After descending a flight of steep narrow stairs leading to the venue – a pub called Stará Pekárna (Old Bakery) – I emerged in several small interconnected rooms, obviously former cellars, with brick walls and vaulted brick ceilings. In the main room, the stage lined one wall, just big enough to accomodate five musicians and an old, dusty piano. The rest of the space was empty, plus minus a few narrow benches along the other walls. Tiny place – and very cozy and homely, and quickly getting packed with eager listeners.
The gig rocked from the very beginning, the Hogs were in top form (and in obviously jolly mood) and Pyro’s whistle fit very nicely into their sound. In the middle of the show, three young Irish dancers came to do an impromptu performance onstage – hopping here and there merrily, despite having almost no place where to put their feet. Michael "The Hog" performed his trademark fall to the ground, and Pyro – with the help of a girl from the audience – rushed to resuscitate him with a shower of tasty Czech beer before the show reached its peak with Streams Of Whiskey. The audience loved it.
When the gig finished and recorded music started spilling from the loudspeakers, my heart jumped for joy. The pub owners decided to play the Pogues – the first time I heard the Pogues in a Czech pub. I listened for a while... and suddenly realized what was strange. The Pogues, the wild, boisterous Pogues sounded almost mild and subdued in comparison with the madness and outbursts of raw energy that were taking place onstage mere minutes before. Who would have ever thought that...
I can’t reproduce the sounds of the show, but here are at least some sights – in the form PHOTOS. Including plenty of booze, pretty young girls, resuscitated musicians and a Medusan in whistling and drinking action.
