Dublin Olympia theatre - 9 December

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:02 am**

Shame on Shane!
I just came back from the Olympia in Dublin. The concert lasted for 1 hour! He was drunk as a skunk, couldn't walk, was collapsing, and looked like a scumbag! The guys tried to do their best but were pissed off and gave up after few songs. Sad & waste of the evening. I paid 60 euros to see the end of Shane McGowan!

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 12:41 am**

Sorry lads. I know you did your best to hold it together but that was appalling. I spent 165 quid for three tickets to see someone prop Shane's corpse up on a box. Does anybody take responsibility? from a lifelong fan.

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:22 am**

Ever get the feeling you've been cheated.....

Massive Pogues fan since the start and "treated" two mates to tonight's gig. Bought tickets months ago. Spent nearly €200. And got the worst gig I've ever been at. EVER.

Yes, everyone expects Shane to be a few drinks up but tonight was ridiculous. Couldn't sit never mind stand. Couldn't sing a word. Scuttered. Rest of lads looked really pissed off. Couldn't blame them, but they gave up too. Bottle of Smoke sounded so fuckin shit... like a corpse.... no energy. Wish they'd pulled it and did a refund. Farewell! What a way to bow out of Dublin. Shame on you Shane. And as for the c**ts chantin his name all night. There's a bit for yee too

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:28 am**

Wish I had gone last night.
Second show was terrible

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:30 am**

Having been to the olympia tonight the 9th december I've come away feeling sad; I've been to 20+ pogues gigs and never felt this way before. Shane could not stand up the whole show, fell 3 times on the stage and was clearly not fit to perform. I really want the best for him and think he is a living legend, but I hope he sorts himself out. Its not fair on the rest of the band who try to keep the show together and whose talents are not fully appreciated. Its also not fair on the fans who really love and respect him. Some people left the show after a few songs tonight because they could not stand seeing him like that. hopefully tonight was only a one off, please get it together.

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 2:56 am**

Every time I've seen The Pogues, prior to tonight, they've been stunning. Even Shane. You expect a bit of a slur but he's always managed to do it — in his own way — live. I've been so impressed that I brought two good mates down tonight. Told them they were in for a show. How wrong I was. It was embarrassing.

Tonight was horrible. Two lads held him up and dragged him across the stage to the mic, like draggin a dead body. He sat on an amp and a roadie had to sit behind him so as he wouldn't fall backwards. He fell off the stage twice.

I mean it was comedy stuff. Yes, everyone expects him to be drunk, but he's always on the ball by his standards. Tonight was like watching someone try to sing after drinking for a day straight. It was sad and disappointing, not to mind a real fuckin pisser given the tickets were €55
about an hour ago · Like

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:31 am**

Hi !

Any news from the second show ? Was the setlist the same as the day before ?

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:33 am**

I cant believe people are still complaining about the state Shane is in when performing, this is old news that any long time fan should be well aware of, its the chance you take, i've seen him battered and brilliant within days of each other, its part of the package i'm afraid, if you dont like it dont go , as for chanting his name, too right mate, every time i see the Pogues im at the front One Shane Macgowan, the mans a living legend,
As Mr C once said, some people are three sheets to the wind others just blow

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:55 am**

a few changes to the setlist. shambolic would be a nice way to describe last nights show. not one of their best. and definitely not one of shanes. the best parts were when he was'nt on stage.
BIG thanks to Mr C.

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:02 am**

Current state of play after 2 gigs;

(in best James Alexander Gordon voice) Best i've ever seen him 1 - 1 Shambolic

Odds on 'Best i've ever seen him' taking a 2-1 lead after Killarney are currently at 2/1 with Paddy Power.

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:00 am**

And the BAND played 'Waltzing Matilda'

And the band played Metropolis. And the band played Repeal and Thousands and Tuesday Morning.

The 'Singer' was just a wasted fucking shambles who couldn't even sit on a box without being held up by an assistant, let alone stand. He fell to the floor at least four times and had to be carried on and off stage throughout the whole gig. We all know who is supposed to look after the 'singer' and ensure he makes it to shows on time and in a reasonable state, well that person ought to be fucking ashamed of himself.

Don't anyone dare come back at me and say Shane is a living legend and he lives his life his way sometimes you get a good gig sometimes not......blah blah blah... Yeah yeah i know, God knows i've been to enough of them.

We were so looking forward to hearing Shane sing Boat Train, Waltzing Matilda and Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah. Not to be though folks. Seven musicians held it together as best they could and boy did they do an almighty job of it. Spider was rock solid, he sang Waltzing Matilda (the abridged version :wink:

fair play Spider) while Shane was comatose in his tent at the side of the stage. He sang whole verses of Broad Majestic Shannon. He stood in front of Shane counting in time to the music to try and get him to slur at the correct time. Darryl, Jem and the Brass section took their cues from James' theatrical over the top nodding of his head. Philip and Terry and Andrew were unflapable.

In fairness, Shane pulled it together for a few songs. Soho was ok and Poor Paddy was punk at it's purest. The lads hanginging on to Shane's every movement and screech to get the timing right at "Courdoroy britches".

I'm lucky enough to flying over to the Brixton gigs and will more than likely be treated a vintage performance. For a lot of people though, last night was the last time to see The Pogues play together. What a way to say FAREWELL. :roll:

EDIT:Great to meet Mats Per Johann and Aidan again

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:10 am**

I took my girlfriend, who had never seen the pogues live, and I must admit it was a bit embarrassing - I'd hyped up the gig a fair bit in my excitement. The rest of the band were absolutely fantastic though. I know that MacGowan is a big commercial draw, but it would nearly be a better show with Spider as lead singer. I should point out though that I have seen the Pogues maybe eight times since the re-union, and MacGowan has generally been pretty together.

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:17 am**

a living legend who hasn't penned a tune in nearly 15 years

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:48 am**

Padmeister wrote: Does anybody take responsibility? from a lifelong fan.

Shane???????

**Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:54 am**

rumsodomyandthelash wrote:I cant believe people are still complaining about the state Shane is in when performing, this is old news that any long time fan should be well aware of, its the chance you take, i've seen him battered and brilliant within days of each other, its part of the package i'm afraid, if you dont like it dont go , as for chanting his name, too right mate, every time i see the Pogues im at the front One Shane Macgowan, the mans a living legend, As Mr C once said, some people are three sheets to the wind others just blow

WORD!

elcummino wrote:a living legend who hasn't penned a tune in nearly 15 years

Appreciate him for what he has done / who he is. Now I wasn't there yesterday and I can definitely understand your disappointment, but this is indeed nothing new. There is always the probability that Shane is not going to be in a good state to perform, whereas the seven other Pogues are certainly always on the ball. This won't change and everybody who pays good money to see the Pogues live should know that Shane is probably going to be too out of it to be able to sing and perform properly. Of course, I can understand that it makes you angry and sad but I suppose you were aware about the "risk" of Shane being a shambles before buying the tickets. It's fair to say that since the "reunion", Shane was generally really good, sometimes brilliant and a few times quite bad. I saw the Pogues in Dec. 09 and in July this year and Shane was up for it both times. Anyway, no offence to you, probably I would be quite annoyed as well, I don't know. But that's Shane MacGowan, the real man, as ridiculous as it might sound to you right now.

Peace!