DC - March 16, 17, 18 2009

[philipchevron]

For those keeping score, "Boys From The County Hell" replaced "Metropolis" tonight (18th)

[dave 81]

Safely home again, and another one in the books. Just a few reflections....

Five days in D.C., and three lovely evenings with The Pogues. Although Washington is another mass of concrete and stone, it really is a beautiful city, and we encountered nothing but very friendly and hospitable people. You locals should be proud.

The shows ranked right up near the top as some of the finest we've ever attended. A real treat to hear some songs live for the first time. "Cotton Fields," was really fun, and "Battle of Brisbane," was off the energy level charts. Outstanding!

The band appeared to be having a good time as well. Nice to see Philip on stage again. And as usual, don't read too far into these "journalists," reviews....Shane was honestly better than we've ever seen him. Yeah, the band was great, tears were shed,.....but tears were actually shed. If anyone has any video/audio at the intro of "Thousands," from Wednesday night, please put it up on youtube. Oops, did I enter the area that we're not supposed to enter?

Nice to see, if only briefly, a few of our traveling friends. Always a pleasure. Sorry, but we can't do that rail thing. Maybe someday. Hell, who am I kidding.

Cheers folks,
Dave & Jana

[KathleenwithaK]

Safely home again, and another one in the books. Just a few reflections....

Five days in D.C., and three lovely evenings with The Pogues. Although Washington is another mass of concrete and stone, it really is a beautiful city, and we encountered nothing but very friendly and hospitable people. You locals should be proud.

The shows ranked right up near the top as some of the finest we've ever attended. A real treat to hear some songs live for the first time. "Cotton Fields," was really fun, and "Battle of Brisbane," was off the energy level charts. Outstanding!

The band appeared to be having a good time as well. Nice to see Philip on stage again. And as usual, don't read too far into these "journalists," reviews....Shane was honestly better than we've ever seen him. Yeah, the band was great, tears were shed,.....but tears were actually shed. If anyone has any video/audio at the intro of "Thousands," from Wednesday night, please put it up on youtube. Oops, did I enter the area that we're not supposed to enter?

Nice to see, if only briefly, a few of our traveling friends. Always a pleasure. Sorry, but we can't do that rail thing. Maybe someday. Hell, who am I kidding.

Cheers folks,
Dave & Jana

We all understand the rail thing, just glad to get to see you two once a year regardless of how brief

Ah, the shows... we were there for the 16th and 17th. The Pogues were exceptional, really. I almost want to break out my Thesaurus. I can at least do better than the pseudo-journalists whose drivel we have suffered (I hope). At any rate, there are a few things I'd like to mention:

Support. Wow, just wow. As in the past, we have found new music to love. 16th, The Marseille Figs! What a treat to hear some of the new stuff that will be on their next album. Note to self: purchase that. Also, enjoy what they add when they join the Pogues onstage. Or, to quote journalist Chris Kilmek " The mid-show appearance of a two-man horn section...". Do some homework dude. Very cool that they came back the next night even though they weren't the opener.

17th, Ben Nichols. Loads of comments in the crowd describing him as a young Tom Waits. The crowd liked him and he liked his Jameson's. Funny, I have never seen an opener for the Pogues that didn't seem truly happy and honored to be there.

There is something I wanted to bring up after the December tour but neglected to do so. Forgive me if someone else has asked this and I am being redundant... Andrew's drum set no longer has the hammer and sickle. It is simply red. Does anyone know if he changed this because he realized how offensive it was to some? Or? Curious.

The 9:30 club. The most intimate venue I could have dreamed of. Bouncers weren't complete jerks but then they really didn't have to be. The crowd, even on the 17th, seemed to be there for the music and not a drunken brawl.

And yes, the band we love. There they were, in all their glory, giving us what we came for and more.

Shane. Yep, hearing a 51 year old Shane sing "Rainy Night in Soho" is vastly different than a decades younger Shane. He has seen friends grow old and friends fall. He told us about them.

Philip. When he made his triumphant return for the US tour last year I felt blessed to have the opportunity to hear him again. This year was beyond description. His clear, passionate, beloved gift to us, "Thousands are Sailing", rang through the room and landed right inside my heart. Tears were shed indeed.

[dave 81]

Now that I think of it, the "off the charts," instrumental may have been Repeal?

