem to recall something like "that's some of our alien stuff" and "we're being visited"...). Missed Philip and his unmistakable stage appearence.
Apart from the classics, loved to hear Kitty and Poor Paddy, which I didn't really expect. Also surprisingly found myself loving Sayonara and Cotton Fields, some of these yeah-its-a-good-song-but-hey-their-last-albums-are-a-bit-boring-for-me songs that I'd never expect to really appreciate. How wrong I was.
After the band went out and scratchy got in I was really deeply affected, couldn't thing of anything else except the Pogues.

Some highlights from the two shows I recall, and think I understood correctly:
Shane introducing "The BRA section".
Shane introducing "Dirty Old T..." gets interrupted by Spider talking about can't remember what, and Shane thinks he got the wrong song. Spider: "Yeah!...just making conversation!" Shane repeats: "It's called Dirty Old Town! with that I-was-right! look and tone of voice...
Spider introduces a song, Shane introduces the same song after 2 sec and Spider reminds us that "It doesn't start until he said it."
It appears that Shane and Spider are actually quite a cabaret for the whole of the show, with good help from the others of course.

Outside the venue everyone was cheering and singing, and so happy about the quality of the show, such a powerful environment.
A gig I'll remember for a long long time. My best "bloody" Christmas holiday ever. Thank you guys.

Note to self and others: never ever go to see a SINGLE date on a Pogues tour, when possible. Do it two, three, four times, it's well-spent money!

[Fionn MacCool]

Outside the venue everyone was cheering and singing, and so happy about the quality of the show, such a powerful environment.

Heh, if you're talking about Fields of Athenry on the way out, that was me who started it

[left]

Outside the venue everyone was cheering and singing, and so happy about the quality of the show, such a powerful environment.

Heh, if you're talking about Fields of Athenry on the way out, that was me who started it

LOL. Classy!

[mats]

Good to meet Malador as well (or matador, as i kept calling ya!), in addition to the Swedes. mats I think you bought me a pint or 2 - remind me next year!! Hope all the non-locals made it home safe and sound.

Finally feeling human again after 4 days of drinking and 3 Pogues shows. Going home on Sunday morning with the 06:55 flight was a nightmare. Like most of you already said. First gig was shit, the other two were excellent. Had a bad feeling from the start when Shane walked on stage with the bottle in is his hand at the first gig. Greenland whalefisheries and Fairytale were soo bad but Rainy Night In Soho was great. You could see from the start on the other gigs that this would be different and they were top class.

Great to see some friends again. Walshy, TOSCS, Maldoror, Christine (short but sweet) also really nice too meet Heather and Jake(?) and who ever I forgot. Couldn´t get in to Canterbury for the second gig, it was packed.

See you all next year.