[Eric 5]

It was great meeting up with KathleenwithaK, Oblivion, and his friend who gave me a Jamesons miniature. "Craig the Driver" was his moniker, I think. Its funny running into medusans at shows -- I believe the meet-up went something like this:

at the rail, stage right...

me -- Hi, this might sound odd, but I'm looking for a group of people from the Pogues forum

K -- Really? And who are you?

me -- I'm Eric.

K -- Oh! Eric the Red!?

me -- No, I'm Eric V.

K -- I'm, Kathleenwitha K. Oh my god, look, its Eric V. This is Canadian Steve. That's O'blivion.

me -- Where's Derelict?

It was fun.

EV

[O'Blivion]

I would love to weigh in with a lengthy tome describing every detail of St. Patrick's Day, but it's pretty much been said. Let me just underscore: the Pogues sound absolutely incredible this year - Shane in particular was fantastic. He looked great and was more intelligible than ever; it was probably disappointing for journalists ready to wax poetic on his drunkenness. He didn't miss a word, and broke my heart three different times: in "Kitty", "Lullaby of London", and "Rainy Night in Soho" (which rivaled even the legendary wheelchair-bound Philadelphia version I saw two years ago).

Wonderful to see Kathleen and Canadian Steve again, and a great delight to meet Eric!


It seemed to me that the energy level in the room was not quite equal to what was coming from the stage, but that might've just been me. Work's been a meatgrinder lately, and my Sweetheart and I couldn't get any time off, so we had to temper our enthusiasm a little bit. Gregg the Driver and I both had our socks full of Jameson airline bottles - a decidedly scaled back effort compared to the fifth of John Powers we polished off before Baltimore last year.

I think St. Patrick's Day should always fall on a Saturday, just like Easter's always on Sunday.

All in favor say "Oi!"

[Eric 5]

It seemed to me that the energy level in the room was not quite equal to what was coming from the stage, but that might've just been me. Work's been a meatgrinder lately, and my Sweetheart and I couldn't get any time off, so we had to temper our enthusiasm a little bit. Gregg the Driver and I both had our socks full of Jameson airline bottles - a decidedly scaled back effort compared to the fifth of John Powers we polished off before Baltimore last year.

I think St. Patrick's Day should always fall on a Saturday, just like Easter's always on Sunday.

All in favor say "Oi!"

Oi!

Gregg the Driver -- that's the name. A really nice guy. We formed somewhat of a barrier. And I agree, the Washington crowd was pretty lifeless.

EV

p.s. -- Rufus Wainwright will be at the Sunoco Theater in Harrisburg on April 25th. Not sure if its your cup of tea, but my wife and I are making the trip.

[KathleenwithaK]

Best Pit Crew ever: Cdn Steve, my charming husband, O'Blivion, EricV, Gregg the Driver... No one would DARE come between me and the Pogues with those guys at my back. Thanks again!

p.s. Did miss Irishrose though

[dave 81]

It was great meeting up with KathleenwithaK, Oblivion, and his friend who gave me a Jamesons miniature. "Craig the Driver" was his moniker, I think. Its funny running into medusans at shows -- I believe the meet-up went something like this:

at the rail, stage right...

me -- Hi, this might sound odd, but I'm looking for a group of people from the Pogues forum

K -- Really? And who are you?

me -- I'm Eric.

K -- Oh! Eric the Red!?

me -- No, I'm Eric V.

K -- I'm, Kathleenwitha K. Oh my god, look, its Eric V. This is Canadian Steve. That's O'blivion.

me -- Where's Derelict?

It was fun.

EV

Sorry we missed you Eric.

[Eric V]

Sorry we missed you Eric.

Me too. Next year in whatever city.

[carol]

I seem to have missed everybody, too, though I was "on the rail." I did hear Mr. and Mrs. Derelict given a special greeting from the stage, however.

[dave 81]

I seem to have missed everybody, too, though I was "on the rail." I did hear Mr. and Mrs. Derelict given a special greeting from the stage, however.

^^^^^^The two of us when we heard that. Totally unexpected, and more than overwhelming. A few people around us gave me some odd looks as I was wiping a few tears off my face. We've heard "thousands" performed live about ten times, but it NEVER sounded as good as it did that night.

Thanks again Philip